Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale

by Lynda Rutledge

SOON TO BE CLAIRE DARLING —A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING CATHERINE DENEUVE!

When a wealthy woman decides to sell all of her worldly possessions, she unearths the secrets of her family’s past in this charming debut.

On the last day of the millennium, sassy Faith Bass Darling, the richest old lady in Bass, Texas, decides to have a garage sale. With help from a couple of neighborhood boys, Faith lugs her priceless Louis XV elephant clock, countless Tiffany lamps, and everything else in her nineteenth-century mansion out onto her long, sloping lawn.

Why is a recluse of twenty years suddenly selling off her dearest possessions? Because God told her to.

As the townspeople grab up five generations of heirlooms, everyone drawn to the sale—including Faith’s long-lost daughter—finds that the antiques not only hold family secrets but also inspire some of life’s most important Do our possessions possess us? What are we without our memories? Is there life after death or second chances here on earth? And is Faith really selling that Tiffany lamp for $1?

READERS GUIDE INCLUDED

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Chick Lit, Family, Adult

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Lynda Rutledge is the bestselling author of "West with Giraffes," selected by Library of Congress-affiliated Texas Center for the Book as their 2023 Great Read and translated into 15 languages. She’s also the author of "Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale," winner of the 2013 Writers League of Texas Fiction Award which was adapted into the major 2019 French film "La deniére folie de Claire Darling" starring Catherine Deneuve. Her fiction has won awards and residencies from Atlantic Center for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, and Ragdale Foundation, among many others.

Her latest novel, "Mockingbird Summer," set in a tiny segregated town in 1964 on the eve of massive cultural change, explores the impact of great books, the burden of potential, and the power of friendship with humor, poignancy, and hope.

In her eclectic career before becoming a novelist, she was a full-time professional writer––a freelance journalist, copywriter, film reviewer, book collaborator, and travel writer while also earning an MA in American literature and an MFA in creative writing,

After years residing in urban locales including Chicago and San Diego, she currently lives with her husband outside Austin, Texas. For much more information about all her books as well as Lynda, visit her website: www.lyndarutledge.com

Reviews

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynda Rutledge's first novel is a very good look at both memories and dementia. It is a book that has been turned into a movie in France starring Catherine Deneuve as the title character. On the last day of the prior millennium, Faith is awakened by the voice of God telling her that today is her last day on earth and that she will die on January 1, 2000. With that driving force, she decides that she is going to have a yard sale and quickly and cheaply disposes of her household of antiques. Faith also is suffering from "sundowners" syndrome and the effects of dementia are quickly catching up with her. And this book deals with the effects of dementia as Faith goes in and out of reality, and along the way we get to relive most of the highs and lows of her life, including families deaths, weddings, and stories about all the antiques and how they came into her life. We also are introduced to characters who live in Bass, TX and whose lives have intersected hers. The book has gotten some bad reviews, and there are parts that drag, but on the whole this was a very good first novel, and as someone who is now in his late 60's I find it relevant, poignant and just a very good read.
For my full review of this and other books feel free to visit me at www.viewsonbooks.com

[Valentina · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are many things going for this book. One, the plot sounds really interesting and wholly unique. Two, the cover is fantastic. Three, it’s a debut and that’s always exciting. For me, though, it held a lot of unfulfilled promise.
The main issue that I found with it is that it is rather dull. Slow-paced and convoluted, the narrative is not nearly interesting enough to keep the reader fully focused on the page. Many times I found myself skimming, which is horrible both for the reader and for the writer. No one wants her words ignored. None of the characters are likeable in a manner that will keep you looking to see what happens next, and there seemed to be a lot of “filler” scenes that didn’t do much for the story or for character advancement.
There were a few moments which were well written, with wit and managing to avoid the pathos that permeate the rest of the book. I’m not saying it’s an easy topic to write about. It’s very tough to avoid melodrama when dealing with Alzheimer’s as a plot point, but it can be done. Just, for me, not like this.
I can’t really recommend this, although I’m sure there are many people out there who’ll say the complete opposite. It’s just wasn’t as deep and lovely as I thought it’d be.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was attracted by this book's rather awkward title when I saw it at the library...and halfway through I was REALLY glad I didn't waste money on this book. First, I hate the modern writing style of constantly flipflopping point of view along with flashbacks...hello, people who read are NOT the MTV audience of persons with poor attention spans that this gimmick was invented for. It's cheap, poor writing and has no place in the publishing industry. You may as well be publishing fifth grade compositions. This seemed like such an interesting concept...a woman with alzheimer's selling off the family heirlooms because she no longer remembers why she's attached to them... instead, the back & forth viewpoints make you feel like you have alzheimer's, you can't get close to the characters and it feels like the author rather dislikes them herself...or perhaps she's created caricatures of the type of persons she dislikes. Either way, this book was a huge failure and I quit halfway through because it was painful to keep reading.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After deliberation, I am giving this book the 5 stars I truly feel it deserves. The beginning of the book did start out slow for me, as I was trying to wrap my head around someone selling their valuable belongings, their family keepsakes, for mere pennies. I wanted to shake her and make her stop! Then when her daughter arrived on the scene and didn't immediately put an end to the craziness...well I just couldn't get it. Dear reader, just keep reading!! You will come to understand the reasoning behind this woman's actions and all the secrets will be told.
This is a wonderful, wonderful story about an elderly southern woman who decides to clear out her mansion and have a yard sale....but so much more than that!
Coming to terms with ghosts from the past, a mother/daughter relationship, bigotry and prejudice, greed and hate and love.
Don't be fooled by the title, this is not a 'light' read, but one I recommend...highly!

[MB (What she read)]

Slow going. Reminds me of Fannie Flagg's Can't Wait to Get to Heaven so far (although dryer).

I read so many of these books with that 'slowly panning out from the past with the great big horrible secret being oh so slowly revealed for the big emotional impact in the present' type plots that I don't have tons of patience with them any more. Anyone else have this problem? I feel like I, the reader, am being manipulated.

They tend to sell well (book clubs?), so maybe it's just me...

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, this one is difficult to review. It is at times profound, a contemplation on how we as humans can get stuck emotionally because of things that have happened in life and from the sheer weight of our history. At other times, it is cliched, stereotypical in its portrayal of a small Texas town and its inhabitants. Two annoying things: the town's Episcopalian Priest, who is in his sixties, is repeatedly referred to as "old" (really?), and virtually every character has an epiphany at some point.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and am amazed that it is Lynda Rutledge's first book! It is a pleasure to read and is so rich with complexity. Set in a fictional town close to the hill county, Bass, Texas, covers December 31, 1999 and the following day.If you remember that time, some people were worried about the world coming to end and computers not working. Because of the cover, I thought it would be a light and funny book but it turned out to be so much more.

Faith Bass Darling, a 74 year old widow, had stayed indoors for thirty years until that day. She hired a group of boys to start pulling things (precious antiques) out of her house onto her front porch and yard. She said that she had made a deal with God in the early morning. The deal is revealed later on.

Dozens of Tiffany Lamps, a special mechanical clock in the form of an elephant that swung its truck, and many other precious antiques too numerous to mention were now for sale. There are pages to give you about the history of her antiques and just like the antiques and the family's relationship with them. Each family member was connected with at least one of the antiques in the story. Faith had a son who was killed in an accident and a daughter who took off some time ago, to she just doesn't know where.

As the day progresses, Faith Bass Darling, who is a victim of Alzheimer's disease reminds herself of who she is and where she lives and has moments of blankness. Her daughter, Claudia just happens to return home on that particular day with a purpose in mind. We learn of their past history of Faith, Claudia and Mike, the deceased son and Faith's past husband, Claude. I must say that I keep calling him a scoundrel, as I read about him. An Episcopal Father George Fallow who is going through a self-realization about his religious feelings or the lack of them and, John Jasper Johnson, a very handsome officer also are also very important to this story.

The author leads us back and forth from the past to the present so expertly and she employs humor, wit, and drama so expertly. None of it is forced. Her characters are so richly developed that they seemed real. It all flows so freely, so much better than any garage sale that I every dared to hold.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who ponders about life and those who are just interested in the history of antiques.

I received this book as a part of the Amazon Vine program and that in no way influenced my review.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the quirky southern novel with a sassy character that I was expecting.

Faith Bass Darling, richest woman in the small town of Bass, Texas received a message from God to sell all her possessions on the eve of the new millennium. People flock from all over to buy her beautiful Tiffany lamps, antique roll top desk, porcelain figurines, etc. at yard sale prices while the town's antique dealer, Bobbie Blankenship can only watch with horror. No amount of reasoning or pleading with the recluse can make her see reason.

Faith lost her 17 year old son, Mike, to a tragic accident and then her husband just a few days later. It was then that Faith shut down and seemed to forget that she had a 15 year old daughter who still needed her. After two years of trying to be mothered, daughter Claudia storms out of the house, jumps on a motorcycle with her boyfriend, and vows never to return. Now, 20 years later, Claudia has come home to claim what is rightfully hers and finds instead a monstrous yard sale in the front yard and a mother who sees dead people and hears God talking to her.

The story is slow-paced, irritatingly so. There is a huge mystery surrounding the death of her son and the injury to his football buddy while the two of them were working the oil rigs for Mike's rough and tough father. There is a mystery surrounding the death of Mike's father. There is a mystery surrounding the family heirloom that was promised to Claudia years ago. There are flashbacks from various characters that, rather than fill in the gaps, just confused me. At times I thought: Just tell me, please! Then I could understand and maybe feel sympathy for the various characters involved. The ending, when it came, was rather flat and I still felt no sympathy.

The book did touch upon the heart-break of Alzheimer's Disease and how frightening it must be for the victim--as Faith put it, she didn't want to die before she was dead and that did touch me. How awful it would be to be locked inside one's own mind, to stop being able to live in the moment.

The book also brought up a good question about material possessions--do we possess them or do they possess us--and are they as necessary and valuable as we might think? Are the memories behind those possessions valid, or are they memories we make up to validate their presence in our lives?

With those two issues, it almost made sense for Faith Bass Darling to rid herself of the clutter of her life. If only the secrets had been revealed earlier and in a more emotional reveal, I might have enjoyed the book more. It didn't have to be the funny, quirky story that I thought it might be, but it did have to some real emotion packed into it. And, for me, that wasn't there.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that were quite funny, and parts that were touching, but on the whole I found it frustrating and quite sad.
2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book about forgetting

[Nina Draganova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Според моето скромно мнение, писател не се става с посещаването на писателски конференции и литературни уъркшопи.
И това го доказва тази книга.
Освен това не е достатъчно да имаш история.
Трябва да можеш да я разкажеш, а още по-добре това да стане увлекателно.
За пореден път установявам , че трябва повече да вярвам на интуицията си .

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't enjoyed reading a book this much in months.  It's almost a shame to have to write a review, but it certainly deserves to be shared and trumpted.

On December 31, 1999 God tells Faith Bass Darling, the richest woman in Bass Texas, to sell everything she owns, including her 40 priceless Tiffany lamps, because this is her last day on earth.  Faith hasn't always paid much attention to the almighty, but since there's been a lot of hoopla and worry about the New Millenium coming tonite, she decides she'd better follow directions.  Faith's Alzheimer's has led her to become more and more recluse --she hasn't left her mansion in almost 20 years; more and more forgetful -- she has a mantra she repeats constantly to prove to herself that she still knows who she is, where she is and what day it is; and she's completely lost contact with her daughter, her only living relative.  So when she begins hauling out her priceless antiques from the family's century old collection and selling them for pennies, the word spreads faster than melted butter on hot corn.

The local sheriff (a football teammate of her deceased son) and the area's premier antique dealer (a childhood friend of her daughter's) both  try to convince Faith that this yard sale isn't really a good idea.  The family dynamics and memories that are stirred up when the daughter arrives make this much more than the farce it could have been.

Lynn Rutledge, in her debut novel, has given us a gift.  Readers are introduced to a gentle, complex lady clinging desperately to the threads of her memories, who has just enough rationality left to understand that her "stuff" doesn't matter-- it's not what makes her happy or unhappy, it can't bring back her son, and it obviously can't keep her from losing her memories, and ultimately her life.

The other characters are equally as well drawn, complex, and just plain likeable.  As a reader, you are immediately drawn to all of them; you cry with them, you laugh with them, and you find yourself wanting to help in anyway you can to make life better.   The story plays out in only one day, with a beautifully written ending that leaves the reader wanting more, knowing it won't happen, and ultimately being satisfied with how the New Year begins. This story is a delight.  Let's hope that Ms. Rutledge has more treats like this one in her future.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale is an enchanting story and a magnificent first novel. Sometime after midnight on December 31, 1999 Faith Bass Darling heard the voice of God, and he instructed her to have a garage sale. Not just an ordinary sale though, he instructed her to sell the many antiques that had become the contents of her mansion. Widowed, the mother of a deceased son and a runaway daughter Faith also believes the last day of the millennium will also be her last day on earth. As soon as the sun rises she begins to empty her home of the many items that have been collected by four generations of the Bass family. A Tiffany Lamp collection, a Louis XV clock, an antique engagement ring and an old roll top desk are among the many valuable items that are being sold for much less than they are worth. Antique dealer Bobbie Blankenship, who has dreamed of living in the mansion since girlhood is stunned by Faith’s behavior and attempted to contact Faith’s missing daughter Claudia. Deputy Sheriff John Jasper Johnson, school friend of Faith’s deceased sin is also taken aback by her behavior but isn’t sure just what he can do; and Father George A. Fallow, who is in the midst of his own crisis of faith, is hoping to reclaim a portrait that found its way into Faith’s hands years ago. As the day progresses secrets are revealed and truths are exposed. Lynda Rutledge has created a novel filled with interesting and flawed characters that are struggling with issues that plague us all; how to keep our possessions from possessing us, how to keep our memories but not become enslaved by the past, and what will really happen to us after death. Rutledge has struck the perfect blend of humor and pathos, and presents a story that is both thought-provoking and heartwarming.

[Holly Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the world braces for computer chaos on the eve before Y2K, Faith Bass Darling has a different priority. She is the sole occupant of the family mansion in Bass, Texas. On December 31, 1999 she decides she will die the next day. To prepare, seventy-year-old Faith dons her best white summer dress and matching sun hat. She pays teenage boys to carry her belongings out onto the big wrap-around porch and front lawn. Tiffany lamps, an antique French clock, and an heirloom wedding ring from 1870 are some of the “bargains” she tags for a garage sale. Her Alzheimer disease hides any memory of the care given to these heirlooms by generations of her family.

Faith’s life is told in a series of flashbacks. Her family losses are moving and sensitively told. Her garage sale and bargain-pricing of invaluable items show that she puts no stock in worldly possessions. What ultimately matters to Faith Bass Darling is freedom from her mind, which she constantly struggles to keep intact.

Ironic and interesting are the sections titled “Provenance” where the author values and explains the history behind the “priceless” items Faith sells for a pittance. The book draws a line between rich and poor and is an important message that wealth doesn’t necessarily bring happiness. Well-written and original, Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale is a debut deserving of your attention.

The Amazon Vine Program graciously provided an advance review copy.

[Julie Kibler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC of Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale obtained at the ALA Midwinter Expo in Dallas, Texas in January. This is such a lovely story. It's unique and literary and accessible and breathtaking all at once! A librarian friend also read it, and she said, "I don't care where you get it when it comes out, but you MUST read this book! I obtained an early proof copy at ALA midwinter in Dallas a few weeks ago and was fortunate enough to meet the author. The book is wonderful, funny, sweet, tender and so very Texan. Lynda Rutledge has written one of the most tender, holy end of life scenes I've ever read and I thank her for the experience." I can't really top what she said. It's all true.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arrived after a long delay from the Publisher (Penguin). Better late than never, so... My thanks to the Author, Penguin, and Goodreads for this free novel to read and review.

Well worth the wait. This was truly a complete joy to read!

I can rant and rave about how enjoyable this book was to me and thus ending up by possibly spoiling the Storyline, or I can just strongly suggest reading it yourself and then do your own raving for this being a great heartwarming Story.

[Carole Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A debut novel whose words flow like water over issues such as family, aging, possessions, racism, death, religion and love. There is a lot to unpack in this story of the richest family in a small Texas town. The fact that I’m 78 as I read this story may have influenced my attachment to the heroine Faith Bass Darlington as she tries to deal with her memories while dealing with advanced dementia. I was expecting a fun quirky read but I encountered a much more honest look at growing older.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I REALLY enjoyed this story of a woman's letting go of her possessions and finally her mind. A very sensitive look into the horrible illness, Alzhiemer's, and why we hold onto the things we do...including our resentments. Highly recommended!

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I give a 2+, as I cannot get over my expectations. I liked the title and the cover and expected something more than what I got. I would read more by Rutledge, as in many ways this was an enjoyable read, but I feel like it just fell a bit flat for me...

[Cranky Commentary (Melinda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my. I am truly an odd duck. Usually I am panning a book everyone else loves. THIS time, I am giving 5 stars to a book that has more than a few 1 and 2 star ratings.

Faith Bass Darling thought she heard the voice of God telling her to have a rummage. The problem is, Faith lives in an historical family mansion, and all her rummage sale items are very, very special.

Maybe because I love history, and I love, love antiques, this story held more meaning for me than other people. The absolute horror I felt at the thought of family heirlooms being sold for dollars was not because of their worth (although they were worth plenty), but the historical and sentimental value of each object. The book is a journey, though, that guides the reader gently into the realization of what objects really have value, and why.

Aside from this lofty lesson, there is plenty of humor, and down-home love-‘em-or-hate-‘em characters that rival some of Joshilyn Jackson’s writing (in my humble opinion). The insight the author used when writing her characters was wonderful, and the estranged mother/daughter relationship really pulled my heartstrings. The old friendship and history that Faith’s daughter Claudia had with Bobbie and John Jasper was both tragic and precious. The short side stories were not distracting as they sometimes can be, and those characters were intriguing to me as well. I loved the little thieving girl, and wanted more about her. The Juanita Lopez, her daughter Angelina, and the Tiffany lamp story was especially good!

This Crackpot rating is 5 solid stars.

[Deb Schum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was trolling for books on Good Reads when a title with the word 'giraffe' caught my eye. 11k likes and the overview looked interesting. I took a quick peek at the author's bio and turns out Faith Bass was her 1st book. 260 likes, won a 1st book award and was turned into a movie with Catherine Deneuve. Seemed like the more folks should have read the 1st book!

This is a story about letting go. Made me think about On Golden Pond. All that baggage we tote around, the perceived slights, the events that life throws at us that we just can't seem to put into perspective. How all the weight we carry puts us on paths that limits the life experience. It is a downward spiral we see but we just can't stop. The characters drew me in as did life in a small town. The fractured mother/daughter relationship touched a nerve as I was never able to repair my own relationship with my Mom. We just smiled and nodded because anything more than that would never end well.

Interestingly enough my Mom was also a hoarder but unfortunately there were no Tiffany lamps at our house. This experience turned me into a minimalist. When we moved to FL we sold everything and I do mean everything. It was cathartic although the husband did hyperventilate a couple of times. Now we live in 1300 square feet of calm.

On to that book about 2 giraffes!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale is a story of what happens at the end of a life. What are the things you keep, lose or give away...What happens when one day you wake up knowing this will be your last day?
If you are saucy 70 yr. old Faith Bass darling, the richest gal in Bass Texas you decide on the spur of the moment to have a garage sale and sell all the things you once thought were so very, very important to you.

Faith wakes up on the last day of 1999 confused and alone, knowing that tonight she will die but before she goes she must have a huge garage sale because God woke her up and told her so!

Her husband and son are dead, her daughter is estranged. She is alone with a huge house full of treasures. Her mind is failing and she is moving back and forth in time reflecting on the parts of her life, good and bad that she can still remember.

She reconnects with friends & neighbors she has not seen for years with her garage sale who are delighted with her high priced merchandise going for pennies!
There are some heartbreaking, funny and bittersweet moments in this book. It is a very good and satisfying read

[JanB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really more of a 2.5

This was slightly better than "ok", but not quite good enough for me to recommend. The premise sounded interesting and quirky but it ended up being a rather dull read. In fact, I found myself skimming. I didn't care for the way the story was told in flashbacks and found none of the characters likable.

[Jessica Brocavich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this for a while, I downloaded it soon after finishing West With Giraffes (which was incredible and one of my favorite books.) I did enjoy this and setting, characters, etc. it was tough for me personally because I like short chapters and there are 2 chapters in this book lol. It’s a great insight to a mind with Alzheimer’s looks like and how it affects relationships, ability to function independently, and the like. Loved finding out about her collection of antiques and how they came into Faith’s possession.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's an old saying money can't buy happiness and that's very true for Faith Bass Darling, she lost her son in a terrible accident, her husband's death followed soon after and her daughter ran away in her teens, yes this was years ago but Faith seems to be reliving it like an old movie loop. Now lately her days aren't as clear as they once were but when she's woken up not once but three times by a God she hasn't spoken to in years, she takes notice. Does he give her an epiphany, or give her prophecies, oh no he tells her to clear out her stately mansion in Bass Texas and have a garage sale to end all garage sales and on this the most momentous of days, December 31, 1999.
So on the dawn of a new century lives will change in the small once prosperous now mostly forgotten town of Bass Texas and the ripple effect will spread until no one is spared the backlash, especially Faith, Bobbie Ann Blankenship, Claudia Darling, Father George Fallow and John Jasper Johnson. These lives will be changed forever, but will the sale change them for the good or for the worse.

I love reading debut novels, it always feels like birth when a new voice in the writing community comes on the scene and it was no different with this unexpected gem of a novel. Now by the title you might think that Ms. Rutledge has a comedy, well you'd be wrong just like I was. Instead inside this book I found the epic struggles of her characters and finally absolution and resolution, there were haunted and troubled people who could be anyone I know and I loved how the author came to her conclusions and found solace for her troubled crew. She used dialogue that I could easily read and understand and her narrative was animated enough that I could easily put myself in the scenes she created. This is a read that would appeal to a wide audience by both sexes and many ages. Now if you're looking for a novel that gives you a concrete conclusion this isn't for you, but if like me you like to have that almost absolute ending yet with degrees of variations left to your own imagination, then this is definitely your next must read.
Ms. Rutledge this was exactly the kind of novel that goes on my keeper shelf to be brought out to read again and again and to share with only those who can be trusted with a treasured keepsake. Thank you and I look forward to what you come up with next.
Here is my Q&A with the author Lynda Rutledge - http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...

[Viviane Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Doesn't the soul have a memory?...If not, what’s all this living for?” This is the key question Faith Bass Darling asks Father George Fallow, the local Episcopalian priest. For Faith has late stage Alzheimer’s disease and knows her mind is shutting on and off so regularly that she can’t discriminate between real conversations with old friends and neighbors and the “ghosts” she keeps seeing and conversing with. Faith was once a woman truly blessed or at least so she thought when she was younger. But now one terrible tragedy, a marriage of convenience for her late husband, and a daughter who ran away has taught her differently. She’s dropped her Baptist church-going; indeed in the recent past years she has lived the life of a recluse. That’s all changed now because God has spoken to her. She’s got the rest of one day to get it all right.

Everyone has tortured memories which are painful in this novel and yet Lynda Rutledge mixes humor, puzzles and a type of mystery plot in which we learn the separate but oh so connected story of each character. These include Father Fallow who has been a priest so long that he presides over services in a rote fashion that has absolutely no meaning for him; yet Faith is the one person whose honesty and pain have touched him deeply to search more for the next step in his journey. Then there’s Sheriff John Jaspar who used to be best friends with Faith’s son Michael; he’s an African-American whose rage at racism once, he believes, caused the terrible tragedy in Faith’s life. Yet she continues to be kind to him.

Faith’s daughter, Claudia, has been running for years but now she’s returned to find her mother selling “everything” in the house on the front lawn, specifically charging from a quarter to a dollar for antique furniture, Tiffany lamps, etc. Claudia wants one thing which she believes will solve her problems but she’s going to get more than she bargained for and learn a great deal about her “real” problems in the process. On and on it goes.

A final group of scenes are so unexpected one doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale is a wonderful, engaging novel about what really matters with memories and relationships, about moving past ideals and dealing with reality, about forgiveness, expectations, disappointments, and so, so much more! Superb fiction which should be a bestseller and would make a grand movie!!!!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This book is a bit difficult to rate. The writing itself was fantastic. I think the author has a beautiful written voice. There were sentences that seemed almost poetic. Certainly lines that were understated so much that they were deceptively poignant. However, where the disconnect for me was the overall story. It was slow to unfold and a bit disjointed. Almost so slow that it lost steam and therefore my attention wandered.

One could easily think from the quirky title that this was a cute, comedy type book. (I know I did). I was expecting an older lady with spunk having a garage sale and to meet several small town inhabitants and share in their antics. Boy was I wrong!! Let me explain something first-- I try not to read reviews before reading a book. I don't like knowing what to expect. I want to take that ride with the author. So in that respect I also have a bad habit of not reading the full synopsis either here on Goodreads or inside the dust cover. I'll say with this way of selecting books I've had some surprises for sure! This was one -- as I said I was expecting a comedy or cozy feel and I got almost the opposite. This book tackles Alzheimer's, small town race relations, and touches on spousal abuse, and the death of a child. I would not have picked this book up at this time had I known. My mother is in the early stages of Alzheimers and the wound is still very fresh and oozing. I'm proud of myself for pushing through this book.

One gripe though-- nowhere in this book did Faith have a "garage sale" she in fact had a "yard sale" and it was stated as such throughout the book. I wonder why the author chose that word for the title? It would have been fine as Faith Bass Darling's Last Yard Sale.


3.5*(4*)/3.40*

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book made me think it was going to be a girlfriends-type fun novel, but it was NOT. Oh, so definitely not. Mother-daughter beyond-troubled relationship; Alzheimer's; small-town intertwined characters (but not in the predictable fashion); football heroes, but, again, not in the predictable fashion;a priest wrestling with his own faith as well as with the souls of Bass, Texas; the meaning of our possessions; inheritances, both tangible and otherwise; marriages for love and those for money; sisters, brothers, and their friend and what a thread that winds through those years...... I could go on and on, but you must read this book for yourself. It takes place on December 31, 1999, as the New Millenium draws near, bringing the anticipatory element of the unknown. Faith Ann Bass Darling awakens to the idea that God has told her to have a garage sale, and have a garage sale she does. Anyone who has ever struggled with clutter - family clutter, personal clutter of the heart or what to do with hand-me-down clutter - will relate to this book, as will anyone who has dealt with parents before and after you have grown up.

[P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this from Goodreads and I loved it! While I expected a light, funny story, it is quite deep and thought-provoking. I was definitely moved by the unique narrative. Lynda Rutledge has fashioned a powerful tale through the development of amazing characters. Faith Bass Darling, facing the final stages of Alzheimer's and wanting "not to be dead before" she "dies," attempts to come to terms with her memories and to reconcile with her God on the final day of the millenium. She pulls along others who have been "stuck" as well for the past couple of decades, forcing them to confront their demons and to move forward. Oh my gosh, it is emotional and extremely enjoyable. Let me just say--it is no accident that the main character's name is Faith. I found her symbolic of life itself and the novel an excellent metaphor of our journey. It is so well-written; I hope this author has more stories in her to share!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place over the course of just one day, which really surprised me when I thought about it. The narrative takes you back and forth between events that happened decades and even centuries apart, so it seems like it encompasses more than just one day. I thought it was amusing that the mythical book written by the main character in the book I just finished, "Objects of My Affection," was called 'Things Are Not People,' which could have served as the backdrop of this story, too. The main character in this book was named Faith and I'm sure that wasn't an accident, as much of the book contends with what we believe and how that shifts as we go though life. Faith has Alzheimer's, and I could relate so much to her daughter remembering her mother as someone who valued her precious antiques over people, since we've gone through such similar emotions with my mother-in-law.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suffering from Alzheimer's, Faith Bass Darling awakens on the last day of the millenium after hearing God's voice telling her to sell all her possessions because it's her last day on earth. As she begins selling all her priceless antiques for pennies, chaos ensues in the small Texas town that has been ruled by her ancestors for more than 100 years.

This is a gem of a story about love, loss and redemption. One of the characters says, "We're just like the antiques. We grow old and get scarred and beat up along the way, and the only question becomes whether we're going to make it until we realize what we already have is valuable." This book will make you stop and think about what is really important in your life.