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 questions: 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
“With a big Texas heart, Lynda Rutledge writes of second chances, redemption, what we truly own, and what we must release in this spectacular novel...Put a sticker on this one, it's a keeper.”—New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani
“I loved every page...Treat yourself to this luminous, enchanting story.”—New York Times bestselling author Haywood Smith
“A small-town novel that asks big questions about life...A most thought-provoking read.”—New York Times bestselling author Tiffany Baker
“Eerie, charming, heartrending, and heartbreaking at the same time, Rutledge's novel is a triumph.”—W. P. (Bill) Kinsella, author of Shoeless Joe, the basis for the blockbuster movie Field of Dreams
“Oh, my God, this novel is GOOD!! I knew the idea was INSPIRED but I didn't dream what Rutledge could do with words. It knocked my socks off, and that doesn't happen often.”—Jenny Wingfield, author of The Homecoming of Samuel Lake
“Incredibly engaging…Devotees of Mary Kay Andrews and Marian Keyes will adore the wit and warmth of Rutledge's authorial voice. Bringing questions of family, community, religion, and the lure of a Queen Anne table to the forefront of the reader's imagination, Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale is a powerful first novel.”—Booklist
“This solid debut is a fascinating character-driven story of misconceptions, family, and tragedy. Fortunately, Rutledge also alleviates the somber tone with moments of humor.”—Library Journal
“Paints a colorful portrait of a larger than life Texas matron.”—Publishers Weekly
“Reminiscent of early works of Larry McMurtry and Edward Swift...in her wry and witty voice, Rutledge has given the tale, if not greater power, at least a contemporary twist...Adept at gently mocking the small-mindedness of small towns and celebrating the expansiveness of small-town souls, the author crafts a tale of love, identity, and redemption—not to mention some killer discount shopping.”—The Texas Observer
