When I picked-up a copy of Fannie Flagg's latest book entitled The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion from the store, the saleslady asked me if I'd ever read Flagg's A Redbird Christmas. When I told her I had not, she said that it's one of her favorite Christmas stories, and she rereads it every year during the holidays. Well, I had to find a copy, and I'm so happy I did!Deep in the southernmost part of Alabama, along the banks of a lazy winding river, lies the sleepy little community known as Lost River, a place that time itself seems to have forgotten...I must admit that I enjoy Fannie Flagg's books. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is one of my all-time favorites, and not just because of the Alabama setting. A Redbird Christmas isn't set in Birmingham, but rather L.A. (that's Lower Alabama)….Baldwin County, to be exact. Baldwin County is located across the bay from Mobile on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Lost River is a sleepy little community with the population of 108, and is practically run by the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society, a group of middle aged and senior women who enjoy secretly decorating community Christmas trees and matchmaking. Their rivals in a nearby community are the Polka Dotted Swiss Society.Up in frozen Chicagoland, Oswald T. Campbell has been given a dire diagnosis of emphysema. His doctor doesn't believe that he can handle another Chicago winter and the threat of pneumonia and suggests he head South for his health. An old brochure for a health spa and fishing camp in Lost River, Alabama intrigues him, so he calls the sleepy Alabama town for some information about the spa. One of the Polka Dots, Frances, answers the phone at the community center and tells him that the spa has been closed for years, but he can find a room to let. Oswald leaves Chicago for L.A. and acclimates well to the climate and culture. He befriends a heart-broken thirty-something grocer with a pet redbird (we call cardinals redbirds in Alabama). The redbird was rescued after young boys shot it a few times with a BB gun, and the little bird becomes the town mascot with his tricks and antics. This story is so sweet. It's a story about faith, love, and miracles. I don't want to give away more spoilers, but you'll laugh and cry happy tears. It's neat how a little redbird with a crippled wing can bring a community together and heal broken hearts, bodies, and spirits. Plus, there are nineteen recipes from several of the book's characters, and most of them are holiday recipes.
A Redbird Christmas, by Fannie Flagg★★★★ ½Synopsis: Deep in the southernmost part of Alabama, along the banks of a lazy winding river, lies the sleepy little community known as Lost River, a place that time itself seems to have forgotten. After a startling diagnosis from his doctor, Oswald T. Campbell leaves behind the cold and damp of the oncoming Chicago winter to spend what he believes will be his last Christmas in the warm and welcoming town of Lost River. There he meets the postman who delivers mail by boat, the store owner who nurses a broken heart, the ladies of the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society, who do clandestine good works. And he meets a little redbird named Jack, who is at the center of this tale of a magical Christmas when something so amazing happened that those who witnessed it have never forgotten it. Once you experience the wonder, you too will never forget A Redbird ChristmasIn A Sentence: A cute read …*sniff* It made me cry.My Thoughts: I’ve been debating how to rate this novel. One the one hand, I’m not sure I’ll ever read this story again; once seems enough. On the other hand, I couldn’t stop reading (even though it was past 1 o-clock in the morning and I had to get up early), and the ending made me cry. So I decided a 4.5-star rating would work just fine.Fannie Flagg is the master of comfort reads. I’ve yet to read a book of hers where I didn’t feel better by the end (Can’t Wait To Get To Heaven is a huge favorite of mine). This story was no exception. It was sweet and lovely, with savory characters, and, as always, a happy ending for everyone (this isn’t a spoiler—anyone can see that this will be a happy ending from the get-go). The writing is wholesome, and it’s a really cool idea to have recipes in the back of the book. Plus, the pace is nice and steady from beginning to end, with spouts of humor peppered throughout.While I wouldn’t consider this to be Flagg’s best novel, it’s still pretty good and worth a look at the very least. It’s ideal for the holiday season, and you won’t regret spending time with this little book. I definitely recommend this novel for those who like the occasional comfort read.
What do You think about A Redbird Christmas (2005)?
Not my normal kind of read but I did enjoy it. At least until the end. The last few pages lost me. I found myself calling out "Really" multiple times. It was a little to neat and perfect of an ending for me. I like happy endings but this one had an ideal ending for all of the major characters, not just one or two, ALL. If you can get over that kind of ending than I can recommend this to anyone of any age.The book is about a down on his luck negative Ned who takes a trip down to Lost River Alabama to die. While there we meet a plethora of likable characters and a story is born. The main focus ends up being on an abandoned/orphaned little girl who causes this whole back water town to fall in love with her and Jack, the Cardinal that the grocery store owner nurses back to health.
—Justin
I was a bit disappointed by this offering from Fannie Flagg as I have read several of her other books and enjoyed them a great deal. While this is one of those feel good kind of stories that would make a good made-for-tv "Christmas special", it is just a little too sappy for my liking. Everything just comes together all too predictably and too wonderfully in the end. Perhaps I missed something and this book was written for kids.The characters are interesting and likeable and the book touches on some issues such as alcoholism, terminal illness, poverty, kids without parents, racism, and faith; but only superficially. I would say the most important message is the power of "community.' Much can be accomplished when everyone works together.This book does describe some interesting aspects of southern living. Who would not want to live in a place like Lost River, Alabama? The book even has recipes in the back for all the food dishes mentioned in the text.Don't forget to eat your black-eyed peas on New Year's Day
—Steven Howes
This story takes place over the time frame of 2 Christmas'.A man moves down to Southern Alabama based upon the advice of his Doctor and a pamphlet his doctor gave him. The pamphlet ended up being from the early 1900's, but the man still decided to move there and give it a go because his health supposedly was guaranteed to get better. He had some severe breathing disorders and this place was in an area that was known to help him breathe better. He got to this small town and they took him in as if he had been living there his whole life. A little girl, Patsy, comes into play in this story. After seeing Patsy roaming around the town, dressed so dirty, disheveled hair, etc., one day her mother brings her into town and drops her off to another character's home and asks if they could take care of her because they couldn't at this time. They took her in as she was their own. They all LOVED this little girl. Then, a strange man starts coming around asking questions about this little girl. They do all they can to hide this little girl. The Christmas holidays come around again, and the pride they take in this little girl is unbelievable. She is so sweet they cater to her. One of the local store owners has a red Canary in his store. Patsy befriends this little bird. Patsy ends up in the hospital and something bad happens to this bird of which she knows nothing about. All Patsy wanted was to see this bird and play with him again. This is what got Patsy home again, the bird. So as not to spoil the rest of this story, that is all I will say.Fannie Flagg has a knack of taking this Christmas story and making it so sweet. This book was a nice Christmas read. I read it during the holidays and enjoyed it immensely. I had to pass it on to one of my friends!We ALL know Fannie Flagg is a WONDERFUL writer! She also wrote Fried Green Tomato's! Another one of my favorites!
—Laurie Carlson
