Book Review: A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

I re-read A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg every year. It is one of my favorite stories. Although the title implies it, it's really not a Christmas book and can be enjoyed in any season. The book is an easy read and dotted with areas in south Alabama with which I am familiar.

Oswald T. Campbell, divorced long ago and all alone, hates the cold Chicago winters, which aggravate his emphysema. His doctor tells him that he must move to a warmer climate or he will die within the month. But, where will he go?

Ending up in the tiny community of Lost River, Alabama, Oswald thinks he's entered another country. Everyone is so friendly, the slow pace of life is appealing and the weather is fabulous - even in winter.

The cast of characters is fascinating and all the more funny since there really are people like that in the area. The mail is delivered by boat by the best fisherman around, the Creoles who live across the river stay there, the widows have their do-good "Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society" and the only store sells everything from fish hooks to marshmallows.

Jack is the title redbird (otherwise known as a cardinal) who was rescued as a baby and nurtured back to health by Roy, the store owner. He can no longer fly but Roy teaches him all manner of tricks. The bird pokes all the food in the store and customers become used to buying things with Jack "holes" in them - all but Mildred, whose hair color changes with the wind - she complains about it all the time.

Lost River all but adopts a poor crippled girl named Patsy Casey who is abandoned by her family and who is also fascinated by Jack. When a crisis occurs involving Patsy, Lost River and surrounding communities join together to support her.

This is a delightful story, like all Fannie Flagg books. It is heart-warming and tragic, with tongue-in-cheek humor and intriguing people.