"As he read on, he decided that according to the book, he was definitely a medium-sized, redheaded, nonbreeding accidental. At last he knew what he was, and it amused him no end. He was a rare bird, after all." -Oswald Campbell, after perusing Birds of Alabama
I am quite a fan of Fannie Flagg. I find her novels easy to read with interesting characters and very engaging plots. I discovered this one on the library site while looking for her most recent, The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop. A Redbird Christmas dates back to 2004 but I had not heard of it. It is only 206 pages, making it a pretty quick read. As Christmas was approaching, it seemed like the perfect choice. I wasn't wrong.
This is a delightful story of Oswald Campbell who, after getting an extremely unsettling diagnosis from his doctor in Chicago, decides to move to South Alabama where a warmer climate might extend his life. He ends up in Lost River, a small town on the Gulf Coast. Oswald, a recovering alcoholic, doesn't have much going for him and is rather a sad, lonely character when he meets the warm and welcoming people of his new home. They include Frances Cleverdon and her sister Mildred and Roy Grimmitt, proprietor of the general store. Early in the story Roy rescues and adopts an injured redbird called Jack. From the title you can tell the bird will be central to the tale.
Another important character is Patsy, a pitiful, crippled girl who is neglected and seemingly unwanted by anyone in her family. Patsy becomes very friendly with Jack, the cardinal. It is endearing how the townspeople of Lost River come to love Patsy and find ways to help her, including getting her the surgery she needs for her affliction.
This a sweet story, full of love and hope, ending with a Christmas miracle. My rating is 5.
And by the way, there are recipes at the end. I will copy a few before returning the book to the library!
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