From Publishers Weekly Lured by a brochure his doctor gives him after informing him that his emphysema has left him with scarcely a year to live， 52-year-old Oswald T. Campbell abandons wintry Chicago for Lost River， Ala.， where he believes he'll be spending his last Christmas. Bestselling author Flagg (Fried Green Tomatoes; Standing in the Rainbow) makes this down-home story about good neighbors and the power of love sparkle with wit and humor， as she tells of Oswald's new life in a town with one grocery store and a resident cardinal (or redbird， as the natives call it). Frances Cleverdon， one of four widows and three single women in town， hopes to fix him up with her sister， Mildred—if only Mildred wouldn't keep dying her hair outrageous colors every few days. The quirky story takes a heartwarming turn when Frances and Oswald become involved in the life of Patsy Casey， an abandoned young girl with a crippled leg. As Christmas approaches， the townspeople and neighboring communities—even the Creoles， whose long-standing feud with everybody else keeps them on the other side of the river—rally round shy， sweet Patsy. Flagg is a gifted storyteller who knows how to tug at readers' heartstrings， winding up her satisfying holiday tale with the requisite Christmas miracle. Copyright © Reed Business Information， a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From AudioFile When Oswald T. Campbell's doctor orders him to head to the warm South for his health， a chance phone call finds him a room in Lost River， Alabama. In the course of a year there， he has adventures both absurd， such as finding himself in an Accordian Association meeting instead of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting， and touching， such as getting involved in the life of an abandoned little girl who loves the lame redbird that has taken up lodgings in the town grocery. Fannie Flagg reads her novel with a honeyed voice that brings to mind one of the ladies of Lost River telling a favorite story. Her slightly tart Southern humor keeps the story charming and light on the schmaltz. And， yes， listeners will enjoy the story anytime， not just at Christmas. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2005， Portland， Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile， Portland， Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. See all Editorial Reviews