Welcome to the World, Baby Girl

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Summary: What a waste of time
Review: This is the worst book I've read in a while. The only word I can think of to describe it is trite. The characters are barely two-dimentional and the story doesn't make you care about any of them. Most of the plot is predictable, except for the "big secret" at the end. I skimmed through the last hundred pages because I must admit that I had to know what the secret was- when revealed it was a complete let-down. I loved Fried Green Tomatoes... but don't waste a minute of your pecious time on Baby Girl.

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Summary: Fannie Does it Again
Review: Once again Fannie Flagg has written a great novel. Her books are not only for southern readers but for anyone who likes a good book.

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Summary: Welcome to Both Sides of the Mason-Dixon Line, Baby Girl
Review: Fannie Flagg serves up a hefty helping of Southern humor in this sometimes funny, sometimes melodramatic, but always interesting story. Baby Girl is Dena Nordstrom of Elmwood Springs, Missouri, who becomes one of the top tv journalists in New York City. She learns a lot of lessons in the big city, such as tv news has no ethics, tabloid shows are what America wants, and people with no morals rise to the top. When Dena crashes from the stress of big city living, she goes back home (against her will) to be coddled and loved by her extended family. The very best parts of this book take place below the Mason-Dixon line as cousin Norma and her husband Mackey Warren delight readers with their down-to-earth goodness and hysterically funny dialogue. Also adding to the fun is Kappa sorority sister extraordinaire Sookie from Selma, Alabama, the complete antithesis of Dena. Sookie is a devoted wife and mother, a born-again Christian, but mostly she is a loving friend who never forgets that being a Kappa is the ultimate achievement for all women. Flagg describes small-town living perfectly and captures all the love, humor, and genuine neighborly concern that small towns have become famous for. Lucky for Dena, because she has a major crisis to confront. Things become serious when Dena delves into her past and searches for the mother who abandoned her many years ago. The climax of this novel is surprising and totally unique. I was shocked at what I learned about Dena's mother and overcome with emotion at the poignancy of the story.

But the reason this book appealed to me so much was primarily due to Neighbor Dorothy, the first character we meet and the one whose spirit hovers over the entire story. As Flagg moves back and forth from the forties to the eighties and all points in between, we get a picture of what it is like to grow up in a loving environment and how it stays with you and reaches out to help you no matter how far away you roam. So curl up with Dena, her friends, neighbors, and shrinks, and most of all Neighbor Dorothy, for a bittersweet trip North and South and see which world is the one for Dena.

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Summary: You'll love Neighbor Dorothy
Review: FRIED GREEN TOMATOES fans will want to read this book. It is chock full of quirky characters and different settings and zigzags back and forth between 1913 and 1987.
The baby girl of the title is Dena Nordstrom, a talk show host who's developing an ulcer, mainly because of the increasing sensationalism of network news programs. Eventually, because of the ulcer and Dr. Michael Debakey, of all people, she winds up recuperating with her cousins in Elmwood Springs, Missouri.
But there's more to the ulcer than qualms about tabloid journalism. Dena's doctor sends her to a psychiatrist and we gradually find that she was deserted by her mother as a young girl. And we begin our search to find her. This part of the book becomes a bit melodramatic. The overly earnest tone will bother some. When you get to the climax, you'll be asking yourself, "Is that all there is?"
There's also a love story. Dena's psychiatrist falls in love with her; she thinks he's dull, but he grows on her, singing Gershwin and wearing a troubadour suit . You will fall in love with Elmwood Springs, Missouri, especially with Neighbor Dorothy and her radio show. We meet Neighbor Dorothy and her singing canary birds, Dumpling and Moe, in 1948, and although she's dead at the end of the book, her spirit lives. You can still smell her chocolate cake in her kitchen.
Another interesting character is Sarah Jane Krackenberry or Sookie, Dena's sorority sister, who lives in Selma, Alabama. The scene where she becomes born again is a hoot.

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Summary: For those north and south of the Mason-Dixon
Review: I saw this book lying around my house and picked it up out of boredom. WOW! I stayed up late several nights devouring the pages. Fannie Flagg's finest work to date, "Baby Girl" immediately reached me because I have dreamed of a world of bright lights and big cities, but I come from a small southern town and was able to relate to all settings. I just absolutely loved it and Flagg's 1940s-1970s alternating sections work really well and it is amazing to see how everything ties together. It's modern fiction, mystery, romance and so much more. Highly recommended...you won't be bored!

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Summary: Dena Nordstrom's Search for herself
Review: WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BABY GIRL is the second Fannie Flagg novel that I've read. The first, of course, was Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Welcome To the World, I have to say, is not as wonderful as the other book, but I think comparing the two may be a mistake.

The novel switches back and forth between the present, the 1970's, and the past, the 1930's and 1940's. Dena Nordstrom is a famous television personality of the 1970's, almost akin to what Oprah Winfrey is for us today. She's' highly respected and well-loved by her many fans. She brings ratings to her television network, and everyone just loves her. She lives in New York, lives a fast life of parties and liquor and all the trappings that come with being a famous celebrity.

Then we switch to the 1930's and 40's. We see Dena's roots, where she came from. We get them in pieces, in short scenes, because Dena herself does not know too much about her childhood or about where she came from. Her mother was a mystery to her, and she knows hardly anything about her. All she knows is that she once loved her mother very much, but somewhere along the way she stopped loving her.

The scenes of the 1930's and 40's take place in a small country town called Elmwood Springs, Missouri. To modern day Dena Nordstrom, this is hicktown. She has no desire in going back home. Fannie Flagg paints a quaint, wonderful little town where everyone knows everyone else, and there is not one secret in town that nobody knows. However, the biggest secret is something that no one knew, because Dena's mother chose to keep it secret.

Dena has troubles sleeping and soon is forced to see a psychiatrist to help. She starts with one psychiatrist, Gerry, but he soon sends her off to another one, a friend of his, Dr. Diggers. She's black for starters, and she's a paraplegic. She gets around by using a wheelchair. Dena learns to trust Dr. Diggers, and through the psychiatrist she and the reader start to learn more about Dena's past,and her mother's past. What we find out at the end of the book caught me by surprise because it certainly was not what I had expected!

I highly recommend WELCOME TO THE WORLD BABY GIRL. One hint of warning: I did not find the first part of the book very readable, because I did not really see where Fannie Flagg was taking this book. However, by the time I reached the end, it was a big "aha!" for me and it made so much more sense. This book was well done and I can see it made into a movie, as FRIED GREEN TOMATOES was years ago. Be very patient with this book - you will be greatly rewarded with the ending.

Rating:
Summary: A Story With Potential But Too Fragmented
Review: I began reading this story and was immediately drawn to it's 'darker side'. The main character, Dena Nordstrom, was portrayed as a hopeless, helpless, New Yorker whose life surrounded parties, alcohol, and celebrity. Quickly, however, the story changes ... to describe Dena's roots. I always love that type of story telling, but in this case, the original picture never resurfaces which felt like I never came full-circle with understanding Dena (or the book).

This is the story of an abandoned woman's life; a woman who becomes successful regardless of the pain and lack of familia support. That part is inspiring, and sweet, especially since her extended family just about defines the meaning "Mayberry".

While this book came out to be sweet-smelling and gave 'warm fuzzies' in the end, it still left so many open ended story lines. At least for me, and I like a good 'warm fuzzy' novel. This one just didn't finish all of the loose ends.

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Summary: Another Fannie Flagg Masterpiece!
Review: Heart-warming! This is a truly wonderful story, as are all of Flagg's novels. There is no need to say more...just read the book and you will agree!

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Summary: Flagg is Fabulous
Review: You're made to feel welcome in this world immediately upon starting the first few pages of this wonderfully written novel. Fanny Flagg shows that she can not only create characters who are down-home, charming and folksy but also complex ones that are self-destructive, in need of psycho-analysis. (And I thought she was only a panelist on The Match Game!) Part of the story takes place in New York, centering around a young tv news anchorwoman (Deena); part takes place in Deena's home town. Eventually the two come together, as Deena searches for clues to her past. Get ready for many hours of entertainment with this one.

Rating:
Summary: Fannie Flagg Scores Another Hit!
Review: Fannie Flagg has again shown her talent with characters who are down home, believable, and leaves you wanting more. There is also a mystery in Welcome to the World, Baby Girl. And, the ending is a total surprise. If you have read Coming Attractions, Fried Green Tomatoes At the Whistle Stop Cafe, and any other stories by Fannie, you will come to realize that she does her homework and research carefully and brings you down home America.If you have not read these books or listened to them on audiotape, you have missed a real treat.

Sincerely,

Norma