Rating: 
Summary: Baby, You had me interested, But left me cold
Review: Welcome to the World, Baby Girl provided entertainment for rainy days, but was by no means considered captivating. The story line was composed rather well, and the plot of the novel was interesting. However, there were faults as well. Despite the fact that I enjoyed reading the novel and learning of Dena's life, the novel lacked substance to pull in the reader. I was not displeased while reading the novel, but once the last page was read I was left without any overpowering emotions. The book provided me with some laughter and occassional grins, but I would not classify it as a "humorous" novel. I was interested in trying to figure out the happenings in Dena's early life that affected her older self, but that aspect of the novel only went into depths in the latter half of the novel. If you are looking for an entertaining book, without implication's of deep emotion's this is a book for you. However, if you are looking for a novel that will leave you thinking about it for hours after, I suggest you look elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Real
Review: Fannie did it again! This is the best read I've had in years! With all the talk about being "authentic", this just was. I loved it! I just finished it and I plan to read it again. Thanks.
Rating: 
Summary: Cheesiness Personified!
Review: I loved "Fried..." and "Daisy...", and enjoyed parts of "Welcome..." However, my overall impression of the book was less than favorable. I thought it was too cheesy. The "good" characters were too good. The "bad" characters were too bad. Gerry, the nerdy doctor. Oh, God, totally one dimensional character. Wasn't likable in the very least. Loved Aunt Elner, though. I thought the mystery behind Dena's mother was so lame, I put the book down with 30 pages to go and didn't touch it for days because I was so disappointed with that revelation. There wasn't one word or action in this book that wasn't predictable. I could have written it myself word for word after reading only the first chapter. Except the end. I wouldn't subject ANYONE to that ending. I believe Flagg has an excellent grasp on small town America. She's a great storyteller when she's telling an original story. I've read this one a million times before by a million different authors.
Rating:
Summary: Why did the book have to end?
Review: Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! was one of the most enjoyable books that I have read recently. Full of humor. The characters were great... I tried to savor the last 100 pages so it wouldn't end! It had all the elements of a good story...with twists...I found myself getting mad at Dena, and then liking her again...My only regret is that I didn't save this book for a vacation or the beach...and I do hope there will be a sequel! Or at least a movie! Fannie Flagg did it again..in fact I went out and bought Daisy Fay today!
Rating:
Summary: Why did the book have to end?
Review: Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! was one of the most enjoyable books that I have read in a long time. I tried to savor the last 100 pages so it wouldn't end! It had all the elements of a good story...with twists...I found myself getting mad at Dena, and then liking her again...My only regret is that I didn't save this book for a vacation or the beach...and I do hope there will be a sequel! Fannie Flagg did it again..in fact I went out and bought Daisy
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Amazing!
Review: This was an amazing book! It was suspenseful and kept me entertained through the whole thing. I couldn't put it down at the end. Dena is a very complex character, and it is fun to guess what she will do next. All in all, a very well written book by Fannie Flagg. Go buy a copy!
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT STORY, MOSTLY FANTASTIC!
Review: I started out really liking this book, it had some slow spots, picked back up, slowed down, and kept this up until the end. Overall I stayed interested. I loved the setting; the Southern characters are so close to the real thing! I grew up in northern Florida (a.k.a. southern Alabama!) and Norma and Neighbor Dorothy made me miss my own Mama! As for Dena, I had a hard time feeling sorry for her. She was a star from her childhood because of her looks; no wonder her perspective was skewed. I found myself re-writing the book in my mind with a more average-looking girl (still incredibly sharp) in the lead. My favorite character was Gerry, who won her heart by being brave, silly, and vulnerable all at the same time. I will definitely read more of Ms. Flagg's books.
Rating:
Summary: A Passable Escape
Review: A passable escape is what Flagg's new novel provides and, unfortunately, that's about all. The pages turn easily enough, but I was not riveted. Writing comic novels is a very touchy proposition, as humor is so often extremely subjective. I occasionally smiled while reading, but the comic parts provided no laughs for me. The "southern eccentric" facets of the novel wear a little thin and are often cliched. The New York facet of the book, which comprises the heavier parts of the novel, isn't quite gripping and the protagonist's boss seems like a caricature. The protagonist is so emotionally "shut down" that it's hard to care a lot about her. The plot is interesting enough, but that's about all. Flagg ties up all the loose ends neatly --too neatly, it seems-- and to me the romantic facet of the story was very predictable. While the protagonist's search for her mother's origins is the strongest part of the plot, the detail around which the mother's "problem" revolves is a bit hackneyed. As a novelist, I can appreciate the complexity of this novel --putting very disparate scenes and many characters together to make a cohesive whole-- but when it comes to engaging the reader emotionally, I'm sorry to conclude that Flagg's overall success falls not that much above the realm of mediocre, especially in comparison to "Fried Green Toamtoes at the Whistlestop Cafe."
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read
Review: I enjoyed this book greatly. The charaters were wonderful (even if I didn't particularly care for a few). Very thoughtful. My only concern was how easily having "the secret" dismissed at the end seemed to be. But I tell myself that this is a book for entertainment and other books handle the other thing (being obscure for those who haven't read it!).
Rating:
Summary: A LONG WAY FROM THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE
Review: Are small town folks this nice? Ms. Flagg has a good ear for dialogue but not much for reality. The heroine is confused and confusing. I couldn't understand how she inspired such devotion if she was, in fact, as distant, reserved, untruthful as described. I felt Ms. Flagg did a hurry-up job on this novel. She never explained how the penniless 15-year old Dena supported herself for the next 4 years after her mother deserted her. She rents a house that has supposedly been occupied until a few months ago and finds a 1954 calendar hanging in the kitchen. I realize this was supposed to be nostalgia time, but what of the previous tenants? Did they live in a time warp? I found it hard to believe that a girl with small town relatives had no idea what a pot-luck dinner was. The big mystery was some letdown. Book seemed very hasty, tangled, and I will never understand the fictional conversation with Tennessee Williams. I'm sure he would be mortified to be credited with so many cliches
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