Rating: 
Summary: Kept Me Walking
Review: I "libraried" the unabridged tape of Welcome to the World Baby Girl". It had a great plot once you got into the story. What fun to associate the characters...Walter Cronkite was easy...but I keept trying to figure out who Dena was exactly!!! This is a delightful, sad book. How far have we come, this society of ours...lets not forget what it was like just a few decades ago. Fannie Flagg has her wonderful assortment of lovable oddballs and that, combined with a suspenseful plot adds up to a solid four star!!! Read it. You will enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Everyone Needs an Elwood Springs
Review: A delightful tale of big city stress, woe, hostility and the victory of small city rejuvenation and family loyalty. Sure is kind of corn-ball...but I enjoyed this book tremendously. Fannie Flagg knows how to write them!
Rating:
Summary: Oddly Compelling
Review: I read this book over vacation, and one moment I was loving it, the next minute, I simply hated it and wondered why I was reading it -- HOWEVER, I just couldn't put it down... I had trouble really feeling much for Dena, the lead character, at first I found her terribly 1 dimensional. THEN, I realized, that was the point... she is indeed just that, until she is able to uncover her own personal history. It was strange, and at times rather implausible, but as I said, I couldn't put it down. It was a little depressing at times, but I loved all the characters "back home" -- they kept me going.
Rating:
Summary: big star from small town
Review: Dena is a tv star and as such, only sees herself as a one dimensional celebrity, instead of a real person. So when her body starts falling apart from the stress of her lifestyle, and she must take leave from her job, it comes as a shock to her to allow herself to feel emotions. Her past bubbles up and demands closure before she can continue into the future.This book superbly displays some fantastic characterisations, and I felt it read more like snippets of personalities, especially the small town characters, rather than a continuous story. This gave me a great insight into the life of the town. Despite the length it didn't take very long to read at all; I was surprised when the ending came up so quickly!
Rating:
Summary: Great weekend book with tears and laughter
Review: This was my first Fannie Flagg book. I could not put it down over a relaxing weekend away. It had everything that I like in a summer novel, hilarious parts which made me laugh out loud and moving sections which made the tears roll.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing feat
Review: WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BABY GIRL was my first Fannie Flagg novel; I'm sure it won't be my last. The intricately structured plot alone is enough to earn the five stars -- patience truly hath her perfect work with this book, as Ms. Flagg carefully lays out all her puzzle pieces, giving you tiny glimpses of the big picture, then slowly and carefully and brilliantly begins to fit them all together. But the characters and dialogue -- the southern scenes are just a hoot! -- are truly wonderful as well. I couldn't read this one fast enough.
Rating:
Summary: Nice Read, Good Book
Review: I never expected to like a book from Fannie Flagg, whom I'd just seen on game shows! The descriptions from the past were delightful and pleasing. I felt like I was in a swing on the porch on a summer's day, enjoying a good book. The plot wasn't the draw here - the involvement in the old-timey characters vs. the new-age characters was. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and would recommend it as a good getaway read.
Rating:
Summary: Fannie Flagg's best writing yet...
Review: Fannie Flagg demonstrates that she is one author not content to rest on her past accomplishments. Refining her style, Ms. Flagg's latest book, "Welcome to the world, Baby Girl" is by far her best book. Using a well-metered pace and her trademark jumps through different times and places, Ms. Flagg weaves a heartwarming story of a woman with a mysterious childhood she doesn't remember, her career, and the small town family she doesn't really know. After brief introductory chapters, the reader is drawn in to the world of Dena Nordstrom and gradually learns of how this woman on the rise came from unusual roots. Unlike her first book, "Daisy Mae and the Miracle Man," "Welcome to the world..." does not bog down leaving all the surprises and excitement to the end. And like her astonishingly well-received second novel, Fried Green Tomatoes, there is intrigue and drama throughout with a highlighted unveiling in the end. This book is definitely a must read for anyone who is a fan of heartwarming novels that celebrate the comforts of home and family.
Rating: 
Summary: not worth the irritation
Review: Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Flagg's previous novels, I picked up this book with high expectations. Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! was a disappointment on almost every count. The early parts of the book present some memorable characters with humorous and very true insights. And as the book drew towards a revelation of Dena's mother's secret I found myself eager to uncover the tragedy which separated a mother from her child. However, the revelation was disappointing and, simply put, absurd. After that the book trickled on to a trite ending which totally unsatisfactorily addressed the concerns and emotions of the characters. Baby Girl seemed more intent on making small town folk feel good about themselves than realistically depicting their lives and dilemmas. Most bad novels are only forgettable. Unfortunately, this one will get under your skin and irritate you for weeks. If you liked Ms. Flagg's earlier books and are looking for more, spare yourself the irritation and just re-read Fried Green Tomatoes.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!
Review: This is a wonderful book. The characters are great and it will make you laugh and cry. It will put you in a good mood for the rest of the day!
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