Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!
Random House Large Print, $25.95
Random House AudioBooks, $24
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REVIEW BY PAT PATRICK
Welcome to Elmwood Springs, Missouri -- the fictional setting of Fannie Flagg's long-awaited novel, Welcome to the World, Baby Girl. "As near perfect as you can get without having to get downright sentimental about it or making up a bunch of lies," this neighborly town is filled with charming, quirky characters and has a strong sense of community. Dena Nordstrom -- otherwise known lovingly as "Baby Girl" -- is the surprisingly well-adjusted daughter of Norma and Macky Nordstrom. And though Dena has left Elmwood Springs to become a TV anchorwoman and the pride and joy of her network, her hometown is still an intrinsic part of her, and she of it. With a future full of promise, Dena survives her complicated present and her mysterious past, both of which are tied to Elmwood Springs. Flagg, an Alabama native, once agian proves her mastery of storytelling, her ability to make each character vivid and real. With an expert ear for language, Flagg invites us to be a part of the community. We meet such characters as Aunt Elner, who blesses Dena's heart from afar over the fact that she "eats in restaurants day and night" up in New York City. Such entertaining asides are ultimately the essence of Flagg's novel. Through authentic and indelible ties to home, Welcome to the World illustrates how much a part of a person place can be. You can take the baby girl out of Elmwood Springs, but you can't take Elmwood Springs out of the baby girl. Pat Patrick is a reviewer in Nashville.
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