Time to start stockpiling books for those cold A/W evenings or to think about buying gifts for Christmas? Or maybe that’s just me?

When you pick up a book by Fannie Flagg, author of ‘Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe’, you know what to expect: an engrossing, bitter sweet story full of humour, emotion and exquisitely drawn characters. And ‘A Redbird Christmas’ is exactly that.

Oswald T. Campbell lives a frugal and lonely life in Chicago. When his Doctor tells him he has only months to live unless he moves to a warmer climate, serendipity leads him to Lost River, Alabama, population just over 100. The local residents welcome him into their homes, but it’s when Jack moves into the town store it becomes inevitable the lives of both of them will change. But will it be for the better?

And what of Patsy? As one of the minor characters says “Mexico, my @ss!”

Prepare to smile, prepare to care about everyone in the book and prepare to shed a few tears. I didn’t want it to end.

May I be the first to wish you a merry Christmas. And happy reading.