O Little Town

by Don Reid

Book Overview

Christmas, 1958: Elvis is on the radio, Ike is in the White House, the Lord is in his holy temple . but there is no peace in Mt. Jefferson. In a small town where everybody seems to know everybody, there are still a few secrets. Three families find they are connected in ways they never suspected: an angry teen, a dying man, a lonely wife, a daughter in trouble . just ordinary people, muddling their way through ordinary challenges. Illness. Marriage...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1434799301
• ISBN13: 9781434799302
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: David C Cook
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.3" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

Loved this book!!! Will read each Christmas!

Such a beautiful story about how forgiveness came to a small town for Christmas for several generations in a family. The narrator was a nice surprise ending to me. Loved this book! It’s one of those that you is so good, that you wish you could immediately read it fresh, again! But it is definitely going in my library to read each Christmas!

good relaxing read

This book is fun to read. The author really knows people well. It's a good book to relax with and just enjoy.The story is interesting.The characters make me smile.I can identify those same characters in people in my life.

Loved this book...

My husband and daughter gave me this book for Christmas. Don Reid is from my hometown so I was excited to read his first novel. Although the town is not identified as Staunton, I find myself picturing "our town" in my mind as I read and get involved in the lives of the characters. Since I have not lived there since 1986, the memories are sweet and heart-warming to me. This book is a must read for all small town Southerners - and others too - who want to escape in a beautiful character-rich story. Enjoy.

Just What We Need, Right When We Need It

As much as I loved listening to the Statler Brothers for much of my life, I'm awfully glad now that they've retired. Why? These fine men deserve a good retirement, of course, but I'm also glad that Don Reid now has time to channel his creativity in another direction - writing books. I very much enjoyed two of his earlier non-fiction works, and just finished reading his first novel, "O Little Town." I loved it! The story is very well written and keeps the reader wondering how each family's issues are going to be resolved. My favorite part of this book is the thread that's woven throughout the entire story - love intertwined with faith. In today's world, God and His love are so often ignored as people go about their quest of amassing status and wealth; so I love to see, hear, or read about how the Lord works in people's lives. This book did that beautifully. "O Little Town" was balm to my soul. Thank you, Don!

Couldn't Put It Down!

I have read all of Don Reid's books, but this one is the best so far. I live in Staunton, the hometown of the Statler Brothers, and know Don Reid and his wife, Debbie. I received my book on Friday afternoon, the day before my family Christmas dinner. I am from a huge family and the cook that brings all the family favorites. They were seriously short-changed this year, because I just couldn't stop reading. If I had not finished in time, I would have been late for the dinner--it was that good. In my own walk with God, I have been struggling with the forgiveness issue. The last chapters, in which all the main characters attend a Christmas Eve candlelight service where the Pastor delivers a sermon about forgiveness, spoke to my heart. I know the model for that pastor was my own pastor, and as I attend my own church's Christmas Eve candlelight service tonight, I will be remembering this fictional service. Don Reid will be in the audience, as always. Knowing the people and the town caused me to try to figure out where the real stores and theater were located. I will definitely be going to Thornrose Cemetery to find the grave of Eva Clark, and see if the mysterious roses are left this year. Thank you, Don, for a beautiful Christmas story.

Wonderful Words of Life

I remember and old song that included the lyrics "beautiful words...marvelous words...wonderful words of life". Don Reid's "O Little Town" is an easy reminder of what that meant to me. The story is constructed from the gravy of everyday existence. Any family can search it's files of triumph or sorrow and come up with a tale to equal this. But that is not nearly the point. Don Reid has woven a masterpiece of emotional connection to any familiy who ever lived and loved and fought and forgave. O Little Town is beautifully written and worth your time. I don't often continue to live in a book once it is finished as I did this particular one. And it's two surprises near the ending have kept me smiling for several days!