Watermelon Days and Firefly Nights: Heartwarming Scenes of Small-Town Life

by Annette Smith

The town of Laon seems to have shrugged off its modern neighbourhoods - the housing of most of its inhabitants, its communications networks and its new commercial centres - letting them slide off the plateau down to the surrounding plain below, formerly occupied by market gardens. Emerging abruptly from the otherwise gentle relief that characterises the Paris Basin, the medieval city still survives on top of the plateau, miraculously spared by the destruction of the wars of the twentieth century. Its slopes are still draped in a mantle of greenery and the town is still hemmed in by the stone ring of its fortifications. The church spires that used to bristle along these fortifications have now disappeared, giving Laon a flat, square silhouette against the skyline. Within the upper town the dense and sometimes whimsical pattern of streets, gates, houses and town residences spreads out harmoniously, encompassed by remains of the town's prestigious past, traces of the men who made it. They stand like so many book ends at Laon's to the east, the incomparable twelfth- and thirteenth-century Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Saint-Jean Abbey, dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; to the west and the south, the Saint-Martin Abbey (twelfth to eighteenth centuries) and the Saint-Vincent Abbey (eighteenth century). With new functions today, these monuments still watch over the old royal and religious centre, the bustling townscape and open spaces around. Inside this strictly defined space, the visitor who is curious for such discoveries, and ready to be guided to them, may witness the unfolding of eight centuries of urban life and architecture.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Short Stories, Christian, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Adult

68 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Laura Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my kind of book....but I downright freaking LOVED it. It was sweet without being cloying. It is Christian fiction without being preachy. It is full of stories of the general kindness of people. (257 pages NOT 500)

[Amy Egbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me 4 chapters to decide it really wasn't going to finish the stories of any of these people. It's really just "scenes" that really are heartwarming, but also left me unsatisfied. I want an entire book about each of those scenes.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me to give this book four stars says a lot about it. I don't particularly enjoy books about small towns, but this was something special. The stories were sweet without being too soppy or sentimental, and they really did, as the title promised, warm the heart.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what I call a gentle story. I loved the small town, and the interconnected feel of the stories. I loved learning about this cast of characters and their lives. This book is a "slice of life" and a sweet one at that.


Content notes: One couple has several miscarriages (not detailed). One guy takes off his pants because of a critter in his pants (He has shorts on underneath)

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these connected stories set in a small southern town. The author quickly drew you in and left you wanting a longer visit with the townspeople. The stories were cozy - warm, slice of life, some humor and some sorrow.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book.

These are short stories about people who live in a small town in Texas.

The reader is first introduced to the town during the Okra Festival. Most of the stories are heartwarming and humorous. Some are sad. But every story makes the point of the care and friendship and love the people in this town share with one another.

There is support for one another no matter the situation. There is a generosity of spirit.

This is a book written from the outlook of a narrator who is a spiritual person. Many of the stories use a Christian perspective. But, it is not preaching so much as showing how a small town functions in regard to participating in church events and the sharing of the Christian rule to “Love Thy Neighbor'.

If you want a book which will lift your spirit and renew your faith in your fellow man this is the book for you.

Read and enjoy and wish you were living in a small town in Texas.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It is a silly and sweet book about the many people in a small town and how their lives are intertwined. The chapters are written in such a way that each are a short story about the different residents of this town. That makes for instant gratification if you can only read a chapter here and there.

This is a feel good book. It's uplifting and is a real treat.

[Diane Sugars · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at the library and I have to say that I did enjoy the book. I am not a huge fan of a "book of little stories", but this one tied the characters within the numerous little stories together well and I loved the small town feel of the little town called Ella Louise. Very cute book with fun little stories and a very quick read.

[Lindis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost 5 stars for this one. Feelgood sweetness.

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so I came close to DNFing this, which is something I don’t like to do. I didn’t, I kept reading.

There were parts that were ridiculous and offending, but there were also parts that were good and heartwarming.

The south, where I’ve lived for half my life, is a wonderful, tradition filled place with lots of great customs. Whenever I read something that takes place in the south that has to continuously put down people from the north or make out as if the only God fearing, country loving people are from the south, it rubs me the wrong way. I wish the garbage that perpetuates stereotypes would stop.

You can still have all the traditions, faith, family life, and customs without having to convey nonsense about your fellow humans. Stop the division, keep the love.

2.5 stars rounded down here.

[Phyllis Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved this book!! I was at the library and looking for something different to read besides the cozy mysteries and chick lit romances I've been reading lately, and this one caught my eye. I found the title intriguing, so I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did!!
It's a book of stories about the residents of Ella Louise, Texas. Some of them are humorous, some a little sad, but all of them heart-warming.
I'm not one to cry over books, but I've got to tell you, the story Angel Incognito had me wiping a few tears away.
If you read and enjoyed Philip Gulley's Harmony Tales or Jan Karon's Mitford series, or Fannie Flagg's books, you will love this one.
More good news; it looks like she's written a number of other books, so I have more to look forward to.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely delightful collection of short stories from small town America. Whether or not there really is a small town in Texas called Ella Louise or it is an amalgam of small towns in general, I do not care, because the people who inhabit this town and the stories of their life were refreshing. Although I'm in Australia, in a regional city rather than an outback town (akin to Ella Louise) I can still relate to many of the experiences. Should Annette Smith write further of small town life, I'll be delighted to read those too.

P.S. I see that I am supposedly reviewing the Kindle edition and that is not correct - I had an old-fashioned book, pages and all, oops sorry.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was short stories until I had already downloaded the book. Normally short stories aren't my genre. However I fell in love with this book! The little town of Ella Louise is a sleepy little town that is full of love and fun times. Each story did build on the other characters and throughout the short stories I found out so much about the little town that I wish the book was a series with each character!! Good job Annette Smith!

[Stacey E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish there were half stars because I want to give this one 3.5. There is no real plot to this book so it was not what I expected. Each chapter is a short stand-alone story of different folks who all live in the same small town of Ella Louise. As the synopsis says, this is a collection of short stories of the townspeople, nothing more and nothing less. Some stories are better than others, but overall, this is a light-hearted, sometimes funny, and entertaining read.

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book didn't blow me away, it was absolutely charming and delightful! I really enjoyed the quirky, sweet characters and all of their activities set in a small Texas town.
I was drawn to it because of the title, but I didn't find any references to watermelons or fireflies anywhere in the book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Just a fun little book of heartwarming stories. Christian-leaning, but not so much so that it's irritating. I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but I wanted something summery & the title got me. The stories were interwoven, so that made it feel a lot more novel-esque to me, which I was glad for. Lots of very richly defined characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually, more of a 2-1/2 stars sort of book. I generally enjoy small town books, but this one is a bit Chicken Soup for the Soul with some of the depressing subject matter...miscarriage, death of a child, divorce... There are a few funny chapters, but they don't really balance it all out.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short vignettes about the small fictional town of Ella Louise, Texas, and its residents. A light, quick read.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful collection on stories in a small town in Texas. I'm so glad someone opted to record their lives. They are interesting and funny.

[Sue J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quaint and heartwarming book.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet stories

Can I move to Ella Louise?! I fell in love with the people, the town, and their stories. A very heart warming group of stories.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of short stories that warm the heart and brought back fond memories of small community life.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book of heartwarming stories. Nice, uplifting read.

[Gretchen Fatouros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. Just read one story at a time with breaks between. Think it was the 2nd story that was the best & made me laugh. Rest was okay.

[Vicky Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to live in this wonderful place!

[Barb Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

light reading, short stories for summer....3.5 stars

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for something that I could read in fits and spurts. Something I could pick up, get some enjoyment out of for 10 minutes or so, but then put down. This book worked perfectly!

In essence, it's a collection of short stories, loosely held together by having the characters all reside in the same town. An interesting strategy for short story writers. The author had the freedom of introducing a variety of people from a variety of backgrounds, without having to weave them all into one plot.

To give you a flavor: there was an elderly pair of sisters that learn they need hearing aids, an earring wearing, teenage boyscout that goes to live with his eccentric uncle for the summer, and a grandson that never lets on to grandma that he doesn't wear Old Spice. There's humor, a tiny tinge of sadness here and there, but mostly just snippets of life--captured and recorded.

In short, this book's like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day--the warmth and sweetness of these stories will make you smile.

[Hyacinth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a warm and whimsically written book. I felt like I wanted to visit Ella Louise and talk to the townspeople. I laughed several times out loud...very loud. What a touching group of stories of family, faith and community. I wish the world was more like this in reality. I felt such peace after finishing this collection of stories. Kudos to the author on a well written story of life in a small town. Very believable; it told the good with the bad in a way that was tasteful...even the not pretty parts.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're feeling down and need a few minutes of cheering up, this book is for you. The stories of the small town, Ella Louise, Texas, aren't the down side of small town living~~gossip, busy bodies, etc. Each short story tells of a different resident, but yet you see how they all interact. This is a great, clean read that I'm sure you'll enjoy.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

By the end of this book, the premise of a series of short stories or anecdotes that are held together by a common location in a small town and how those lives inter-weave sort of worked. This may have been better if I had read it as a series of short stories for bedtime reading, and not as a sink into the couch for hours novel.