One of my book groups wanted something light to read during
the holiday season, so we chose Fannie Flagg’s I Still Dream About You. I hadn’t read anything by Flagg since Fried
Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe twenty years ago, so I was
looking forward to this one. It doesn’t have the depth of that famed novel, but
we all agreed it was a fun, light read.
Oddly, I Still Dream About You is a somewhat humorous book about someone who is contemplating
suicide. Strange, right? It makes the reader feel a little uncomfortable and
unsure what to think at first (is it funny? sad?), but once you realize that
the story is very much tongue-in-cheek, you can go along for the ride.
Maggie Fortenberry is a former Miss Alabama (and a Miss
America runner-up) who now works in real estate in her beloved hometown,
Birmingham. To everyone else, Maggie’s life seems wonderful – she is still
beautiful, has a great job, and has plenty of friends. But underneath her
perfectly coiffed and graceful appearance, Maggie is actually quite depressed
and sees no reason to continue on as is just to wait to get old. She comes up
with a perfect plan.
Things keep getting in the way of Maggie’s plans, though,
and – as with everything else in her life – she wants everything to be perfect.
So, she bides her time and makes her lists (I especially enjoyed her many
lists). Meanwhile, life goes on, things happen, and Maggie uncovers a mystery
at the heart of her city’s past. As is typical in Flagg’s books, this novel is
populated by funny, quirky, unique characters. My favorite is Maggie’s best friend and business partner,
Brenda, who lives with her sister’s family and is constantly fighting her
tendency to overeat.
Our book group members all agreed that, though this novel is
not great literature, it is lots of fun and an enjoyable read, filled with
southern drama and a hefty dose of humor.
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