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    I Still Dream About You: A Novel
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    I Still Dream About You: A Novel
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    I Still Dream About You: A Novel
    Audiobook10 hours

    I Still Dream About You: A Novel

    Written by Fannie Flagg

    Narrated by Fannie Flagg

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The beloved Fannie Flagg is back and at her irresistible and hilarious best in I Still Dream About You, a comic mystery romp through the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, past, present, and future.

    Meet Maggie Fortenberry, a still beautiful former Miss Alabama. To others, Maggie's life seems practically perfect-she's lovely, charming, and a successful real estate agent at Red Mountain Realty. Still, Maggie can't help but wonder how she wound up in her present condition. She had been on her hopeful way to becoming Miss America and realizing her childhood dream of someday living in one of the elegant old homes on top of Red Mountain, with the adoring husband and the 2.5 children, but then something unexpected happened and changed everything.

    Maggie graduated at the top of her class at charm school, can fold a napkin in more than forty-eight different ways, and can enter and exit a car gracefully, but all the finesse in the world cannot help her now. Since the legendary real estate dynamo Hazel Whisenknott, beloved founder of Red Mountain Realty, died five years ago, business has gone from bad to worse-and the future isn't looking much better. But just when things seem completely hopeless, Maggie suddenly comes up with the perfect plan to solve it all.

    As Maggie prepares to put her plan into action, we meet the cast of high-spirited characters around her. To Brenda Peoples, Maggie's best friend and real estate partner, Maggie's life seems easy as pie. Slender Maggie doesn't have to worry about her figure, or about her Weight Watchers sponsor catching her at the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop. And Ethel Clipp, Red Mountain's ancient and grumpy office manager with the bright purple hair, thinks the world of Maggie but has absolutely nothing nice to say about their rival Babs "The Beast of Birmingham" Bingington, the unscrupulous estate agent who hates Maggie and is determined to put her out of business.

    Maggie has heartbreaking secrets in her past, but through a strange turn of events, she soon discovers, quite by accident, that everybody, it seems-dead or alive-has at least one little secret.

    I Still Dream About You is a wonderful novel that is equal parts Southern charm, murder mystery, and that perfect combination of comedy and old-fashioned wisdom that can be served up only by America's own remarkable Fannie Flagg.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateNov 9, 2010
    ISBN9780307704023
    Unavailable
    I Still Dream About You: A Novel

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    Reviews for I Still Dream About You

    3.5/5

    361 ratings50 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This was an okay book. It wasn't exciting to me and was a pretty fast read. I finished it because I like Fannie Flagg but I wouldn't put it in my top 10 list. Just a nice, simple read.
    • 4/5
      A former miss Alabama reflects on her life as she battles the real estate world in Birmingham.
    • 5/5
      I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU by Fannie FlaggThis fun read still has an emotional punch. Flagg is an expert at creating characters one cares about – even the ones that are not very nice! In this outing Flagg joins a “fat” African American, a midget, an ex-beauty queen, and a thoroughly detestable real estate agent to tell a tale of what might have been, what is and what may yet be.Pathos and hilarity join forces for a romp in Southern charm and dirty deals. Flagg manages to tell a good story without stooping to vulgar language or explicit sex. Written for the adult female audience I STILL DREAM can be enjoyed by all audiences including teens. There is enough here for an interesting book group discussion that might cover family dynamics, faith, integrity, racial harmony, interpersonal relations and much more.Similar in feel to FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, this book would also make a good movie.5 of 5 stars
    • 4/5
      3.5 starsMaggie is a 60-year old real estate agent, never been married, a former Miss Alabama. She has decided to kill herself, but things keep coming up that she feels she has to deal with first before she tries again. She feels she has a foolproof plan for it, everything has been planned out, using lists and all, if only she didn't keep getting interrupted!I wasn't in the mood for this when I started it, but I ended up liking it. There were humourous parts to it, and I thought the mystery that came up starting half-way through the book was entertaining. In the end, I enjoyed it.
    • 4/5
      Set in Birmingham, AL., Flagg's latest book tells the story of real estate agent Margaret (Maggie) Fortenberry as she struggles with wanting to kill herself. She is sixty-years-old and a former Miss Alabama, who doesn't feel that her life is going anywhere despite the good start she got in the real estate business by teaming with midget Hazel Whisenknott. But, Hazel died five years ago, and everyone still misses her love and guidance terribly. As you might expect, outside events intervene, and the planned death by drowning in the local river keeps getting pushed back until this or that can be dealt with. While it's not great literature, it's a cute story with an ultimately upbeat message. The reader also learns a bit about the history of Birmingham as an added bonus, and there's a side story about an old-money industrial family from Birmingham that is mildly entertaining.
    • 5/5
      Great story, great characters, and a history lesson! Must read.
    • 5/5
      It was a delightful experience to read this book! Shows us how to love life.
    • 5/5
      Another great book by Fannie Flagg. It is either a fun-to-read serious book or a serious book that is fun to read. It explores the people Birmingham dealing with their city from its beginnings through the '60s ( I remember when it was "Burningham", a reference to the violence that arose during the civil rights struggle) to the evolution of modern Birmingham, like all of us, fighting the struggle between good and evil. Flagg obviously loves her city and it's people and wants the rest of us to see its' good side under the rough exterior of it's reputation. A mystery amid the philosophy and
    • 4/5
      I got this book by mistake. I was surprised how much I liked it. Now I want to read Fannie Flagg's other books and see Fried Green Tomatoes
    • 4/5
      A the story opens ex-Miss Alabama, current realtor Maggie is ready to commit suicide. Set in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, the story charmed with its look at life, loyalty, friendship, and the meanings of life. Enjoying the local setting was a plus, and I always appreciate Flagg's development of female Southern characters.
    • 2/5
      Another pity the poor south bit of Southern Chauvinism mixed with beauty queens who are too good to be true and real estate. I have to stop reading this stuff.
    • 1/5
      I've read all of Fannie's books and I liked them all except this one. I found it oddly depressing, lacking her usual humor, and kind of trite and predictable. I guess everyone is entitled to a dud now and then.
    • 4/5
      The first book I read during this Christmas break, this was a relatively light read and a good way to kick off vacation. The main character is a former Miss Alabama that is now a real estate agent. Her life doesn't feel satisfactory to her. I enjoyed the portrayals of the various characters in this book. Although it has been years since I read some of her other titles (including Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe), I sense that this novel is not as "meaty" as her past ones. still, I liked this novel and I have another of hers in my to-be-read pile that I'm inclined to get to very soon.
    • 3/5
      A book about suicide that never once uses the word. I Still Dream About You is a sweet, sad, funny Southern story worthy of Fannie Flagg. What I didn't like about this book, and what I've noticed about the other titles of hers that I've read, is the estrogen infusion. Other than Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which is a classic for many reasons and probably required reading in some cases, I doubt many men read Flagg, and I don't like the idea of reading "chick lit." I feel if ovaries are required in order to enjoy a book, it must be lacking something. Even so, I enjoyed the characters and the setting, and it was an interesting approach to writing about depression and suicide. The book also offered a worthy look at how we see ourselves versus how others view us. I guess in the end, my ovaries and I wouldn't mind a visit to Birmingham and Crestview and a life filled with friends like Hazel, Maggie, Brenda, and Ethel.
    • 3/5
      I'm torn between giving this a three or a four. The story had parts that were monotonous and I also think this presents a VERY idealized picture of Birmingham but in the end I'm glad I read it.
    • 4/5
      Oddly wonderful. A woman who is hellbent on killing herself continues to have signs (via events) that prevent her from "succeeding". Finally some positivity happens and goodness comes into her life.
    • 3/5
      Quirky characters, humorous antics, an ode to Alabama all in one book.
    • 3/5
      Fannie Flagg will never be mistaken for a great writer, but I did keep turning the pages to see what became of Maggie former Miss Alabama turned realtor.
    • 3/5
      Fannie Flagg is one of my favorite authors - i usually LOVE the books she writes. This was my least favorite of all of the books of hers I have read (I think I've read all of them). Still good and I liked it, but it got slow and, while the characters were sort of interesting, I never cared about them as I usually do in her books.
    • 5/5
      It's about a real estate agent. As usual for this author, the story is heartwarming & wonderful.
    • 4/5
      Set in Birmingham, AL., Flagg's latest book tells the story of real estate agent Margaret (Maggie) Fortenberry as she struggles with wanting to kill herself. She is sixty-years-old and a former Miss Alabama, who doesn't feel that her life is going anywhere despite the good start she got in the real estate business by teaming with midget Hazel Whisenknott. But, Hazel died five years ago, and everyone still misses her love and guidance terribly. As you might expect, outside events intervene, and the planned death by drowning in the local river keeps getting pushed back until this or that can be dealt with. While it's not great literature, it's a cute story with an ultimately upbeat message. The reader also learns a bit about the history of Birmingham as an added bonus, and there's a side story about an old-money industrial family from Birmingham that is mildly entertaining.
    • 4/5
      Let me start off by saying I love Southern fiction and I especially love Fannie Flagg. She’s been one of my favorite authors for a long time. I think that’s probably why I was so disappointed with I Still Dream About You. It doesn’t have nearly the depth or charm of Flagg’s other novels. It does have some quirky characters like Flagg’s other books. Hazel Whisenknott was my favorite. She was a little person full of spunk and optimism. I like that she was a little person but that it wasn’t the focus of her character’s storyline. I’m guessing there aren’t many books where one of the characters just happens to be a little person.Maggie plans to commit suicide and has a detailed plan of what it will entail. Then her friend invites her to see the whirling dervishes later that week. She can’t say no to that so she has to put her plans off until that’s over with. After that, things just keep coming up and she keeps putting it off. I can appreciate dark humor but even so, I didn’t think Maggie had enough reasons to commit suicide. The problem was her character wasn’t developed enough. And her arch rival Babs was an over the top caricature of an evil person. If she was a man, she would have had a mustache she could twirl!This review sounds like I didn’t enjoy the book. I actually did but it didn’t live up to my expectations for a Fannie Flagg novel. If I didn’t have those expectations going in, I think I would have liked it better. It is a quick, light read and could be a good beach book – just keep your expectations in check.Her latest book, The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion (released in 2013) has gotten better reviews than this one so I’m hopeful that this book was an anomaly. I’ll let you know – stay tuned!
    • 4/5
      I Still Dream About You is a novel about Maggie Fortenberry, a former Miss America beauty pageant runner-up, who has decided she's had enough of life's disappointments and plans to commits suicide. The first half of the book is about Maggie's plans to put her suicidal thoughts into action, along with a lot of nostalgia and regrets about her past life. With such depressing content, this made the first half of the book a bit difficult to read, especially for long stretches, even though Flagg does her best to pepper in some amusing anecdotes, mostly by way of Maggie's fellow co-workers in the real estate business. Unsurprisingly, something occurs that stops Maggie's plans of suicide and the second half of the book becomes almost farcical with its series of random mishaps, including a lovelorn goat, a literal skeleton in the closet, and other unlikely events. Still, this second section read quickly and did have many humorous parts. Some elements of the ending are rather predictable, but there are certainly some twists that were unexpected. And while there may be an element of cheese to this nicely tied-up "Hollywood happy" conclusion, it's sometimes pleasant to read a book that ends on a high note of reaffirming life and faith in the idea that everyone eventually gets their just desserts.For me, what sold this book most was the characters; they kept me plowing through even the beginning half that was a bit more tedious than I would have liked. Maggie is such a perfect gentlewoman that she's haunted by disappointing people, and I think there's an element of her concerns in all of us, making her relatable on some level. Her best friend Brenda is optimistic about changing the world, even if she has difficulty fixing her own overeating habits. Their other co-worker, Ethel, is an elderly woman with a penchant for all things purple and ranting about how the modern world is going to hell in a handbasket, unlike the good old days of her youth. But the star of the show is their deceased boss Hazel, who was such a force to be reckoned with, that not a day seems to go by without one of them remembering her enthusiasm and energy. In the supplementary materials with the edition of the book I have, Flagg explains about this book that "I think as we get older and we all have something we still dream about -- a time, a person, a home, etc. I suspect we all tend to dream about a time when we were happy, and had a rosy future. So I wanted to explore that theme." In addition to exploring ideas about nostalgia, past disappointments, aging, and the uncertainty of the future, Flagg touches on issues of race and racism, ability/disability, and classism. She also examines underlying themes related to optimism vs. pessimism, the 'grass is greener' mentality, learning to let go, the power of friendship, and the role of women in terms of power and position in society. And throughout the book, Flagg seems to be writing a love letter about the city of Birmingham, her own hometown, by describing its history and culture. In short, like with her more famous work, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, Flagg manages to pack a lot in a relatively short book with a deceptively simple plot line!While the beginning of the book was a bit slow to get into, the only real downside for me in this book was the too obviously "villainous" character of Babs Bingington, a rival realtor. The character was entirely unrealistic in that she had no redeeming qualities at all but was simply without sympathy, empathy, or basic human morals. To make matters worse, she was the only character in the book who wasn't a native Southerner. There were in fact several references made to her Northern origins, despite her having lived in Alabama for decades at the book's start. For all Flagg's embracing of people of all races, classes, ages, and abilities throughout the rest of the book, it seemed like that civility couldn't cross the Mason-Dixon line. That was a disappointing sour note, but otherwise this was a book that I'm glad I picked up and read.
    • 4/5
      Maggie Fortenberry is 60ish, never married, and has a successful career in real estate. As I Still Dream About You opens, our heroine is working on organizing her own suicide. She feels like a failure -- and that her life peaked when she won the title of Miss Alabama some 40 years ago. This might seem like a downer of a book, but it truly isn’t. For one thing, readers know that no main character of Fannie Flagg’s would commit suicide, so it’s a given that everything will work out in the end. [SPOILER ALERT] Of course, every time Maggie picks a day to kill herself, something comes up that she MUST take care of before she goes. It wouldn’t do to leave loose ends, or to inconvenience others in the process. Then the house she has always dreamed of becomes available. Will that deter her from her mission? This book is standard Fannie Flagg fare – lighthearted, with strong female characters, with a very satisfying ending, and a not-too-taxing read.
    • 3/5
      A woman in the throes of depression makes life and death plans.
    • 1/5
      It is a fine book but not for me.
    • 5/5
      I remember when Fannie Flag was on television. I enjoyed her humor. I read her first book, Daisey Fay and the Miracle Man, many years ago and I have watched Frued Greem Tomatoes many times though I have never read the book. I found Welcom to the World Baby Girl a very interesting bookespecially in the way that she handled the topic of race. The sequel to that book disappointed me and until this book I did not read another books.I can say that again she touches on a number of hot buuton issues and handles them with a style and grace that is not found in many books today. On top of it all it is funnier than hell.
    • 1/5
      As a fan of "Fried Green Tomatoes..." , I was expecting more. Totally unbelievable characters, a "secret" that was obvious from the outset, and amateurish writing (think "Nancy Drew") made it hard for me to finish this novel. I did get through to the end (with some skimming) because it was the selection of one of the book discussion groups that I attend, otherwise, I would not have wasted my time. NOT recommended.
    • 4/5
      A little predictable but fun and upbeat.
    • 3/5
      Maggie, a former Miss Alabama, is now a real estate agent who is planning her suicide. She keeps being interrupted and puts off her final day repeatedly until she realizes she wants to live. As with all Fannie Flagg books, the characters are a bit eccentric, especially Hazel, who dies before the book begins. However, Hazel’s wit and intelligence shines still shines through. Everyone needs a Hazel in his or her life to share the good and bad times.