I Still Dream About You

Maggie Fortenberry, a former Miss Alabama now working in real estate, faces a midlife crisis at age 60. Living in Birmingham, Alabama, she struggles to find purpose and meaning despite her successful past and steady job. The story follows Maggie's daily life at Red Mountain Realty, founded by her friend Hazel Whisenknott. Her close circle includes Brenda Peoples, an ambitious colleague with political aspirations, and Ethel Clipp, the elderly office manager who maintains traditional values. Birmingham itself emerges as a central character, with its civil rights history and architectural landmarks like the historic Crestview mansion. The novel balances serious themes with moments of humor and Southern charm. This tale explores aging, friendship, and second chances against the backdrop of a changing South. Through its mix of comedy and contemplation, the story examines how people find meaning when life doesn't match their expectations.

Readers found this book lighter and more optimistic than Flagg's other works, though many felt it lacked the depth of Fried Green Tomatoes. The gentle humor and Southern charm resonated with fans of feel-good fiction. Liked: - Strong sense of Birmingham history and setting - Maggie's character development - Clean, uplifting story without violence or vulgarity - Funny supporting characters Disliked: - Slow-paced first half - Less engaging than Flagg's previous novels - Predictable plot elements - Too many tangential storylines Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (16,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (500+ reviews) Reader Comments: "A cozy read perfect for a rainy afternoon" - Goodreads reviewer "The plot meanders too much before getting to the point" - Amazon reviewer "Birmingham almost becomes its own character" - Barnes & Noble reviewer "Missing the emotional depth I expect from Fannie Flagg" - Goodreads reviewer

The Sweet By and By by Todd Johnson A tale of five Southern women whose bonds of friendship span generations at a North Carolina retirement home.

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg The story connects a contemporary Alabama woman's identity crisis with the lives of women pilots during World War II.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd A fourteen-year-old girl finds sanctuary with three beekeeping sisters in 1960s South Carolina while uncovering truths about her past.

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross A proper Southern widow's life transforms when her late husband's young mistress shows up with a child in tow.

The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King Six middle-aged Southern women, who formed their friendship in college, gather twice a year to reconnect and support each other through life's challenges.

🌟 Fannie Flagg's birth name is Patricia Neal, but she changed it to avoid confusion with the famous actress of the same name 🏠 The Red Mountain setting in the novel is a real-life Birmingham landmark, known for its iron ore mining history and panoramic views of the city 👑 Like her character Maggie Fortenberry, Fannie Flagg was also crowned Miss Alabama, though she was a runner-up rather than the winner 📚 The author wrote much of "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" (her most famous work) while staying in Birmingham's Highland Park neighborhood, near where this novel is set 🎭 Before becoming a novelist, Flagg was a regular panelist on the game show "Match Game" in the 1970s and wrote for television productions