Eighty-year-old Dora, the narrator of a story that began a half century earlier, is bonding with an unlikely set of friends, including Jackie Hart, a restless middle-aged wife and mother from Boston, who gets into all sorts of trouble when her family moves to a small, sleepy town in Collier County, Florida, circa 1962.
With humor and insight the novel chronicles the awkward North-South cultural divide as Jackie, this hapless but charming "Yankee," looks for some excitement in her life by accepting an opportunity to host a local radio show where she creates a mysterious, late-night persona, "Miss Dreamsville," and by launching a reading group—the Collier County Women's Literary Society—thus sending the conservative and racially segregated town into uproar. The only townspeople who venture to join are regarded as outsiders at best—a young gay man, a divorced woman, a poet, and a young black woman who dreams of going to college.
This brilliant fiction debut by Amy Hill Hearth, a New York Times bestselling author, brings to life unforgettable characters who found the one thing that eluded them as individuals: a place in the world. Inspired by a real person, Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society will touch the heart of anyone and everyone who has ever felt like an outsider longing to fit in.
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"The year is 1962 and Jackie Hart, wife and mother of three, has been transplanted with her family from Boston to Collier County in Florida. She does her darndest to fit in but her new neighbours don't take too kindly to Yankee interlopers. After being frozen out of existing activities, she decides to start her own and so begins the Collier County Women's Literary Society (or Salon as Jackie likes to call it). The new group is to meet at the town library and soon attracts a bevy of very likeable misfits: Jackie, of course, the unhappy housewife, the librarian whose presence is required if the group is to be allowed to use the library; a single woman called Plain Jane who writes risque articles about sex in the boardroom for magazines like Cosmo; an elderly woman just released from prison after serving a long sentence for murdering her husband; a divorcee and rescuer of injured snapping turtles; a young black woman who dreams of going to college but doubts it will ever happen; and a gay man whose mother is an ex-stripper turned alligator wrangler.In a time and town where the KKK is seen as a group of upstanding citizens and the literary society members definitely aren't, the society is bound to attract trouble including a run-in with said KKK. In fact, Miss Dreamsville manages to touch on just about every issue confronting the '60s, albeit superficially, including premarital sex, women's liberation, gay rights, environmental issues, Civil Rights, and even the Cuban Missile Crisis. Fortunately, this short novel never takes itself too seriously. Instead, this is a fun, fast read imbued with humour, heart, and more than a little southern charm."
— Maxine (4 out of 5 stars)
" One of those books I read in one sitting. "
— Ingrid, 2/5/2014" What can I say? I have a soft-spot for Southern fiction. This was no different. A friend at work recommended this title to me and despite my busy life, I actually read it in one day. A very enjoyable story. My only complaint is that the book wasn't longer! I would have liked to get to know each character a bit more. "
— Kathleen, 1/28/2014" Well written period piece like The Help. Was referred by a friend so at first not certain would be of interest. Found myself drawn into story with mystery twists added incentive. "
— Jakenv, 1/25/2014" I am adding Amy Hill Hearth to my list of favorite Southern female authors. She is that good. Waiting to read her next creation. "
— Paula, 1/22/2014" I read this book because of the location and time frame. It is a very good first fiction book for this author. I will be interested to see where she goes from here. "
— Kathy, 12/29/2013" Lovely, lovely book about a group of people, mostly women, who find a place for themselves in 1960s Florida by creating a literary society. I hope there is a sequel! "
— Carrie, 12/27/2013" fabulous quick read; good to see a group of individuals who found each other and are able to like themselves for who they are;would enjoy a sequel. "
— Brownd2, 12/25/2013" Excellent piece. entertaining. Feel as I know the characters and how their heart works. Scene is very realistic --- very typical of south. "
— Nancy, 11/26/2013" Fictionalized novel based on life in the early 1960's in the South. Small town characters combined with a bit of mystery and people that are not in the main stream of life. Peppered with events of the era created a book that I didn't want to end. "
— Debbie, 10/26/2013" Good book. Quick read with characters that were easy to relate to! PWQ Selection - January 2013 "
— Danielle, 5/21/2013" It's 1962 in Naples, Florida, and change is coming in the form of a charming Yankee. "
— Melissa, 5/16/2013" I found Miss Dreamsville... enjoyable. "
— Janet, 4/8/2013" Very cute story and a light read. "
— Sharon, 2/3/2013" Heartwarming and thought provoking story, set against the background of early 1960s Florida, that tells the story of seven people finding their place in life. Thoroughly enjoyed it. "
— Marcia, 1/6/2013" Excellent read. FLEW threw it. Didn't realize that Amy wrote one of my other all time favorites "Having our say". Another 5 star read. "
— Kristen, 12/29/2012Amy Hill Hearth, who lives at the Jersey Shore, is a New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today bestselling author and a Peabody Award winner. She writes nonfiction as well as fiction, and books for both adults and young readers. This is her first thriller. Her areas of interest include American history, elder wisdom, and forgotten or little-known stories. Her ancestors, who include a Lenni-Lenape woman, called the Jersey Shore home for many generations. You can read more about her at www.AmyHillHearth.com.