Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man

I recently read a book that reminded me of Fannie Flagg’s writing and took a look back at what I had read by her. For whatever reason I missed her debut novel but not anymore. Flagg is the type of writer that you can pick up anytime and become reacquainted with her style and humor. Written from the perspective of a young girl who has such an interesting “take” on her surroundings and relationships you can’t help but love Daisy Fay. Some of her thoughts are laugh out loud funny while some come close to breaking your heart.

Never stale, always enlightening and entertaining I am so glad I took a step back in time.

Fanny Flagg is a genius. This book is laugh out loud funny. (even when you are alone!) Daisy Fay has quite an eclectic set of friends and a unique view of life. I had to read portions out loud to my husband. Mama recommended this. She found it as Coming Attractions (its original title) at her local library sale. After Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe became so popular it was rereleased as Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man. I reread it and am very glad that I did. While there is a great deal of humor there are also many touching moments that bring the characters to life. I highly recommend it.

Hilarious! Really, especially for those born in the 1940s, '50s, or 60's and also for those who know the southern US. This book is funny all the way through and one short chapter had me rolling. Deftly written from the perspective of an 11-year-old girl, who ages in the book 7 years, from 1952-1959. It's hard to write humor, folks, and this is splendid. The voice is perfect. The setting is mostly Mississippi. Characters are priceless. It was a joy to read and I hated that it ended. I've read other books by this author, not all of her writings, and this one stands out for me. This is the author of Fried Green Tomatoes that was made into a movie. This book would also make a great movie.

Daisy Fay is the second book by Fanny Flagg that I read - and it was largely out of curiousity, because I enjoyed Fried Green Tomatoes so much. I did not imagine she could capture my heart so completely twice - but as I discover more and more of her work, I know this to be her wonderful gift.

Daisy Fay was supposed to be, for me, a simple diversion, something I had picked up to read between heavier fare. But Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man held surprises I hadn't expected. What I had thought to be a simple Sunday jaunt became instead a journey of delightful twists and surprisingly endearing characters.

This book made me laugh so hard that tears rolled down my face. But in the next moment it would make me sob with heart break. The show more situations that our young heroine faces with humor and courage could have broken a weaker person's spirit. And not only does she survive; she thrives! Daisy Fay possesses an inner strength that enables her to come out a winner. How could one not love such an innocent yet an insightful young woman? Kudos to Ms. Flagg for not giving us another typical victim of circumstance that cannot figure out how to pull herself up by her bootstraps!

I identified enormously with this testimony to humor as our saving grace in a crazy world. The uplifting quality of this story will stay with you long after you read the last page.

Some people want to compare Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man with Fried Green Tomatoes. Don't! It's unfair to both of these great stories. I loved them both for entirely different reasons. That's what makes a super author - and there is no doubt Fanny Flagg is this rare beast. Save a special spot in your bookcase for all her works. They deserve it. show less

This one was a delight to read. Total fiction, this is a coming-of-age
story, told from the point of view of Daisy Fay Harper through the pages of
her diary from April 1, 1952 when she turned 11, through September, 1959,
when she was crowned Miss Mississippi. This kid has a very unique outlook
on life and some of the strangest family members and neighbors I've ever
read about, and the descriptions of the daily life at the Gulf Coast's Shell
Beach resort was rich and colorful.

The characters that populate the pages of Daisy's diary are vivid and leap
to life. There's hard-drinking Jimmy Snow, her father's best friend who
uses his crop-dusting plane to not only make a living but to seek revenge
against his old lover. And Mrs. Dot, a former show more socialite who married far
beneath her and finds herself living in the back of the local Bait Shop,
where she tries to hold Junior Debutante meetings for the young ladies of
the resort community. There's Kay Bob Benson, the snotty high-faluting
daughter of the richest folks in town whose nose is stuck so far in the air
that Daisy can't help but want to rub it in whatever she can think of. And
Pickle Watkins, Daisy's best friend through high school whose dreams seemed
destined to never come true. And Daisy's own parents, a very mismatched
couple indeed -- an alcoholic father with more get-rich-quick schemes than
you can shake a stick at, and a nervous mother, trying to be a lady and
raise her daughter "right" in the face of enormous obstacles. Daisy is
blunt and quite frank, telling us literally everything that matters to her
in her life, and in such a straight-forward and comical way that I found
myself laughing out loud over and over again as I went through this book.

Fannie Flagg is the author of "Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle-Stop
Cafe" and has a real talent to make common places and people come to life on
the page. I really do recommend this one for anyone looking for a good
light read that will bring a smile to your face and just might end up with
you looking at the world in a slightly different way. It gets a 5. show less

This is a comfort read for me. I've read it many times, I grew up with Daisy Fay. Sometimes I could swear that I've seen a movie adaptation of it. I haven't, I've just spent that much time in Mississippi with the Harpers. The first half is my favorite part, Daisy Fay at 11 reminds me of Francie Nolan in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (another favorite book that I revisited this year).

Fannie Flagg never disappoints. This is her first novel and it is just wonderful. I read an interview with her that stated she wanted to write a story about a girl growing up after noticing how many stories were written about boys. This story follows the ever interesting, sometimes zany, oftentimes sad life of Daisy Fay Harper from when she is 12 years old and moving to live on the beach until she is a woman trying out for the Miss Mississippi beauty contest. The things she encounters on the way are all told in her own words in this delightful tale. So many interesting characters in this story. Definitely one of my favorite books ever.