Hamburger & miracoli sulle rive di Shell Beach

by Fannie Flagg, Olivia Crosio (translator)

Shell Beach, Stato del Mississippi, profondo Sud degli Stati Uniti: un luogo che quasi nessuno conosce ma che è popolato da quindici persone stravaganti, sognatrici, lunatiche, pazze e rissose. Papà William e il suo socio (hanno aperto un bar) Jimmy Snow, un pilota perennemente ubriaco che sparge disinfestante invariabilmente sui campi sbagliati; la signora Dot, proprietaria-direttrice-autrice dell'unico giornale locale; il signor Honywell e il suo esercito di segretarie addestrate alla guerriglia; Ula Sour, una misteriosa negra albina; un uomo affascinante che forse è un assassino...

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Southern, Historical Fiction, Book Club, Chick Lit, Coming Of Age

305 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Fannie Flagg began writing and producing television specials at age nineteen and went on to distinguish herself as an actress and writer in television, films, and the theater. She is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (which was produced by Universal Pictures as "Fried Green Tomatoes"), Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!, Standing in the Rainbow, and A Redbird Christmas.

Flagg’s film script for "Fried Green Tomatoes" was nominated for both the Academy Award and the Writers Guild of America Award and won the highly regarded Scripters Award. She lives in California and Alabama.

Reviews

[Brina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a nonfiction reader at heart who appreciates quality historical fiction. Now that that is out of the way, I think that 2020 will be remembered not as much for what I read but for who I read with. With personal relationships at a premium these days, I have craved buddy reads in all of my good reads groups. Although reading is a solitary activity, at least I know that others are reading the same book as me that will be followed by a lengthy discussion. In one of my good reads groups, some of us have decided to read through Fannie Flagg’s novels. The author of Fried Green Tomatoes, Flagg is a southern writer who might not produce the best literary prose, but you know you will be reading a quality story full of well developed characters. This month, our group agreed on Flagg’s first novel, which takes readers back to the 1950’s Mississippi gulf coast.

Daisy Fay Harper is eleven years old in 1952. At a tender age, she begins to keep a diary because she realizes that her family life is not the most stable and needs someone to confide in. Daisy lives in Jackson, Mississippi with her father, a movie projection operator and full fledged alcoholic, and her mother, who is constantly on her father’s case to stop his drinking and womanizing. Her mother threatens to leave her father on a daily basis, whereas the father believes he is always one deal away from striking it rich. Daisy’s mother would never leave her comfort zone of Jackson until one day, her father came up with the scheme of schemes- along with his lifelong friend Jimmy Snow, all they had to do was raise $500 and they could own a malt shop in the resort town of Shell Beach. Daisy isn’t sold on the idea at first as all that she knows is in Jackson. Her grandmother’s mascot at bingo games and convinced by her mother that this plan will never work, Daisy would rather stay in Jackson, until somehow her father actually raises the $500 and the family is on its way to Shell Beach.

I am drawn to books set in the 1950s as the era presents a much more wholesome time in America. Shell Beach, Mississippi is a resort town. Most people would rather go to the Florida panhandle so Shell Beach relies on tourism in the summer months to make ends meet. Few residents call the town their year round home, and Daisy has a limited pool of people in her age group to call her friends. Michael Romeo’s parents own an Italian diner so the two become fast friends, concocting adventures to ease the boredom of life in Shell Beach. Usually these adventures involve viewing adult shows at clubs from a window, but in this bygone era with little adult supervision, few people paid attention to these adolescent whims. Daisy’s mother forces her to attend Junior Debutante meetings whereas she would rather be on an adventure with Michael. The group’s de facto leader is town spoiled bratty snob Kay Bob Benson who one can not help but detest. Never developed as an actual antagonist, Kay Bob is developed as a rich kid whose life is handed to her on a silver spoon, often getting in the way of Daisy Fay achieving her dreams.

One day, Daisy Fay’s mother actually leaves. She remains in Shell Beach with her father and Jimmy Snow. In the 1950s this was all but unheard of, so I give Flagg credit for writing about a non-nuclear family in her debut effort. Daisy is guided through adolescence but a myriad of friends and female mentors, starting with her sixth grade teacher Sibyl Underwood, with whom she develops a lifelong relationship. Flagg shows Tommy Harper and Jimmy Snow as forward thinking as one of their strongest relationships is with African American business owner Peachy Wigham and her partner Ola Sour. It appeared to me that Flagg wanted to develop these characters further but they were not the focal point of the book, but one can sense Idgie Threadgood and her gang emerging from the characterization of these two women. Between Sibyl Underwood, Peachy Wigham, Junior Debutante leader Mrs Dot, and correspondence with her grandmother Pettibone the bingo player, Daisy Fay somehow gets through her adolescent years raised by two alcoholics. With memorable characters as these, Daisy Fay’s story makes for fast reading as one can not help but root for her to make it to adulthood not just unscathed but ahead in life. Told from Daisy Fay’s point of view in diary form, Flagg’s debut is ambitious and refreshing.

With the novel spanning seven years in linear form, Daisy Fay Harper’s story takes the reader until she graduates from high school and makes it big. Faced with challenges that most of her friends did not have to deal with, Daisy Fay held a layer of grittiness that allowed her to persevere a difficult adolescence. Fanny Flagg introduces difficult topics in a novel taking place in an era where things were normally perceived as carefree. Looking at the 1950s through a 21st century lens, the era of malted milkshakes and drive in movies was definitely less complex than the world today; however, Daisy Fay Harper navigated through a troubled childhood. Fanny Flagg showed readers that she is willing to tackle multiple societal issues in a novel here in her debut. Daisy Fay might not be remembered as Flagg’s most memorable novel or character, but her story makes for fun reading, setting the stage for Flagg’s achievements later in her career.

4 stars

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jan 18, 2023, 1230pm ~~ I should have known better. This is a wonderful book, and I still love it but it was a poor choice for the Zapata Reading Club. I could tell that my audience wasn't as interested as he pretended to be, so I suggested a change of book. Marco will pick a new one during today's phone call and we will start reading during the next Zapata Reading Club Book Day, which is Thursday.

DNF after 112 pages, but this does not change my personal enjoyment of this book. My original review stands as is, and all five stars stay where they are!

Dec 27, 2022, 630pm ~~ This is the next selection for the Zapata Reading Club. I have read it many times and I think (hope!) Marco will like it. We have read some fairly serious themes lately, and I wanted something that would make us laugh, so we'll see what happens!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Original review from September 2014
We meet Daisy Fay Harper when she is eleven years old, and we follow her transformation from girl to woman through the pages of her diary. I love this book; every time I read it I laugh out loud. The Haunted House scene in Part I is priceless, as is the Miss Mississippi beauty pageant in Part 2.

But life is not all candy corn and roses for Daisy Fay. She has to come to terms with some very adult issues over the years, and all of these are handled with delicate skill by the author and Daisy herself.

Anyone who enjoyed Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe would also enjoy this book.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy the end of the book more than the beginning, but it was hard for me to want to keep going through this. I have to admit that I like Ms. Flagg's later books much better!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fannie Flagg is a brilliantly funny, authentic writer. If you ever read "Fried Green Tomatoes At the Whistle Stop Cafe" or saw the movie, you will surely like this one too.
It is a highly entertaining account of the formative years of a very down to earth girl growing up in Coastal Mississippi in the 50's. Great characterization! The writing style is unique and is as though Daisy were simply have a conversation with you. Most enjoyable. Give it a try!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Premise: we meet Daisy Fay in the spring of 1952 where she is waiting for the 6th grade. When she leaves Shell Beach, Mississippi in September 1959, she is ready for the Miss America Pageant, vowing not to come back until she is somebody.

Our Library Book Discussion group was a big fan of Fannie Flagg and selected a lot of her books for discussion. We found this one particularly entertaining and irresistible.

In our discussion, we found ourselves laughing out loud quite a bit at her sassiness.

Daisy Fay is quite an appealing, adorable, loveable character.

In many ways, Fannie Flagg books are classics.

[Kimberly Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fannie Flagg books -the one you read when you feel that you are at your lowest point, when you feel that the world cannot get any worse, when you feel so over burdened that you are ready to go to pieces...if you can stop for a moment and pick up book, read anything written by Fannie Flagg and I PROMISE you that you will feel better...you will laugh and you will cry...you will do both at the same time...she is by far one of the best fiction/humor writers since Damon Runyon walked into Mindy's and asked if they made more cheese cake than strudel. It is unfair to say that Fannie Flagg is strictly a Southern writer as it unfair to say that Runyon was a great New York writer...they both share an uncanny ear for the way people speak and are able to write it...you can read a Fannie Flagg novel and just walk away..her characters just stay with you and they're honest, even when they're doing something they shouldn't they remain true to themselves...



I was reading this on the train one day, and burst out laughing at one point, I just couldn't stop laughing...this is a wonderful story...

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first 100 pages of this book and really appreciated the fresh, funny voice of the 11-year-old narrator. She seemed like the embodiment of that age as I remember it. I eventually tired of the story though and honestly didn't think a lot of the things that happened to her were funny.

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a coming of age tale of a young girl who dares to look at life with great optimism and sense of fun despite the fact that she is lives the unfortunate circumstance of a child with an alcoholic parent. Her father and mother's troubled marriage and her father's scheming and drinking do not dampen her zest for life, her creativity, or her spunk. Her story is shared in a diary style, yet tells far more than a diary. Daisy Fay is a maturing female who likes to write and she treasures her papers, ultimately keeping them in a locked box. We are privileged to read her papers.

This is a novel that is filled with humor, yet shares life's sadness. Sometimes it is hard to enjoy the chuckle offered in Daisy Fay's life experience because of the heartache ever present. One easily comes to love Daisy Fay, who takes her circumstances as a matter of course and does not let her reality get in the way of her adventure. It is refreshing to read a story where poverty and misfortune are recognized as part of human experience, but not one that fully defines a life.

Fannie Flagg writes a novel that clearly indicates the damaging aspects of Daisy Fay's father's alcoholism, but also presents the miracle of his imagination and spirit. Daisy provides a strong female character whose perseverance creates possibilities for a future other than what is assumed to be destiny for children who grow up in her situation. She is a self assured and self sufficient young woman who comes from a line of women who have held their own, especially her grandmothers and her great aunt. Perhaps in a small way, her mother shows strength in finally leaving her father and making a life for herself. Daisy Fay's mother seemed to have wanted more from her life and then because of her reliance on a man to take care of her, never achieved what she desired.

I quickly fell in love with Daisy Fay when reading this novel. By the time I finished the novel, I was also in love with Fannie Flagg, her writing, her wit, her humor and her perspective on life. Fannie Flagg recognizes we all have our troubles. Some are hidden away and some are right out in public for everyone to see, but in either case we need not be ashamed by our situation. We are all worthy people and we all do better to support one another than to look down on one another. Life is to celebrate and enjoy.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to like the diary style of writing to be able to get into this book. I happened to enjoy this type of writing so this was an easy read for me.

Ms. Flagg abandons her usual (mainly) time-periods (1930's-1940's) to write about the 1950's. There is no jumping time-periods like in her other books.

This is only my second read since I never liked this book as well as her other's, but upon this reading, I found that I enjoyed and appreciated it a lot more.

Many will not enjoy reading about the problems of the deep South in this particular era. However, I think that things may have been written fairly accurately. Just keep in mind the era and how old the author is and where she came from.

[Georgiana 1792 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un affresco divertente, ma di certo non idilliaco, della piccola provincia del Sud degli Stati Uniti negli anni '50, narrato da una ragazzina, Daisy Fay Harper, nel suo diario, a partire dagli undici anni fino ai diciotto. Vengono affrontati numerosi temi - la discriminazione dei neri, l'alcolismo, i finti predicatori e vari tipi di truffe, le associazioni femminili che cercavano di educare le figlie dell'America con una moralità finto-puritana, la violenza domestica e l'incesto, ecc. - ma con il velo dell'ingenuità attraverso il quale Daisy Fay - che non è certo la più sveglia delle ragazzine - vede il mondo che la circonda.
Forse non è il migliore romanzo di Fannie Flagg, ma riesce a dipingere con leggerezza un periodo storico di sicuro non allegro, senza quell'alone di tragedia che alcune delle vite descritte avrebbero potuto portarsi dietro.
E la descrizione delle prove di abilità di Miss Mississippi, in cui quasi nessuna delle candidate riesce a dare il meglio di sé sulla scena, è davvero esilarante.

[Tammra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books. It is so fun to read and fun to review. It is fun to see the adult world in this way through the eyes of an optimistic child. The story takes place during the 1950s in the South. The antics of Daisy Fay are heart-warming, crazy and at times side-splitting hilarious. I would recommend this book for everyone to enjoy.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I needed something of another era during the COVID-19 fumble, & Fannie Flagg was high on everyone's escapist list. It was a welcomed diversion, although the voice of an 11 year old girl (even as she aged to 18) was limiting at times. But it was fun, & a much-appreciated throwback to a less fraught time.

[Sidna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This is one of the funniest books I have ever read! I have read several of Fannie Flagg's books and thought some were better than others. Sometimes I felt she was trying too hard to be funny. I was amazed to discover that this book, originally published as "Coming Attractions" in 1981, was her first novel. I had never heard of it until I happened to see it on a shelf in our library used book store.

It is unusual for me to laugh or cry when reading a book, but this book was so funny that I laughed out loud several times while reading it. Since I usually don't have time to read until I go to bed at night, I was afraid I would laugh so loud I would wake up my husband.

We meet Daisy Fay, the protagonist and narrator, when she is 11 years old. She tells her story through her diary entries. One of the funniest lines from the book is about a Southern con man preacher who makes his living through schemes to get people to send him money. One of the scams he tried was selling autographed pictures of The Last Supper, which I thought was hilarious. She says that the preacher should have known better than to try to forge Jesus' signature.

Flagg's next book was "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, published six years later in 1987. It was made into a movie and is the book for which Flagg is best known as an author. I'm surprised that this book was not made into a movie. There were many scenes that would have been great on film.

I wondered if some of the book was autobiographical. Daisy's father is an alcoholic and a con man. When we first meet him he is working at a projectionist in a movie theater and later on owns some small businesses. Flagg's father was a small-business owner and a projectionist. She may have chosen those occupations for Daisy Fay's father because that is what she knew.

If you aren't too judgmental and need a laugh, this book is really fun.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite seriously, this is the funniest book I have ever read and has become one of my favorites of all time.

This is Flagg's first book, written in a diary format of an 11-year-old girl who grows up in Mississippi spanning until she is 16 years old. Either Flagg was related to some of the oddest people on the planet, or, more likely, she has a remarkable sense of comic description. There's little plot in the book, rather it's a series of anecdotes about growing up in the South in the 1950s. The book needs no plot. It gets so impossibly funny that a traditional plotline would take away from the hilarity of her characters. I used to teach 4th grade and read it aloud (I edited out about 100 pages of PG-13 content) to my students, but though I had read it about a dozen times previously, found myself unable to read it aloud because I was laughing so hard. My poor students didn't know what to make of it.

Deliciously, the book makes particular targets of the ridiculousness of race and class. As a teenager, the protagonist finds herself participating in the Miss Mississippi pageant in 1958, aligning herself with several women who are in it for the scholarships and are quite aware of the lack of congeniality of the organizers and the other participants. As previously mentioned, there is some PG-13 content, and the book isn't without sadness. Flagg's second book, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe got a lot more attention, but don't pass this one up. You won't regret it.

[Laura Rodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s narrative voice is that of an eleven-year old girl from Jackson, Mississippi who is watching her parents struggle through a nasty break up and separation, her father addiction to alcohol, her mother’s inevitable abandonment of the family, and the mistakes of a myriad of other adults who should be stabilizing influences in her young life. She sees all with clarity, (perhaps only children are able to have because they are at the stage in their human development where they have no conception of compromise, failed expectations or the endless drive to pursue hopeless dreams) and is blindly optimistic that all will be right in her world given time. Daisy Frances Harper matures into a young woman who faces challenges around every corner. Her father’s drunken behavior, the death of her mother after an “unnatural separation” for years from her child, the bitterness of her extended family, the racist pathologies surrounding her poor white community would all pulled her down if not for her sense of loyalty, humor, and eccentric pluckiness.
This book was a bittersweet coming of age story of an exceptional Southern girl whose heart is as big as Alaska.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man is a coming-of-age story set in Mississippi in the 1950s. The story is told in diary entries (which I love) and follows Daisy from age 11 until after she finishes high school. Daisy is a spunky character who has to put up with a completely dysfunctional family, including an alcoholic father. There are all kinds of interesting characters involved including a crippled girl, a man with elphantiasis, an albino woman, Daisy's best friend Pickle, and Daisy's arch-nemesis, Kay Bob Benson.

Fannie Flagg manages to incorporate so many of life's complex issues into the story that it really adds depth and meaning to the experiences of the characters. The author weaves in issues such as race, abuse, and homosexuality applicable to the time period and location.

The book is very funny, often poignant, and at times heart-breaking. But, I was rooting for Daisy the whole way and I enjoyed the journey.

[Bridgit · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had been on a huge Fannie Flagg kick this month, and after finishing her entire Elmwood Springs series (which I highly recommend,) I was excited to pick up her debut novel. Unfortunately, this was definitely the weakest Flagg story I've read thus far.

The diary entries of an 11-year-old Daisy Fay felt like a less funny version of Scout Finch. The later sections, where Daisy has almost completed high school, still read like a prepubescent child's writings and not those of an almost 17-year-old's.

Perhaps in a few years, this novel will warrant a revisit. For now, I think I'll take a bit of a break from Flagg and just reflect on the greatness that was her Elmwood Springs series (and Fried Green Tomatoes as well, of course.)

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Haaaaaated it! I don't understand the inspiration behind this book (or, shall I say, the lack thereof?) For starters, what would possess a person to write a book about "white trash" in the first place? Secondly, why do her critics call it "side-splittingly funny" and "sheer, unbeatable entertainment"? I didn't miss the attempted humor...I just found this book to be morally degrading and not all that funny. Some parts caused me to wonder why on earth someone would send this book to print and not be embarrassed. I'm very disappointed in Fannie Flagg, as her other books I have read were great. I'm hoping this was her only exception.

[Melissa (So Behind) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by Fannie Flagg, back when it was called Coming Attractions. I can still picture the cover, I checked it out from my library back in the early 80s when it first came out and then re-checked it out so many times. Flagg may have been a funny actor, but her writing draws me in even moreso. I adore her books, and this one holds a special place in my heart.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, often funny, look into the young MC's life growing up in the 50s.

[Chantal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much information going on that I can't keep up with what is going on. I really wanted to like this book because I loved others book of this write, but that didn't work out. Not my type of book.

[Takoneando entre libros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro que pasa a ser uno de mis grandes favoritos. Un libro que trata de hacernos ver que a pesar de la miseria que tengamos o las penurias, siempre hay que sacar la parte positiva; últimamente he descubierto a personas admirables que tienen la capacidad de hacer eso, de ver lo bueno dentro de lo malo.

Aunque la novela sea el diario de una niña durante su tránsito a la juventud, no os dejéis engañar; su lectura es simple pero llena de mucho contenido. Podréis leer sobre el Sur de los Estados Unidos y un magnífico estudio sociológico de personajes y situaciones de esos años. Y ya os digo que aunque es comedia, dentro de la obra se nos muestran diversas situaciones: sectas racistas y cómo "convivían" negros y blancos , alcoholismo, infidelidad, malos tratos, ludopatia, homosexualidad...
Y todo esto aderezado con una magnífica trama con una escritura magistral. Se nota que la autora era guionista (desde los diecinueve años) cada escena y diálogo son perfectamente visualizables para el lector.
No busquéis este libro en librerías comunes. Por desgracia, Fannie Flag es una autora a la que en España no se le ha dado nunca importancia (a pesar de su famosa obra "Tomates verdes fritos"). Buscad el libro en bibliotecas o librerías de segunda mano, ya que por desgracia, está descatalogado. Lo podréis encontrar en distintas ediciones.
¿Recomendaría este libro? Sí, sin duda alguna. He reído a mandíbula batiente, he llorado a moco tendido y desde luego que este será uno de esos libros de relectura, de los que te dejan con una sonrisa en el alma al acabarlos.

[MissSusie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy Fay Harper is now one of my favorite characters! She is spunky and independent and surrounded by a great cast of characters. This book spans Daisy Fay’s life from 1952-1959 at the beginning of the book she is 11 years old. Daisy Fay’s daddy is a drunk but she stands by him through thick and thin, he isn’t a mean drunk so that’s ok LOL.

It is so fun to read about her discovering life especially since this book is set in the 50’s.One of my favorite scenes is when they are living in Shell Beach and Daisy likes to sneak in and watch the entertainment at the local Blue Gardenia Lounge like the one-legged tap dancer and Ray Layne the young singer but the one she is so looking forward to is a real dancer from New Orleans named Tawny the Tasseled lady and her reaction to that was “She isn’t even a real dancer!” “All she does is spin them tassels one way then the other and shake around” I laughed so hard picturing this!

Not only is Daisy a great character but everyone else is this book is too from her bingo addicted grandma, to her daddy’s best friend Jimmy Snow who is a crop duster but seems to crash his plane a lot! Oh my I could just go on and on about this book this is the 3rd book by Fannie Flagg I’ve read and I think it is now my mission to read everything she has ever written.

If you like southern fiction and great characters who will make you laugh out loud you must read this book!

5 Stars

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I've come to expect from Fannie Flagg. Daisy Fay is a likeable character, if a little flat. The text jumps around (perhaps like a pre/teens thoughts). None of the characters are actually fleshed out and there doesn't seem to be any point to the book. I was looking for a lighthearted read, but this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Wouldn't recommend if this was the first Fannie Flagg someone was going to read. She has much better novels.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by this author, and I really enjoyed reading it. 

The book is written in journal style by Daisy Fay and begins when she is eleven years old, living in Jackson, Mississippi, and continues until she reaches the age of eighteen living in Tupelo, Mississippi. 

Her father, William Harper, is an alcoholic and has difficulty staying employed. While living in Jackson William has a job as a motion picture operator but is trying to scrounge up $500 so he can become co-owner of a malt shop in Shell Beach, Mississippi with his buddy, Jimmy Snow. Daisy's mother, Fay, is opposed to moving to Shell Beach.

William finally obtains enough money to buy the malt shop in Shell Beach. Unfortunately, since it is a tourist destination, June, July, and August are the only good months for making money. Daisy's father decides to take a course in taxidermy so that he has another way to make money during the off-season.

On account of William's drinking, Daisy's parents are constantly fighting. Fay finally leaves William to go live with her sister in Virginia. She wanted Daisy to come live with her, but Daisy doesn't want to leave her father. 

Daisy has quite an active imagination and has a knack for getting into trouble.  For example, Daisy decided to dig tunnels underneath the malt shop, and after digging sixteen tunnels, the malt shop fell three feet. Both Daisy and her father came to an agreement that he wouldn't tell her mother regarding the tunnels, and she wouldn't tell her mother when her father had been drinking. 

Despite being a child of divorced parents and being raised by an alcoholic father, she is a well-adjusted child who doesn't appear to be emotionally scarred. For instance, she doesn't suffer from low self-esteem or trouble establishing relationships with other people (children and adults).

In particular, Michael Romeo is her best friend in elementary school while living in Jackson. Also, Daisy is friends with Peachy Wigham, who runs the Elite Nightspot, and Mrs. Underwood, her elementary school teacher. Additionally, Pickle Watkins becomes her best friend in high school. 

Sadly, Daisy's mother passed away from cancer a week after her freshman year in high school. 

During Daisy's junior high school both her, Jimmy, and her father move to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and her father is working at a beer joint called Johnnie's and Jimmy is still crop-dusting whenever he can. 

Daisy obtains a job as a protectionist for the Melba Theater. She befriends quite a few people while working at the theater: Professor Teasley, the director, Cecil, the costume designer, and, Tootie, Helen, and Dolores, the theater's secretaries.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I did have trouble keeping track of the numerous characters introduced throughout the book. 

Furthermore, I did not care much for the title because the "Miracle Man" was a minor character that eventually appeared over halfway through the story. 

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading Fannie Flagg and I just loved this book! Everything about it is sweet and entertaining.
I can’t get over Daisy Faye digging 19 sand tunnels under Harper’s Malt shop or her kicking all the fish on the pier back into the water.

[Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I think Fannie Flagg might just be my favorite author.

Daisy Fay starts out as a spunky young girl with a big imagination and an uncanny ability to see the best in people. She doesn't exactly come from an All-American family, but she loves her Momma and Daddy, despite their shortcomings. Which is not to say she doesn't occasionally get into trouble, because she also has quite a knack for being mischievous too.

What I like about this novel is that we get to see little Daisy Fay grow up. The story isn't just about one particular time in her life. It's written kind of like a journal, but with many more details than a regular diary.

Through all her ups and downs, Daisy had people who loved her everywhere she went. And the few people that really couldn't stand her, like Roy Grimmett, Kay Bob Benson, and Claude Pistal, just couldn't understand how someone with so little could be so happy. But I understand. Daisy Fay Harper made up for what she didn't have materially with her kind heart, her faith in herself and the people she loved, and her larger than life personality. She's one of my favorite characters I've come accross in literature.

[Linda Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say is that I can't believe I hadn't read this years ago! Granted there wasn't a big focus on the "miracle man" of the title but that didn't seem to matter. I have absolutely enjoyed all of Fannie's books, some more than others, but this one gets 5 stars just because I couldn't stop laughing from page 295 to the middle of page 319 thinking this was the funniest endings of all her books. Not to be...I cried from the middle of page 319 right through to the end on page 320. But hey, a little tragedy never hurt any book's ending.

So many favorite lines but I think this declaration by Daisy Fay, after Kay Bob Benson screwed up her baton twirling routine at the pageant in Tupelo (among other BIG stage problems) and Daisy Fay is back in Hattiesburg after being crowned Miss Mississippi:
"I tell you, I can never say anything unkind about organized labor as long as I live."

To understand, you'll have to read it.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A coming of age story as told by the main character Daisy Fay. Daisy Fay is a spunky, feisty and imaginitive 11 year old girl who is surrounded in life by a wide range of quirky characters. Some of the people in her life are helpful and caring, but some are poor role models who make for some difficult moments in her life. The story takes you through Daisy's life up until she is 18. Her observations on the people and events in her life are, at times, laugh out loud hilarious.
This is the first book written by Fannie Flagg. This is the second book I have read of Ms. Flagg's. I am definitely a fan and look forward to reading her other books.