Miss Dreamsville and t...

by
Amy Hill Hearth

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Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society

by Amy Hill Hearth (Goodreads Author)

3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 519 ratings · 183 reviews

Southern Literary Review:
"One can feel the immense joy of Amy Hill Hearth's engagement in her first novel. It radiates through every scene and through every page. Sometimes, an exceptional writer finds an exceptional premise, and the result is a truly exceptional book. Such is the case with Miss Dreamsville. The writing is brilliant, especially the dialogue through which t...more

Paperback, 320 pages

Published by Atria Books (first published October 2nd 2012)

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Apr 22, 2013 Amy Hill Hearth rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

"Amy Hill Hearth's first novel is a charming and funny snapshot of life in a tiny Florida town in 1962. It's also a sweet-tart reminder that those good old days weren't so good for everybody." - Colette Bancroft, the Tampa Bay Times

Jacket quotes:
"Amy Hill Hearth's delightful first novel, MISS DREAMSVILLE, is a rollicking, provocative tale about how reading and meeting others who are different can be the most subversive of acts." - Ruth Pennebaker, author of WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAK...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Watchingthewords rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn’t realize when I picked the books that I would be reading this week that I would be immersing myself in the sixties. I started with Ordinary Grace and was sent to a tragic summer in a small town in 1961. Then I picked up Miss Dreamsville and found myself in Naples, Florida in 1962. Not only are both books set in the 1960s, they are both told by the main character looking back in time. In this case it is Dora Witherspoon, now 80, who is looking back at this turbulent time.

When Jackie (soo...more I didn’t realize when I picked the books that I would be reading this week that I would be immersing myself in the sixties. I started with Ordinary Grace and was sent to a tragic summer in a small town in 1961. Then I picked up Miss Dreamsville and found myself in Naples, Florida in 1962. Not only are both books set in the 1960s, they are both told by the main character looking back in time. In this case it is Dora Witherspoon, now 80, who is looking back at this turbulent time.

When Jackie (soon to become radio personality Miss Dreamsville) comes to Naples, Florida from Boston, she brings her Yankee ways and ideas with her and decides to start a literary society. The members are a bunch of misfits – the divorced Dora, a woman who secretly writes sex articles for magazines, a woman convicted of murdering her husband, a black housekeeper, a librarian, and a gay man. They share books, and experiences, as they grow towards acceptance of themselves.

“Maybe freedom means defining yourself any way you want to be.”

With the backdrop of the south in the 60s, the KKK, civil rights, and the Cuban Missile Crisis, combined with the idea of a group of outcasts finding themselves and friendship through the sharing of books, this book could have been great. Unfortunately, it was only OK – a quick, light, and enjoyable read without a lot of depth. The main characters were lightly sketched and other characters in the novel were almost non-existent in their characterization. It was hard to tell whether or not I should like them – or whether I should even care.

I’m not saying that I hated it, I didn’t – it was entertaining – I was just disappointed. The concept was there with an eclectic group of characters, a great setting, and plenty of opportunity for exploration of backgrounds, storylines, underlying issues, etc. Unfortunately most of it seemed to be quickly glossed over and in the end it left me wanting.

See more on my blog at www.watchingthewords.com! (less)

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Apr 02, 2013 Sandy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A friend of mine lent me this book. I was so drawn in by the cover that it went to the top of my reading list - kudos to the cover designer!

When Boston born and bred Jackie moves to a small southern town in Collier County, FL, she unwittingly "slams into" the 1960s cultural divide between the north and south. Looking for things to do in this sleepy town, she seeks members for a book club she is forming - which she calls a salon. Five people respond - all considered "outsiders" - a gay man, a wo...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Carla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's 1962 in Naples, FL - The people all know one another, from their secrets, their achievements, and their faults, but that all changes. The events are seen through the narrator looking back to that one summer.
Enter a new family in this tight knit town and new ideas begin. Jackie Hart has come with her husband and children to this tiny town and brought some flourish. The Women's Literary Society is born and within those members a deep understanding of love, friendship, truth, and possibilities...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Karen Dautrich rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was surprised to find so many rave reviews for a book that I found contrived and trite. My Naples based book club is reading the book, as is every other book club in Naples, and there are many. The title alone guaranteed a commercial success. I just wish the content had not been such a disappointment. Hearth made little effort to paint a picture of time and place with her words. I wanted to experience the early 60's in Naples the way Doris Kearns Goodwin had taken me to her childhood neighborh...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Julie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: general-fiction

Despite its promising start, this novel falls very quickly into weak stereotypes and too many platitudes and cliches to list here. My librarian offered it to me as an antidote to some of the heavy books I've been reading lately, suggesting it would be uplifting and light-hearted. This "could" have been a strong novel, and a "rollicking, provocative tale", as the cover promises, but unfortunately Hearth seems to lose her way somewhere on the swamp road, before she ever dreams of meeting the KKK....more

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Feb 11, 2013 Doreen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Dora Witherspoon, 80, looks back fifty years to 1962 and recounts the formation of the Collier County Women’s Literary Society in Naples, Florida. She states her purpose at the beginning: to let people know “that one person can come along and change your life, and that being a misfit, as I was, doesn’t mean you won’t find friends and your place in the world.”

The members of the reading group are “a little band of oddballs trying to survive in a time and place where sameness was revered.” The club...more Dora Witherspoon, 80, looks back fifty years to 1962 and recounts the formation of the Collier County Women’s Literary Society in Naples, Florida. She states her purpose at the beginning: to let people know “that one person can come along and change your life, and that being a misfit, as I was, doesn’t mean you won’t find friends and your place in the world.”

The members of the reading group are “a little band of oddballs trying to survive in a time and place where sameness was revered.” The club members are indeed all social outcasts in the small, narrow-minded Southern town of the early 1960s: the founder is a transplanted outspoken Yankee and the other members are a closeted gay; a divorcee; a “suspiciously single” woman; a young, highly literate Black woman; a reclusive poet; and an octogenarian recently released after serving a sentence for murder.

As the members meet and discuss books and events, they bond. They divulge secrets as understanding and trust develop. For Dora, the group members become “custodians of my deepest feelings.” She also adds, “We were all outcasts, but as a group we became strong.” They do remain individuals, however. The book discussions are interesting in how they reveal the viewpoints of the various readers. For example, when the group reads The Feminine Mystique, the reactions of the housewife are understandably very different from those of the black maid.

It is characterization that is the strongest element in the novel. Dora emerges as a dynamic character. At the beginning, she is self-conscious and ashamed and “pretty gutless about [expressing her] opinions.” The group gives her confidence when she realizes “my new friends didn’t make me feel ashamed of being divorced. They seemed to like me, just as I was.” In the end, her newfound courage lets her “create momentum . . . launch something and see where it goes.”

The other characters blossom and flourish as well, although their character changes aren’t as convincing. Towards the end, there is an explanation of what the others do with their lives, but some behave in unconvincing ways. Because of the first person point of view, their growth is not developed as Dora’s is; thus, the paths they choose for their lives do not seem totally credible.

The book touches on a number of subjects, albeit some rather superficially: race, sexuality, freedom. Besides that of the power of friendship, another major theme is how appearances are deceiving. Dora speaks of the “false pictures” people create in their minds. As it turns out, each of the reading club’s members proves to be more than what others think. In particular, the mental images the townspeople have of Miss Dreamsville, the sexy-voiced hostess of a late-night radio show, are a wonderful way of emphasizing this theme. When her real identity is revealed, everyone is shocked.

Though serious social issues are touched on, the book is by no means humourless. There are funny scenes; some, like the Swamp Buggy Festival, are outrageously hilarious while others, such as the library board trustees objecting to books about pornography and Lincoln, are more subtle in their humour.

This novel struck me as a fairly authentic look at life in a small Southern town in early 1960s America. Some of the minor characters are stereotypical bigots and there are some predictable events, but it is nonetheless a good read. Social issues are not discussed in depth, but that is part of the book’s charm, and there is certainly sufficient material to give one pause to think.

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher via netgalley.com
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Jan 20, 2013 Cresta rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society by Amy Hill Hearth was a pleasant surprise. I picked up this book in the airport, the cover drew me in (I'm a sucker for a matte cover with good, nostalgic artwork) and started reading it right away. The story unfolds in the swamps of Florida where alligator hunting women and Yankees mingle in comfortable uncomfortableness.

Dora, the narrator, but not always the protagonist of this quaint and charming book, is looking back on her li...more
Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society by Amy Hill Hearth was a pleasant surprise. I picked up this book in the airport, the cover drew me in (I'm a sucker for a matte cover with good, nostalgic artwork) and started reading it right away. The story unfolds in the swamps of Florida where alligator hunting women and Yankees mingle in comfortable uncomfortableness.

Dora, the narrator, but not always the protagonist of this quaint and charming book, is looking back on her life; on a time when an awkward group of women (and one "sweet" man) formed the first ever book club headed up by none other than Jackie Hart. Jackie is the new girl in town, from the North, which might as well be the same as saying she were from Hades as far as these small-towners are concerned. Jackie is progressive, a thinker, and hates to be called a housewife. Finding Collier County just a bit dull, and nothing like her native Boston, Jackie sets out to create culture in a town where the biggest event of the year is a festival celebrating mud.

It isn't long before she gathers together a misfit group of women that all like to read. And it's quite the group: one librarian, one divorcee, one parolee, one sweet man, one "plain Jane," one negro girl (did I mention this book is set in the early sixties before the Civil Rights movement?), and one Yankee "bitch" all gathered together to discuss the literary merits of what books they can actually agree to read.

But, as with book clubs, life becomes a viable piece of discussion matter outside the pages of the text and the odd little group finds themselves knitted closely to one another so that the fabric of their lives becomes one in the same. As Laurel Thatcher Ulrich once said, "Well behaved women rarely make history," these women, and Robbie-Lee, turn the town upside down, often without knowing they've done it. And no one suspects that one of their members holds the biggest surprise of all!

The women, and Robbie-Lee, are so charming in this book. Hearth has done a wonderful job of creating likable and interesting characters. This doesn't mean that it's always peaches and cream, there are struggles and troubles, but all her people behave inline with their personalities; a trait I've found lacking in the last few books I read. It felt like the authors were trying to hard to create "surprise" moments, but the truth is, "there's just one kind of folks, folks" and it's best to let them behave as they should. Most people don't do much "out of character" in real life and I found comfort in that quality within Hearth's writing.

I laughed, I cried, I wanted to be in their group. I wanted to discuss the merits of Eudora Welty and be there for the reading of To Kill a Mockingbird. I wanted to revel in their efforts to make their lives better, and help when they found themselves hurting. I think, for me, the idea of the unlikely friends is so charming, because in my own life I've found those are often the best ones.

Amy Hill Hearth has a definite "hit" on her hands with this novel and I look forward to more work from her. 5 out 5 on this one - it's a book I'd read again and again.

Miss Dreamsville is not Amy Hill Hearth's first novel even though it is considered her debut novel. For more information and books by Ms. Hearth, visit her website at http://www.amyhillhearth.com

She is a former journalist and the author or coauthor of multiple non-fiction works. She claims she's an "East-coast" gal but has lived in both the North and the South equally.

She is a graduate of the University of Tampa.(less)

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Jan 01, 2013 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-december-2012

I enjoyed this book. Even though it is set during a time of change, it is not so much about a particular era as it is about the changing attitudes of people living in those times.

Dora works at the post office, and, so, has a chance to read bits of the interesting magazines that pass through her hands. It's also how she manages to meet Jackie, a Yankee who has moved south with her family, and is a bit at loose ends, since she really doesn't have a good fit with the local society.

Jackie's solution...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Gail rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's 1962 in the small Gulf coastal town of Naples where everyone plays out their rolls and everyone talks about everyone else. Dora is a thirty year old divorcee, working part-time at the post office, and is judged a failed wife by the town. Into the post office walks Bostonian Jacqueline Hart and invites Dora to her reading group. The Collier County Women's Literary Society is born. The group is a group of outsiders: a Yankee, a divorcee, an elderly woman out on parole, a mysterious woman with...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Eustacia Tan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

You know a book is good when you read it in one sitting. I would say that this is especially true recently, because I've been feeling an urge to study. Well, that and I have exams coming up again. But when I started reading Miss Dreamville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society (from now, called "Miss Dreamsville" today, I couldn't put it down! It's a good thing I had a free period.

Miss Dreamsville is about reading and books. That alone endeared me to it. The narrator Dora, is somewhat...more You know a book is good when you read it in one sitting. I would say that this is especially true recently, because I've been feeling an urge to study. Well, that and I have exams coming up again. But when I started reading Miss Dreamville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society (from now, called "Miss Dreamsville" today, I couldn't put it down! It's a good thing I had a free period.

Miss Dreamsville is about reading and books. That alone endeared me to it. The narrator Dora, is somewhat of an outcast - she's a divorcee in a small southern town. But when the (northern) Jackie comes to town, she starts up a Literary Society (something like a Salon) filled with outcasts. And of course, this makes an impact on everyone's lives.

First off, I love the range of characters here. There's the suburban mom, the (ex-convict but) still regal old lady, the Turtle Lady (Dora), a young Negro servant and so on. The wide range of characters means that many different viewpoints can be expressed without seeming forced.

Case in point: when the group read The Feminine Mystique, Jackie identifies with the book. Obsessed with reading it to the point where she neglects her household duties. On the other hand, Priscilla (the young Negro maid) finds the problems that these women go through to be luxuries only white people have. Being discriminated against, she can't afford to consider or even complain about such things.

Second, there's the setting. This book is set it 1962, Florida. This means that at that time, racism was still rampant, there was the whole South/North thing and the Klan was still active. At least, that's what I got from the book (and I have no reason to believe that's not true). The book paints a vivid picture of what small town America was like than, and pulled me into the story.

Thirdly, there's the plot. The book doesn't revolve only around books, it follows Jackie as she becomes the mysterious radio personality Miss Dreamsville, and what that entails. The plot manages to weave in themes of racism and friendship, making it a plot with a point. But it's not a message, these issues are naturally raised thanks to Jackie's personality.

And because the narrative is basically one long flashback, it allows for Dora to tell the point of view of other characters, since having hindsight, she knows what happened. That was really useful, because there were certain events that was crucial, but happened when Dora wasn't present.

Basically, this is a fantastic novel. I love how books were introduced naturally, (the discussion felt natural, because this was supposed to be a salon-style club). The plot wasn't book related, although it was sparked by the Literary Society, which made it interesting. I think this book will appeal to a wide range of people, bibliophiles and non-bibliophiles alike :D

Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review

First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile (less)

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Oct 03, 2012 Pam Asberry rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Amy Hill Hearth's debut novel, eighty-year old Dora Witherspoon, also known as "The Turtle Lady," shares a story from her past. The year is 1962; the place is southern Florida. Racism is rampant; women are treated as second-class citizens; northerners are eyed with suspicion. Newly divorced at a time when divorce was relatively uncommon and not generally accepted, Dora is working as a clerk at the post office and struggling to find her niche in the small town in which she lives.

Her world tur...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Maxine McLister rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Jen C (ReadinginWBL) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review: Miss Dreamsville and The Collier County Women’s Literary Society is a novel which touches on issues such as racism, homophobia and feminism in a heart warming and humorous way. Though these issues are heavy this story is entertaining and evokes real emotions about the various characters. Jackie a housewife from Boston and her family move to the Deep South in the racial charged 1960s. Jackie starts this controversial Literary Society when moving to Collier County. This novel is narrate...more My Review: Miss Dreamsville and The Collier County Women’s Literary Society is a novel which touches on issues such as racism, homophobia and feminism in a heart warming and humorous way. Though these issues are heavy this story is entertaining and evokes real emotions about the various characters. Jackie a housewife from Boston and her family move to the Deep South in the racial charged 1960s. Jackie starts this controversial Literary Society when moving to Collier County. This novel is narrated by Dora, one of the lovable misfits that make up the Literary Society. Each member of the Literary Society bring something different to the table during a time in history when different was not a valued attribute.

The members of the Literary Society are colorful and lovable. I can’t even chose a favorite character as I loved them all. I especially would love to see a movie made of this book just so I can see Dolores, the alligator hunter. My image of her in my mind is pretty entertaining!! The Literary Society is a group of people who are different, but develop a real friendship despite their differences. Change is possible when people look beyond their difference and find their common ground. For this group one common ground discovered was reading/books. Jackie, the Literary Society originator had good intentions and wanted to change the injustices she saw in her new home, Naples. She didn’t always approach the issues in the best manner and was not always successful, but her intentions were good.

After this group has an incident with the Ku Klux Klan, it looks like all was for naught. Can things really change?? But everything turns around for the group and the ending is very satisfying. The group leaves a lasting impression on Naples, Florida. I loved the ending!

Miss Dreamsville and The Collier County Women’s Literary Society is a debut novel by Amy Hill Hearth and will be available for purchase on October 2, 2012. If you enjoyed The Help by Kathryn Stockett, you will love Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women’s Literary Society. The characters really make the story!!

My Rating: 4/5 – The story flowed well and the characters were wonderful! I still smile thinking of the image in my head of each character. A wonderful debut novel that kept me up a few nights later than a girl who needs to get to work on time should stay up!
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Sep 24, 2012 Andrea Guy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, ebook, netgalley, women-s-fiction

with issues facing African Americans in the 1960s. No, it is about social reform, about finding yourself, and making the world better. It also reminds us that big changes often bring big hurdles to overcome.

The characters are all misfits, but lovable misfits. The story is told through the eyes of Dora, a post office employee and divorcee. This is something that is looked down upon in the small Florida town of Naples. Dora also helps heal turtles, giving her the name Turtle Lady.

Each of the othe...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Book Him Danno rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, books-sent-by-author-publisher-for

I’ve read a few disappointing books lately and was a bit worried about this title, but no need to worry after all….I LOVED IT!!! Get this book and read it...

Yes I loved this book. What a fun, thought-provoking look at life in Florida in the early 60’s. The characters were well written, diverse and interesting to boot. Tracy is a woman to get behind. She is unsatisfied with her life and goes out and changes things for the better. She does this in her own life so she sees no reason not to do it f...more I’ve read a few disappointing books lately and was a bit worried about this title, but no need to worry after all….I LOVED IT!!! Get this book and read it...

Yes I loved this book. What a fun, thought-provoking look at life in Florida in the early 60’s. The characters were well written, diverse and interesting to boot. Tracy is a woman to get behind. She is unsatisfied with her life and goes out and changes things for the better. She does this in her own life so she sees no reason not to do it for others. Sometimes that is a mistake, but she seems to roll with the punches very well. She admits her mistakes, maybe not right away but eventually. A friend in deed is this woman and the people who befriend her back, are changed forever(in a good way.)

The main characters form an interesting group of mis-fits who find a home with each other, even with their huge differences. I loved the way they talked in the group, the dialogue was quick and easy to read. The book flowed well and read fast. I would loved to have been at one of their book meetings and even think I could have fit in well there. Maybe a mis-fit in my own right and yet ready for friends like these who will stand up for you in a pinch and love you no matter what or who you really are…of course a true friend already knows…maybe even before you do.

This is a feel good book with an ending that will make you laugh and maybe even cry. A braver woman has never been, walking around in a housecoat and muddy legs at a festival….you have to read this book. When I finished it I put it down reluctantly and thought, “Wow, that was a good book and a great way to spend the afternoon.” If you enjoy women’s fiction then you will enjoy this book. I’ve read three others this week and this one stands heads and shoulders above the others. Funny, heartwarming, feel-good reading that I wish more books were like. If you enjoyed, The Help, you will enjoy this book even with the differences. This is a book for anyone. Go out there and buy a copy today…you won’t be disappointed.(less)

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Aug 17, 2012 Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A nostalgic look back to when women stayed home and men went to work.

Jackie Hart and her family moved from Boston to a town in Florida that was definitely old fashioned. You will meet Jackie and you will also meet an unmarried librarian, an unmarried lady who secretly writes sex novels for a publisher in New York, a divorced woman who works in the Post Office, a woman just out of jail for killing her husband, a maid, and an eccentric male. This group met once a week for a book club which they ca...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Ronna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Miss Dreamsville and The Collier County Woman's Literary Society is essentially a fun, but meaningful book about acceptance of yourself and others. Set in 1960's Florida, Jackie and her family have moved to Florida from Boston, because of her husband's new job with the town's most influential man. Not fulfilled as 'just a housewife', she decides to start a literary society.

The literary society meets at the library. Jackie has invited a group of varied 'misfits' to participate in the group. The...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Linda Cohen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, arc, fiction

While you must have a little of suspension of disbelief for this book I must say I enjoyed the heck out of it and read it in one day.

Simple & heartwarming story of a northern woman, Jackie, ending up in 1960's Florida with her family because of her husbands job and how she changes herself and the people around her.

Jackie forms a literary group/salon that ends up with all the misfits in town joining. So, you have your divorced woman, single woman, closet homosexual, black woman who is a maid...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wasn't sure what to think of this book when I started it but it ended up being a really fun read. The setting of Naples, Florida in 1962 was interesting and the characters jumped off the page. For me it was the characters that really made this book so much fun, the literary society was such a small group of misfits and outsiders and Hearth brought each ones personality to life so I felt like I got to know all of them, and what a group they are. There is a Yankee housewife, a divorcee who saves...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked this book up on a whim at LAX for my return back to civilization, i.e. Indianapolis. I actually recognized the author's name since long ago I read her debut Having Our Say about the Delaney sisters. It's 1962 in Naples, Florida during the tumultuous Civil Rights Era and fear of nuclear war. President Kennedy and his family represent Camelot, and the United States is about to face their most harrowing period up to that point. Dora is a thirty year old divorcee, working part-time at the p...more

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Nov 20, 2012 C.R. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

First, a disclaimer: I received this book through Goodreads giveaways.

Miss Dreamville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society by Amy Hearth is an entertaining read. It seems written for the screen, which is its strength and weakness. It is a light read that has a bit of everything. The characters were enjoyable, diverse enough to create a little tension but with enough in common to have a genuine reason to be kind to each other any way. The setting gives it the right elements to feel re...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Janet rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was surprised to find that the author also wrote the non-fiction books about the Delaney sisters, which I read a long time ago. I picked up this book at B&N because it sounded interesting.

For a stab at fiction, this book didn't impress me much. When a book is written in the first person, it's hard for me to forget logic and wonder how the narrator can recite verbatim conversations and situations he or she wasn't privy to personally. And the characters seem a bit forced-a diverse group con...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I first saw this book, I thought this sounds like me - a story about a women's literary society. As a big reader , I love reading books about books etc. From the very first page , I was captured and thrown headfirst into the world of six very different people who had one thing in common - they all loved to read and felt like outsiders. The story starts when Jackie Hart moves to the small county of Collier with her family from Boston , wanting to meet people she decides to begin a Women's Li...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Amy Hill Hearth is a wonderful storyteller. This is a story of friendship. It is a story of a time and a place that are gone forever. It is a story about ordinary people being brave. And a story of love.

Set in early 1960s small town Florida and told by Dora Witherspoon, the Turtle Lady, a young divorcee who is trying to get on with her life and making new friends. It is a story about Southern women, one transplanted Northern woman and a gay man in a time when men were not gay. Sometimes the bra...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

After some heavy reading, this feel-good book was a pleasant change of pace. 80 year-old Dora Witherspoon looks back at her life as part of the Collier County Women’s Literary Society,formed in the South in 1962. While working as a postal worker in Naples Florida, Doris meets Jackie Hart, a recently transplanted Yankee, who comes into the post office and ends up changing Doris’s life forever. Jackie forms a ‘literary society’. The idea of this group is to read books that challenge members to thi...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Miss Williams And The Collier County Literary Society
by
Amy Hill Hearth

My "in a nutshell summary"...

Naples, Florida as it was in the 60's...when life was restricted and regimented.

My thoughts after reading this book...

OMG...quirky Southern characters, hysterical situations and the rules of the 60's make this an unforgettable novel.

It's based around the residents of a book club that can't really even be called a book club. It is called a salon. The members are the town librarian, a transplanted E...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Joe rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: general-fiction

There are so many joys to reading, from pure escape, to meeting new characters and new places as well as returning to familiar and wonderful characters and places that you have read about in the past. Then there is the time when you not only meet someone new but you get to visit a place that is near and dear to your heart, the small town where you grew up!
Now THAT is an amazing treat and this is exactly what happened to me in MISS DREAMSVILLE and the COLLIER COUNTY WOMEN'S LITERARY SOCIETY.

As s...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Patsy Gantt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A fun book. Filled with eccentric characters, I have found this book delightful. The storyteller is 80-year-old Dora. She is telling a story from her past that includes an unlikely menagerie of characters. When northerner Jackie Hart moves to a sleepy little Florida town,she pulls together an unlikely group to form a reading club. A group of characters that would never, more than likely, come together in real life.

Also on the scene is a mysterious, late-night radio persona known as "Miss Dreams...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Patricia rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was a watered down, fluffy version of "The Help". The characters were non-complex stereotypes-mostly portraying traits you associate with bad tv shows set in the south-bigotry, being a major one of course. There's the newly arrived Yankee struggling to understand the strange and backwards ways of the hot and buggy south, the deeply closeted gay man whose secret is no secret to anyone in town, the valiantly struggling African American maid who wants to go to college, the spinster librar...more

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Historical Fiction

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American > Southern

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Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

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Adult Fiction

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Humor

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Writing > Books About Books

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Womens Fiction

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Literature > 20th Century

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About Amy Hill Hearth

After a career as a journalist and nonfiction author, known for books such as the New York Times Bestseller, "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years," I took the leap (gulp!) and tried my hand at fiction. My first novel, "Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society," was published Oct. 2, 2012 by Atria/Simon & Schuster. Inspired by a real person, "Miss Dreamsv...more

More about Amy Hill Hearth...

Books by Amy Hill Hearth

Strong Medicine Speaks: A Native American Elder Has Her Say

Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

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Quotes from Miss Dreamsville and t...

“...one person can come along and change your life, and that being a misfit, as I was, doesn't mean you won't find friends and your place in the world.” — 2 people liked it

“...Mama used to say that when you don't know what to do, do nothing. She meant you can try too hard to solve a problem. If you give it a little time, the answer might just come to you plain as day.” — 1 person liked it

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Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society

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