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Waking Up in Dixie  By  cover art

Waking Up in Dixie

By: Haywood Smith
Narrated by: Laural Merlington
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Publisher's summary

When Elizabeth Mooney escaped the shame of her "white trash" family to marry the crown prince of her small town, Howell Whittington, she never dreamed that 30 years later she'd end up trapped in a loveless marriage to the cruel banker who's foreclosing on all her friends.

Then Howe has a stroke while sitting up in church, and when he wakes up, he's at the mercy of all his appetites and emotions. Transformed, Howe wants to be a real husband - which scares proper, repressed Elizabeth to death - and setting out to right past wrongs, he blackmails the town's baddies into doing the right thing by threatening to foreclose on their mortgages. The ensuing hilarious rollercoaster ride wakes up not only Elizabeth and their marriage but the whole town and its hidebound institutions.

©2010 Haywood Smith (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Smith shakes up the midlife marriage renewal subgenre with the emotionally complex tale of Elizabeth Whittington." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Waking Up in Dixie

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Found Another Southern Jewel!!!

Funny, nostalgic, excellent message, and SOUTHERN!!! What can beat that? This is my first Haywood Smith novel, but you can be sure I'll be looking for more . . . I love the honest way she just "puts it out there" . . . she's spot on with her descriptions of high school cliques, rich southern society, and the shame of growing up "on the other side of the tracks". I know quite a few "stiff, high society" folks that I'd like to slip this audio book to . . . it'd do them a world of good to have a bump on the head and wake up like Howell did :)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable Light Read, Pure Fantasy Fluffiness

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would if they were looking for something really fluffy. This book also had a Christian slant I did not expect, but didn't mind. It might affect who I would chose to recommend the book to however.

What did you like best about this story?

It kept a reasonably fast pace most of the book, and never pretend to be more than it was: wish fulfillment fluff. Smith can also be quite a funny writer at times.

Have you listened to any of Laural Merlington’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I'm unfamiliar with her other performances, but would be happy to listen to more of her work in the future.

Any additional comments?

I rounded down from five starts for an enormously cheesy ending, as well as some repetition and dragging in the plot. Overall though it's still quite fun and well written. I'm not the target audience—the story is 100% wish fulfillment fantasy for the unhappily married and middle aged set—but the book had enough humor that I still felt it a credit well spent.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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A Great Haywood Smith Book

Would you consider the audio edition of Waking Up in Dixie to be better than the print version?

Yes - Laurel Merlington makes the main character come to life. The other characters are great too! Excellent performance!!!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Waking Up in Dixie?

Mama getting an earful from her son! Emily Post would have turned red.

Which scene was your favorite?

Mama getting an earful from her son! Emily Post would have turned red.

If you could rename Waking Up in Dixie, what would you call it?

Until Death Do Us Part...Maybe

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story!

This is one of the best authors on the planet! She writes about characters everyone can relate to, and she weaves her story well. I highly recommend this book --- the narrator brings life to each character and helps the reader relate to everyone's perspective. Once you start listening, you will not want the book to end!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A Southern Story

I know southerners talk with the thick brogue, and it was like being right in the middle of a real family! Good book!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Dreadful

This book is awful. Poorly written, crude, vulgar and silly. I didn’t finish it. A complete waste of time.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

narrator should never attempt southern accent

I could only listen for 10 minutes because the accent was so wrong it felt like nails down a blackboard to my southern ears. I don't mean to be rude but please don't take on southern stories again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A truly fun listen

I love this book. It treats its story with turns of mirth and amusement. I re-listen often. During the shutdown it’s tough to find upbeat material. This does the trick. Haywood Smith always makes me feel like I get to go on an adventure.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Love it

Awesome book. Love the author and the narrator. Highly recommend giving it a try. Why not??

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

second chances

gosh, i really liked this book. i had a do-nothing-day on my hands and i listened all day.
my one complaint on audio is patricia's voice...she sounded more like a 5 yr old than a college kid.

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