A Land Remembered

by Patrick Smith

A Land Remembered

book data

137 ratings, 4.49 average rating, 47 reviews (more data...)

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published

September 1st 1998 by Pineapple Press (FL)

binding

Paperback, 404 pages

isbn

1561641162 (isbn13: 9781561641161)

description

In this best-selling novel, Patrick Smith tells the story of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family who battle the hardships of the front...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 175)

All ratings | 5 stars (81) | 4 stars (37) | 3 stars (17) | 2 stars (3) | 1 star (2) | avg 4.49

all | this edition

Cindy

Cindy rated it:

04/06/08

Read in April, 2008

I disagree with some of the reviews I read that said the book is a bit hard to follow. To me, everything makes sense. The author leaves some gaps, but they are appropriate. The book is already long, and the gaps are things the reader can easily fill in.
As for the content, I really enjoyed the story and did not want to put it down. Perhaps I am a more eager reader than most as I felt the story would help me to understand my roots more. My great-grandfather was a Florida Cracker during th...more

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Sam

Sam rated it:

03/07/08

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: historical fiction fans, Floridians

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Having lived in Florida for most of my life, I found this book very entertaining. It was neat to read about places I know, places I've been to, and to compare the descriptions of how they were many years ago, back when Florida was still wild, to the built-up developed places they are today.

Frankly, it saddens me, and I'm an urban dweller who thinks that backwoods living is having to drive two miles to the grocery store.

That being said, this book is basically an anti-"progress"...more Having lived in Florida for most of my life, I found this book very entertaining. It was neat to read about places I know, places I've been to, and to compare the descriptions of how they were many years ago, back when Florida was still wild, to the built-up developed places they are today.

Frankly, it saddens me, and I'm an urban dweller who thinks that backwoods living is having to drive two miles to the grocery store.

That being said, this book is basically an anti-"progress" essay with a story wrapped around it. I received a gratis copy of it nearly four years ago at new employee training for my job. I thought, "Yay! A free book!" and then proceeded to put the book on my shelf after returning home and never picked it up.

But recently, I kept seeing it popping up everywhere I went, so I chose to take it as a sign and started reading it.

It's the story of three generations of the MacIvey family and the trials and tribulations they endured trying to forge a life in the Florida wiilderness. There are times of starvation and drought, of floods and hurricanes. And, it seems, not a shortage of gruesome deaths and vigilante justice.

The best part about this book is the way that simple people living an honest life find success through persistence and hard work. Tobias, the patriarch, begins the saga as a dirt-poor farmer/rancher who starts the family on its course with his first big cattle sale, eventually pulling the family into the more lucrative citrus business. Zech, his son, carries on his father's work, making money hand over fist, but also seeing the way of the future. Where his father refused to own land, believing that the land belonged to everyone, Zech secretly purchased thousands of acres so that he could keep the land wild. Finally, there's Sol, Zech's son, who upon his father's death, clears vast tracts of the MacIvey land to grow vegetables, eventually making his mark in other industries, too, such as banking, real estate development, and the hotel business.

In the end, Sol comes to regret the way he pillaged the land for his own profit and decides to live out his final days at his father's simple cabin in the woods.

Poignant. Exciting. Funny. Satirical. This book was a great read....less

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Gail

Gail rated it:

01/10/08

Read in October, 2007

recommended to Gail by: Donna Harper
recommends it for: Anyone and everyone

A timeless novel for all generations! Whether you're a Florida native (I am a 4th and my husband a 5th generation native) or just interested in the history of our country, this fact based novel is a MUST READ!

I loved this family. Maybe because our families (Askew, Hair & Sweeting) actually lived the lives these characters. I remember my Grandaddy Hair telling me similar stories about the cattle drives and lives of the dairy farmers. (He was a dairy farmer). My Dad recounted his memorie...more

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Jason

Jason rated it:

05/19/08

Read in May, 2008

A fun adventure through Florida's history (especially central/south Florida). The draw is not the story, which is fairly straight forward and the characters are all pretty two dimensional. The real joy is the peek into the life of a cracker family (that is cow herders) when Florida was still the 'frontier'. I assume it was historically accurate. The narrative is driven by showing you what sort of issue faced people then: malaria, hurricanes, frosts, wolves, bears, panthers, hogs, etc.

So ...more

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Paul

Paul rated it:

10/05/07

Read in May, 1995

Patrick Smith captures the hardships and adventures of an early pioneering family that helped settle Florida. He traverses three generations of the MacIveys and what their typical day to day life was like settling a harsh wilderness that was Florida. The homesteads stretched from Kissimmee to Miami and the Everglades. His descriptions of swarms of mosquitoes, hurricanes, cattle droving, alligators, crocodiles, and gold growing on trees will keep your interest piqued through out the pages of this...more

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Jamie

Jamie rated it:

06/14/08

Read in June, 2008

This is one of the most interesting and inspiring books I have ever read. It is the REAL story of Florida, from the Civil War right up through the beginnings of the development boom in South Florida. It is an inspiring tale of characters who may be fictional, but nonetheless lived the way that the real settlers of Florida did -- with truth, honor, integrity, and courage, in a time when justice was done and neighbors looked out for neighbors. The sad truth is that this Florida no longer exists...more

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Daniel

Daniel rated it:

08/28/08

Read in January, 1998

This was one of the first book I read in less than a month. In fact, it only took one Saturday (plus the night I stayed up through to finish). It's one of my favorite books as it is a history lesson on the beginning of the development of Florida into what it is today: not as swampy, more crowded and uncomfortable. Actually, it isn't a history lesson, but a vivid journey through the times before Florida became host to Disney, q-tips, and countless hotels.

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Karen

Karen rated it:

10/21/08

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 1996

recommended to Karen by: Jean Lund (professor)
recommends it for: EVERYONE!!!

This is one of my all time fav books!!!! It tells the history of Florida in a novel style. Its absolutely wonderful. Its a great book for guys and girls.

Everyone that I've introduced this book to, has fallen in love with it!
First read in 96, and several times since then.

It was actually an assignment for a college class I took.
Everyone LOVE it. Can't say enough about it.

It's an absolutely terrific read!!!!

I give it 5 stars!!!

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Shayna

Shayna rated it:

02/11/08

Read in February, 2008

recommended to Shayna by: Mom (Gail Sweeting)

This is a beautiful book. I fell in love with all of the characters. It was a great way to learn about Florida history. It seems that everything that happened in the book to this one family are true-to-life events that probably happened to others.

I could have actually read more. If Skillit's, Toby's or Sol's characters had been even more developed, I would have read on.

Thanks to Mr. Smith for an inspiring read.

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Krista

Krista rated it:

10/27/08

Read in September, 2008

If you live in Florida this is a book you should read. I have my students read it as part of the Florida history portion of my class. It looks at the changes througout time in Florida history and how one family, The McIvey's, made the most of their American dream, or was the "dream" actually the end to a glorious land? Drought, native attacks, cattle rustlers,The Civil War, mosquito swarms. There is some action!

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Kristi

Kristi rated it:

02/17/08

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in February, 2008

recommends it for: anyone, book clubs

As a new Florida resident, I was most interested in the setting of this novel, and I was not disappointed. It was facinating to learn the history of this area and how events changed the state over three generations. The plot had enough pioneer-day excitement to keep the pages turning and enough twists to make it enjoyable. The life lessons would provide good discussion for a book club (if I could ever find one!).

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Jodi

Jodi rated it:

03/30/08

Read in July, 2006

I was required to read this school and the first thing that came to my mind was - Oh, my gosh, this book is over 800 pages, how am I going to read it in only a month or two. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Something new was happening all the time. It was actually quite exciting and at the same time I got to learn a little bit about how life was back then.

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Laughwild78

Laughwild78 rated it:

09/08/08

Not bad for a book about 3 generations of patriarchs. I really love historical novels so I can get a better sense of how things smelled and tasted and felt. This book was great for me for understanding more of Old Florida. The book throws a bone to the Seminoles but I would love to read a historical novel about 3 generations from that point of view as a follow-up.

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Kelly

Kelly rated it:

03/03/08

Read in February, 2008

recommends it for: Anyone who would like to get an idea of Florida's land-based environmental history.

This was a great perspective on the raw nature that was Florida only one hundred years ago. I didn't care for the dialogue at first (seemed a bit cheesy), but it quickly grew on me and I really liked the characters. The author did such a great job of describing the scenery, plants & animals that I could picture it clearly in my head.

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2 comments

Annette

Annette rated it:

09/08/07

Read in July, 2006

I really enjoyed this book. After reading it myself I read it again to my then 10 year old son. He loved it. We both learned a lot about Florida history through a gripping fictional story. Recommend to any one interested in learning more about what Florida was really like before it was settled by so many transients! Fun book.

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Jane

Jane rated it:

02/06/08

Read in January, 2006

recommends it for: anyone

I am re-reading this now- something I rarely do. So many books so little time. I read about 1-5 books a week so not sure when I will ever have time to list many many great ones. Anyway, this one is historical fiction. Very interesting and a good way to learn a lot about FL history. I am listening to it on CD. Relaxing.

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Johanna

Johanna rated it:

10/27/08

Read in October, 2008

recommended to Johanna by: Granny

I really liked reading about the habitat and wildlife encounters, and got caught up in the story as well. I wish the author had included a map, though. You can guess generally where they are based on the settlements (now cities) that they travel to, but where exactly were they in the scrub, or in the hammock?

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Judy-Lee

Judy-Lee rated it:

08/29/08

If you love Florida this book is a must. I've read this book many times and hold a copy for my next re-read. Florida history and a fictious family - it's wonderful. I've given so many copies of this book to friends and family the count has been lost. Patrick Smith .. awesome writer.

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Leigh

Leigh rated it:

04/08/08

This is one of my all time favorite books. It tells the story of 3 generations of Floridians who watch the state change from a rugged undeveloped land where mosquitoes could kill a cow, to the uber-developed touristy Florida we know today.

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Brent

Brent rated it:

08/27/07

Read in January, 1994

A great book covering the history settling Florida through a fictional story. Describes the beauty of the way Florida use to be. As a 5th generation Florida native I could identify with the characters and feel of this book.

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