Sandspurs: Notes from a Coastal Columnist

by Mark Lane

With an eye for the illogical and a flair for the irreverent, journalist Mark Lane aims his sharp wit at one of the most intriguing duties of the Florida legislature--signing state symbols into law. In Roaring Reptiles, Bountiful Citrus, and Neon Pies, he spotlights nineteen things that have been proposed and/or appointed to officially define Florida. Lane guides readers through the often-comic historical events that led to the selection of Florida's official fruit, tree, gem, bird, song, and other items ranging from the well known to the obscure, packing in personal stories and laugh-out-loud moments along the way. Did you know the state slogan was almost "the alligator state"? Or that a mailbox in the shape of the state marine mammal can tell you a lot about a person? Readers will also discover that the bill proposing the state soil caused a crisis in the Senate and that the state play--written in the peculiar genre of symphonic outdoor drama--puts a heroic spin on the grisly European conquest of St. Augustine. "Full of the kind of unnecessary commentary that might cause trouble," as Lane describes it, this book is also written with affection toward the wide diversity of lives and experiences that make up the state he calls home. He shows that deciding the things that represent us at any given moment is far trickier than it appears. Especially in Florida, a state aptly symbolized by "a lot of contradictions baked into a Key lime pie."

Genres: Nonfiction

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Craig Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful and surprising book! Mark Lane, a columnist for the Daytona Beach News Journal, has picked a ripe topic for mockery, Florida's official state symbols, and used his book to not only poke fun at some of Florida's pretensions and folkways, but also to dig into why we are the way we are here.

I found myself both chuckling and nodding at various points. For instance, his chapter on our official state slogan of "In God We Trust" winds up examining the different ways public agencies open their meetings with prayer. His chapter on our official gem, the moonstone, turns into a mini-history of the Space Coast's ups and downs, with personal memories of his dad thrown in.

The opening warning to school librarians is a hoot, as is the closing, a proposed bill to make flip-flops Florida's official footwear. I felt a little let down with the chapter on our official state play (there's a story involving a rogue animal that somehow didn't make it into the book) but he redeemed himself with the chapter on our official state tree, which is technically not a tree at all but a grass.

All in all, a great read and one I highly recommend.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete and utter delight.

So many references to the space coast where I grew up and to STA where I went to college. This was a charming exploration of my home state through our adopted state symbols. Lane’s snarky commentary on Florida’s history and culture were enlightening. No excuse for how long it took me to get through. This is an easy book to pick up, read about a few symbols and then walk away from, but it’s no reflection of my enjoyment in doing so. I wish I could have read this aloud with friends from home so we could hoot together about how absurd our home is.

[Kelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unique book outlines and pokes fun at the historical events surrounding the creation of Florida’s state symbols from the state bird to the state seal. It is entertaining and well researched and totally irreverent. Like a nonfiction Carl Hiassen, Lane takes being a proud Floridian to a humorous new low.

[Peg Plummer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you live in Florida it is a must read

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a hoot. Love Mark Lane's irreverence. If you have grown up in Florida, you will enjoy.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

S1V1L2

[Barbara Knepper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read!

[Kim]

Not as informative as I was looking for