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In This Land of Plenty
How do you know who you are if you don’t know where you come from? In This Land of Plenty is an expansive American family saga set against the rich history of California.
When Nicole discovers through DNA reports that her ancestry is far different from the white, northern European background she thought was hers, she enlists the help of her great grandmother to investigate their roots despite protests from her father. The search takes Nicole and Great Gram into the attic of their historic San Francisco Victorian where the family’s true history unfolds.
Slowly the two women unravel the mysteries of their 250-year family tree, from California’s native inhabitants and its earliest European colonizers through the generations to the Gold Rush. In This Land of Plenty is a meticulously researched and beautifully written historical fiction family saga that introduces a diverse cast of characters and the complex social issues that populate California’s rich history while drawing a direct line to today’s residents.
Popular with Book Clubs:
“As a Mexican American woman aware of histories of the colonization of our indigenous and Mexican lands, I was thoroughly captivated by this book and couldn't put it down... I was especially appreciative of the realistically strong roles of the women…The author is to be commended for the respectful portrayal of the Ohlone people, their lands, family relations, and especially different forms of their resistance to colonization through key characters.” --Elena Flores, Rock Steady Boxing Book Club, San Francisco
“This historical novel prompts lively discussion because of its many layers and cultural ironies. Our Californian members loved this perspective on their homeland, while the non-native members were fascinated with a complicated state history they were never taught.”
--Sherry Hemingway, Morgan Hill Book Club, Morgan Hill, California
Garnered Multiple Awards:
Winner, Adult Fiction, California Author Project from BibiloLabs, a project of America's libraries, 2021.
Gold Medal Winner, Fiction-Western from Readers' Favorite Awards, 2021.
When Nicole discovers through DNA reports that her ancestry is far different from the white, northern European background she thought was hers, she enlists the help of her great grandmother to investigate their roots despite protests from her father. The search takes Nicole and Great Gram into the attic of their historic San Francisco Victorian where the family’s true history unfolds.
Slowly the two women unravel the mysteries of their 250-year family tree, from California’s native inhabitants and its earliest European colonizers through the generations to the Gold Rush. In This Land of Plenty is a meticulously researched and beautifully written historical fiction family saga that introduces a diverse cast of characters and the complex social issues that populate California’s rich history while drawing a direct line to today’s residents.
Popular with Book Clubs:
“As a Mexican American woman aware of histories of the colonization of our indigenous and Mexican lands, I was thoroughly captivated by this book and couldn't put it down... I was especially appreciative of the realistically strong roles of the women…The author is to be commended for the respectful portrayal of the Ohlone people, their lands, family relations, and especially different forms of their resistance to colonization through key characters.” --Elena Flores, Rock Steady Boxing Book Club, San Francisco
“This historical novel prompts lively discussion because of its many layers and cultural ironies. Our Californian members loved this perspective on their homeland, while the non-native members were fascinated with a complicated state history they were never taught.”
--Sherry Hemingway, Morgan Hill Book Club, Morgan Hill, California
Garnered Multiple Awards:
Winner, Adult Fiction, California Author Project from BibiloLabs, a project of America's libraries, 2021.
Gold Medal Winner, Fiction-Western from Readers' Favorite Awards, 2021.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2020
46 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
Mary Smathers
6 books21 followersMary writes fiction for adults and children. Unfamiliar Territory, released in May, 2025, follows a key character from her first novel into Gold Rush California. In This Land of Plenty, a family saga set in California history, was popular with book clubs and won multiple awards, including the 2021 Fiction Book of the Year from BiblioLab’s Indie Author Project--California, and a Readers' Favorite Gold Medal for Western Fiction. Mary also has published a collection of contemporary short stories, Fertile Soil: Stories of the California Dream and a bilingual children’s picture book series set in the tropics, Tropical Tales.
Before focusing on writing, Mary had a full career in California public education, serving as a teacher, administrator, teacher trainer, grant writer, and educational entrepreneur, helping to found three education companies and a public charter school. She divides her time between California’s Monterey Peninsula and Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.
Before focusing on writing, Mary had a full career in California public education, serving as a teacher, administrator, teacher trainer, grant writer, and educational entrepreneur, helping to found three education companies and a public charter school. She divides her time between California’s Monterey Peninsula and Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 1, 2023
The book has multiple narrators, and the problem with that is that some of them are subpar and some of them just suck. It's split between the modern day and the colonization of California. Every time I flipped to a modern day chapter I let out a groan at the prospect of having to slog through a crappy chapter with a crappy, unlikable, Mary-Sue narrator. And getting through the chaff didn't even lead to wheat. The history of California was interesting, but unfortunately buried in a not very good narrative. Would have rather read a text book.
March 6, 2022
When Nicole discovers through DNA reports that her ancestry is far different from the white, northern European background she thought was hers, she enlists the help of her great grandmother to investigate their roots despite protests from her father. The search takes Nicole and Great Gram into the attic of their historic San Francisco Victorian where the family’s true history unfolds. Slowly the two women unravel the mysteries of their 250-year family tree, from California’s native inhabitants and its earliest European colonizers through the generations to the Gold Rush. In This Land of Plenty is a meticulously researched and beautifully written historical fiction family saga that introduces a diverse cast of characters and the complex social issues that populate California’s rich history while drawing a direct line to today’s residents.
Learned a bit about California history prior to Statehood. Was fun to see references to San Francisco, Monterey areas that I was familiar with.
Learned a bit about California history prior to Statehood. Was fun to see references to San Francisco, Monterey areas that I was familiar with.
August 5, 2020
Gripping fictional family journey through authentic California history
My favorite historical novels give voice to fictional characters as they traverse real historical events. Smathers creates the skeletal structure of her book through documented historical events and well-known figures from the time of the Spanish arrival to South America, their journey, along with Catholic priests establishing missions through California. At the same time, she documents the experiences of Native Americans who encountered, and were forced to live with, or die because of the presence of these new arrivals. She has clearly done exhaustive research from many historical perspectives. She fleshes out this historical structure through compelling character development, wonderful scene setting, and twists and turns in the plot that left me hungry for the sequel!
My favorite historical novels give voice to fictional characters as they traverse real historical events. Smathers creates the skeletal structure of her book through documented historical events and well-known figures from the time of the Spanish arrival to South America, their journey, along with Catholic priests establishing missions through California. At the same time, she documents the experiences of Native Americans who encountered, and were forced to live with, or die because of the presence of these new arrivals. She has clearly done exhaustive research from many historical perspectives. She fleshes out this historical structure through compelling character development, wonderful scene setting, and twists and turns in the plot that left me hungry for the sequel!
September 9, 2020
In this richly researched history of more than two centuries of three families' struggle to make northern California home, we see the pain and sacrifice of those who willingly move to another home and those who are forced to. One settler is from Spain and leaves the family and woman he loves. Another is an Ohlone girl who loses family and her beloved culture. Both are living in the 1770's. The third is a young millennial who has recently lost her mother and is desperately seeking family roots to ground her in 2018. Her great-grandmother is the key to finding where she belongs, and the family she has come from.
Reminiscent both of Pauline Jiles' News of the World for the depiction of the often mythologized early frontier settlers as well as the Russian epic family sagas with elaborate family trees and many characters and backstories, In This Land of Plenty captures the complex dynamics of family, exploration and exploitation, and the necessary accommodation to circumstances without submission. Extraordinary accomplishment by the author, Mary Smathers!
Reminiscent both of Pauline Jiles' News of the World for the depiction of the often mythologized early frontier settlers as well as the Russian epic family sagas with elaborate family trees and many characters and backstories, In This Land of Plenty captures the complex dynamics of family, exploration and exploitation, and the necessary accommodation to circumstances without submission. Extraordinary accomplishment by the author, Mary Smathers!
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November 20, 2020Recently my book club read "In This Land of Plenty" and we had the opportunity to host author Mary Smathers in our Zoom meeting. I enjoy historical fiction and Mary's book is a fine tribute to this genre. There's much to learn about early California that has yet to find its way into the public education system. "In This Land of Plenty" draws us into that world with its Missions, Presidios and grand Ranchos, as well as the indigeneous villages that preceeded waves of Spanish, Mexican and Early American immigration by thousands of years. Mary's novel is well-researched and eminently readable. Her characters are complex and authentic. From the standpoint of plot and setting, she is a skillful writer. What comes through in her writing is a passion for history, a sense of empathy, and a subtle wisdom about the value of "taking the long view." Plot twists hint at a sequel, and for that I am grateful.
July 23, 2021
This is a fictional family tree flash back story that begins with a young woman trying to help out her great grandmother that she just met for the first time. Nicole has been tasked with shipping off her great grandma to a retirement home so her father and grandfather can sell her home of the last 50 years for the money. After meeting her aging relative Nicole doesn't like her father's plans and becomes interested in her genealogy. This leads to the mid 1700's as the reader begins to understand not only Nicole's family tree but how life was in California in the 1700's and 1800's.
October 25, 2024
Love this book! I like historical fiction. It’s fun to learn some history while enjoying a great story. It was sad reading about the Native American suffering at the hands of the missionaries. I knew that had happened but the author brought it to life for me in a real way. I was also interested to read about the Spanish land grants from the viewpoint of when that was happening. I was so into the story and the characters I had a hard time putting the book down.
July 8, 2022
Could not put this book down. Fabulous research and writing - weaving our Spanish and native American histories together in a compelling story of the interrelationships in the early California. A great depiction of the hardships for everyone - the history behind a modern day family just discovering - some more eagerly than others - the true interracial background of a their ancestors.
August 5, 2020
For fans of historical novels In This Land of Plenty will keep you involved from the first page to the last. I could not put it down and finished it two days all along cheering on the characters. Can a TV series be far behind? Great read.
October 19, 2020
Historical fiction is my favorite & this book didn't disappoint. Good history lesson starting in Spain & ending in my hometown of San Francisco. Enjoyed her other book & can't wait to read the continuation of this story.
May 14, 2021
A DNA Test Begins A Quest
A recent college graduate takes a DNA test & discovers ethnic results at odds with the family story of her heritage. Her discovery uncovers 250 years of roots in California & the stories of the conquerors & conquered in her family tree.
A recent college graduate takes a DNA test & discovers ethnic results at odds with the family story of her heritage. Her discovery uncovers 250 years of roots in California & the stories of the conquerors & conquered in her family tree.
June 2, 2021
An engrossing multigenerational saga that paints a vivid portrait of the peoples and interests that created modern California. Smathers is a gifted writer and her story is full of dramatic turns, vibrant settings, and unforgettable characters. I loved this book!
October 22, 2023
This gives some reallyngreat insight into the early development of the California missions. And the Californio culture that arose as a result. The story follows the family of a Spanish immigrant and his family as they build a thriving ranch from property originally belonging to the Ohlone people.
August 22, 2020
A terrific novel that brings to life the colonization of California and its history through the 19th century. If you like Ken Follett novels, you’ll enjoy this as well. Great read
September 15, 2020
What a great book. It gave me a whole new look at the settling of California and pulled me int the whole family saga. Well written Mary Smathers!
November 23, 2020
I loved this book. The story was very engaging, the history was well-researched, and the characters pulled me right along. I also learned quite a bit of California history while reading it.
January 16, 2022
Disappointed with the end - thought I was missing chapters. Just dropped off.
Want to read
March 18, 2025Noreen’s friends book about the California Missions
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews