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Summary: You'll feel as if transported to to a young Florida!
Review: I'm a student in 9th Grade at a high school in Miami, Florida, and we were told to read A Land Remembered. At first, I was thinking "a book about Florida in the 1800's, who wants to read this!". I was totally surprised of how good this book was once I started reading it! It's about a fictional family, the MacIvey's, that are struggling to survive in early Florida. The story is filled with passion, love, suspense, it has some poignant sections, and it has a dash of humor one in a while. I recommend it to anyone who wants to be entertained and at the same time wants to learn about the history of Florida. You won't be able to put it down!
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Summary: VISIT, AND LIVE THOUGHT 100 YEARS OF SOUTH FLORIDA.....
Review: A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith Oh, how lucky you will be to read, and live with the MacIveys through so many years of their lives. But you will do it while in a comfortable setting, which most likely has air conditioning or heat, and where you can run to the kitchen for food and drink. Not so with this new family, and all who crossed their life's paths. This book takes you through decades of one couple's life, and of those who would also carry their name of MacIvey. Living in, and traveling through various spots around South Florida, when not many people did live among the scrub, prairies, or marshes. And what few settlements there were, were much less than we can imagine them to have been. Smith gives lessons in the actual Florida cities, and areas of land. And places the story in the happenings of Florida as it was at the time. Not in long detailed descriptions, but by the simple facts and truths, which were happening as they lived daily. The idea of "less" is repeated over and over until you realize how little it takes to live, or to do more than exist in this hard new land. You can feel, that how we all think to live today, is so very different than the ways, needs, and wants of the past. Do read on and take the various adventures of living next to this family. Suffer the hardships, work along with them to find a way of just living through the days. Venture with them as they herd Long Horn cattle across the state. Find out what true wealth is all about for them. Experience tens of thousands of dollars, and also the simplicity of owning a new pair of britches, an apple, a colored ribbon. Learn of character verses possessions. I have lived in South Florida since 1956. Many of the places and experiences of Florida, which were written of, I have been to, and heard about. That is real. Smith writes of possible real lives, which were so believable in this continuously flowing story. In only hours of smooth reading, I lived and worked right along with them. How fortunate to be able to experience such wonderful lifetimes. You too can experience this family, and the lands of South Florida, that Smith has written for all of us to share, in "A Land to Remember."
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Summary: A Wonderful History of Florida
Review: This book was a truly wonderful read. It mixed the history of Florida, with the fictional tale of a family that came, settled the land and endured hardship after hardship, before establishing them selves. The book is well researched and the characterizations and plot are both very well developed. I cannot think any who likes to read that would not enjoy this book.
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Summary: Authentic Florida History
Review: Patrick Smith's biography must be wrong; he was surely born in Florida. I enjoyed A Time Remembered more than any other book I have read. While its down-to-earth characters and smoothly flowing action make it enjoyable to anyone, the book is especially endearing to me and my cracker family. I am currently reading it to my grandfather, born 84 years ago in Kissimmee (one of the towns featured in the book). As we read, we stop constantly for him to comment on the places and activities of the characters or just to reminisce. According to my expert, Smith's characters and settings are entirely authentic. Each hurdle the characters surmount is true to my grandfather's memory. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to know more about Florida than just sand and beaches. Those of us who know the real meaning of a cracker will especially appreciate Smith's work.
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Summary: A Keeper
Review: I read anything and everything that hits the shelves. History is one of my favorites. One out of every 100 books that I read make me want more and this is one. Awesome book, great history facts within the story and a truly delightful story it was. Tearjerkers and all. You just have to read it, I'll be keeping my copy.
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Summary: A Land Remembered....A Book You Won't Forget!
Review: You might think that Patrick D. Smith IS Sol MacIvey reincarnated in this tale of Old Florida. How else can you explain his vivid, captivating description of life in early Florida? I am a native Floridian and when I grab my cherished pictures and family mementos to evacuate for a hurricane, you can bet my copies of ALR will be with me! This book is a timeless treasure and not a one-time-read. I had read this book several times and when it became assigned reading for my daughter, we each grabbed a copy and read it 'together'. During each of the pivotal points in the lives of the MacIveys, we would make eye contact and either smile or wipe away tears. No words were exchanged because the book is filled with emotion and you really 'feel' the characters as real people with real pain and sorrow. This book should be required reading as you cross the state line into Florida. It is truly a rite of passage for Floridians and any one who loves history. We are blessed to have this account of pioneer life in wild Florida. If I could sit around a campfire and listen to stories told by anyone.....it would be Patrick D. Smith.
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Summary: Wonderful
Review: Normally, I can't stand historical fictions. Oft times, the historical facts are wrong, or the history is too extensive and makes the characters virtually obsolete. However, "A Land Remembered" is none of these things. It is the perfect balance between characters, historical accuracy, and length. The characters do not undergo extremely extensive developement, but they do change with each event they witness. There is obviously a lot of research involved in the dates of certain events and locations of rivers, swamps, etc, but it doesn't go into things like how wide a river was and how fast it ran, or approxamately how many Florida Alligators inhabited the swamps, and that's definately a plus. No points can be taken off for the plot; it was very unpredictable and fast paced. The book in itself was neither too long nor too short. I know my review has sounded much like a textbook, but that's because I can't write book reviews worth a crap. :P I think anyone interested in Florida history should read it, or if you aren't interested in Florida history, this book will make you more interested.
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Summary: A MOVING CLASSIC
Review: What a tremendous novel! Although I was born and raised in Florida, it's history never interested me. This book's endearing characters and depiction of life in undeveloped Florida drew me in and absorbed me! It is now my favorite book. I look forward to reading more Patrick Smith and learning more about Florida's past. Do not overlook this touching story!
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Summary: Great Book@
Review: I was told to read this book by my Grandfather. I actually got it, only because my Grandfather was with me at the time, and I had no intention of reading it. I am typically the stereotypical woman, and most of what I read is romance novels. Late one night, having read all my others books, I picked up A Land Remembered and began to read it. At the second chapter, I was still not too into it, but I keep reading. Pretty soon, I couldn't put the book down, I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. I am a native of Florida, and I found it so interesting to read about these places that I have been visting all my life. I had never thought about what Florida like back then. The book leaves you almost wishing that Florida would have remained as it once must have been. Or you are at least wishing you could have seen the state so wild and beautiful.
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Summary: Florida History 101
Review: As a life-long resident of Ft. Pierce, I enjoyed this book because of its historical perspective. Where Florida came from, and where it appears to be going are accurately presented, and following the generations of the family through the years makes it all very entertaining. This is the book I send to friends from the north when they seem to have a "Mickey Mouse" view of Florida. I have also enjoyed Mr. Smith's other books.
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