Helpful Score: 3
Three generations of the MacIvery family, from dirt-poor Crackers to wealthy real estate tycoons, in an epic portrayal of the American pioneer's will to survive against all odds.
A sweeping story of the land, how at first bare survival is scratched from it and then how it is exploited far beyond human need.
A rich, rugged history of Florida's pioneer spirit and natural world.
The most outstanding Florida Historical Novel.
What a fantastic book. Living in Central Florida I can drive by bodies of water and vision this story. I loved this book. I fell in love with all of the characters and was very sad when one passed away and was even sadder when the book ended.
I am an avid reader and it is very hard to find such great writting. I purchased this book many yrs ago and it is still in my personal library.
A must read and a must have. I promise you will fall in love with the characters as much as I did.
A sweeping story of the land, how at first bare survival is scratched from it and then how it is exploited far beyond human need.
A rich, rugged history of Florida's pioneer spirit and natural world.
The most outstanding Florida Historical Novel.
What a fantastic book. Living in Central Florida I can drive by bodies of water and vision this story. I loved this book. I fell in love with all of the characters and was very sad when one passed away and was even sadder when the book ended.
I am an avid reader and it is very hard to find such great writting. I purchased this book many yrs ago and it is still in my personal library.
A must read and a must have. I promise you will fall in love with the characters as much as I did.
Helpful Score: 3
A book given to me,luck would have it I needed s'thing to read,but not crime/adventure or mystery. This book fit the bill,I read it in 2 sittigs,as I was caught up with the place,Florida,time frame,1858-1968 and the cast of characters thru 3 generations. This was back when Florida was wild, hot , ridden w/all sorts of man-eating critters and Mosquitoes!We follow Tobias and his wife and 6year old son,at the start of the civil war in Georgia,as he leaves GA.and comes into the Florida scrub.Having sold 40 acres of Georgia clay and a house,he came to florida(east of the Okefenoke swamp) with his family in a horse drawn wagon and the barest of food,seed tools and dishes . Tobias MacIvey,Emma and their son Zechariah take you on a 3 generation trip,that gives you an insight to Florida Frontiers,the heartbreaking struggles,defeats and finally,triumphs,hard won.I really loved reading this book/author.I will read another by Patrick D.Smith
Helpful Score: 2
Great read for anyone interested in South Florida History!
Helpful Score: 2
One of the best books I have read. This book was on my son's senior reading list. He brought it to me because he loved it so much. I am not usually into historical fiction, but the characters of this book really came alive and I could not put it down.
Helpful Score: 1
One of my favorites by Patrick Smith. His use of dialetic is very effective to give the feel of days gone by.
Helpful Score: 1
Great historical fiction. I couldn't put it down and read it in a day and a half until my eyes were blurry. Loved the characters, the family, the daily life--all of it. If I had any criticism whatsoever it was just the first few pages of the book, the opening to the story was not up to par with the rest of the book. Glad I overlooked that and kept going.
Helpful Score: 1
A wonderful read for anyone interested in Florida's early history. Fascinating!
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of my favorite books. It follows a family who settled in Florida at the time of the Civil War to modern day Florida. Great story!
Helpful Score: 1
Really wonderful historical fiction book about the history of Florida. Being a Floridian, it may appeal to me a little more than others, but I think anyone can enjoy it. An excellent account of the changes that come with each succeeding generation.
Helpful Score: 1
This wonderful book is a must read for every Florida resident, or anyone interested in Florida. It is the history of a "cracker" family from post Civil War time up to the modern age, with information about Seminoles integrated into the story. It is exciting and well-written, and gave me much information I never knew about Florida.
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of the best books I have read about Florida early days. It tells the story of the hardships and riches of the early Florida settlers. The story of the MacIvey family for three generations is a fascinating adventure. It was a rough life and cover them as poor crackers to self made wealthy real estate tycoons. This is a history of Florida's pioneer spirit of frontier life. Patrick Smith has a knack for story telling.
This is the story of the MacIveys, who rose from dirt poverty to rule an empire of land that bore a harvest of overwhelming wealth. It is a story of men and women in war and peace, trial and tragecy, love, passsion, and loss, as they discover what it takes to turn an American dream into an American reality. This book takes place in Florida in the 1800's.
While I don't think this is the great, classic Florida novel others do, as there are plot holes in it you could ride a marshtackie through, Patrick Smith does have a moral to relate. And he does it well while entertaining you.
This book made me cry to know what "man" and progress has done to the great and beautiful state of Florida. Written in almost a juvenile voice it resonates in its honesty of how florida was defiled with no thought of what would be lost and knowing nothing has been learned from this makes it even sadder. A great historical read, I enjoyed this book more than I ever imagined I would.
Essential reading for those who want to understand Old Florida. It really took me back to glimpses of my childhood landscape and into family history (my grandfather helped his uncle on a "ranch" in the Everglades nearly 100 years ago, when he was a teen).
This is an amazing story that every Floridian should read! Even if you are not from the area, reading this will give you a fictional, but realistic view of the early days in central Florida.
