Rating: 
Summary: thank God
Review: A definite read for anyone interested in old-school Florida. Day in and day out Florida's history is being swept away by country clubs and amusement parks. This book will open a new page for some and bring back childhood memories for others. I grew up the child of swamp crackers but if not for the book I would have long since forgotten my own heritage. I would also have to agree with one of the preface writers in that Patrick Smith posseses the ability to disappear and let the story tell it self.
Rating:
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."
Rating:
Summary: fascinating portrait of old Florida
Review: A Land Remembered in on my top ten list of all time greatest novels, which is interesting because I don't often read or enjoy historical fiction. This moving and epic novel tells the story of three generations of Florida settlers fighting to survive in old Florida. These settlers not only survive but prosper as well. However, with this prosperity comes a human and environmental price.
Rating: 
Summary: Unforgettable generational tale of settling Florida...
Review: A Land Remembered is an amazing book that tells the story of three generations of the MacIvey family. The novel takes place in Central Florida, starting before the Civil War. The first generation arrives in Central Florida with literally nothing but their determination, desperation and their love for each other.
Patrick Smith paints a clear and detailed picture of the endurance and sacrifice made by a young couple in order to even just barely get by. The stark reality he portray is extremely vivid.
The hardships that are experienced by the different generations range from natures fury in fires, ice storms, insect swarms covering miles and miles of the grasslands, hurricanes to the emotional hardships of sacrifice, lost love, doubt and loneliness. The MacIvey family looses their footing in several business ventures through the natural disasters and also through the greed of others. The one thing they never loose is their love and caring and determination to take care of their family and to see each other through the difficult times that they are faced with. Each generation must come to terms with what is is truely important in their lives and the simple values that the family began with always seem to come clearly into focus.
The visions of Florida as a raw, unsettled land that tolerates but never encourages those daring enough to challenge her have a unique clarity to them.
Through everything that occurs, this wonderful family pulls together, creating a history that Patrick Smith has crafted into an unforgettable novel.
Rating:
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.
Rating:
Summary: a page turner
Review: Being a 4th generation floridian, I found this book fascinating, and captivating. Most people coming to florida have no idea of floridas rich and wild history. Patrick Smith brings this out in vivid detail. When the west was won, Florida was not close to being tamed. Those of us who live here reconize the places in the story which adds to the reality of the book.
Rating:
Summary: What a great way to learn Florida history!!!
Review: Being a native Floridian with real "Crackers" in my family tree, I found this book mesmerizing. I didn't want to put it down. I have a greater respect and sense of awe of what the pioneers endured back then. You will not be bored with this book! I believe that the Florida schools should include this as required reading for the Florida History classes.
Rating: 
Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: Don't turn to this book for an easy way to learn Florida history. Sure, it's an easy read, but it only looks at 100 years in the lives of American pioneers in central Florida. Forget 300 years of Spanish settlements. Forget the Seminoles. As far as this book is concerned, they didn't exist. If you're black, you may also be offended as I was by the author's portrayal of the few black characters. The Indians were portrayed with dignity; the black characters were either servile or buffoons. Unfortunately, my white "friends" saw no problem with this. This book has been suggested in some Florida communities as one book everyone should read as a community project. I think "A Land Remembered" is a poor choice.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, heart touching story of Florida history !
Review: Even though this book is fiction, you will wish it were true, so that you could meet the decendents of this family. Having researched Florida history it runs so close that it could be storys passed down through the generations. It follows a family through three generations, how they scatched a poor earning in Florida's diverse landscape from swamps to scrub lands, and palmetto flatwoods. It is proof there were cowboys in Florida long before cattle grazed in Texas, and how the pioneering families survived long before Disney's grandfather was even born. This book is well written and I would recommend it for teens and adults alike.Read it, you will soon be reading Mr. Smiths other books!
Rating: 
Summary: A Bitter Disappointment...
Review: First off before I get to what turned me away from this book I will give the book credit on its very few good points. You can learn a lot about Florida's early history in this book. You can learn a lot of SLANG words, even when a character isn't speaking, in the author's description of places and such, and you can become a better sleeper! That's it!
I was forced to read this book in my Economics class. What the teacher expected us to learn about world Economics in this book is beyond me. Anyway, I have never seen a book written so ridiculously farcical as this one. It's a disgrace to me because when someone reads this book to learn about Florida, a state I'm proud to be from, they will think we are just a bunch of idiot cow farmers. ON THE CONTENT-- The start of every chapter it seems starts in a cow pen. In the first half of the book all they do is round up cows and sell them. There is no description of the characters, very little character development. If you have read this book please tell me what Emma looks like? Was she tall, short, fat, skinny? Ho about Bonnie? She had a blonde pony tail right? What else do you know about her? She was introduced, then killed like in the next chapter...WHYYYY?
Most people who enjoyed this book have never read anything else so they don't have anything to compare it with. The plot is harrowing. The author obviously didn't know what his plot was at the beginning. He started off describing Florida then at the middle, or the beginning of the end of the novel he totally went off track and the novel was about death.
I have never seen such disastrous love scenes. The romance in this novel..well I hate to be so blunt but it [disappointed]! What was the point of the Indian Tawanda and Zech's relationship. He meets her for like 5 minutes and they are already kissing etc etc. Again there is no description of what she even looks like. Was she a fat Indian, or was she tall. How about Zech? Do I have to say more...A 10 year old could have wrote this book if he had a history book on Florida in front of him.
I know a lot of you may have enjoyed this book but when you delve deep into it the book really isn't that great. All it takes is a few character names and a little knowledge on Florida and you could probably write something better than this.
| 
