No comments about The Gillette Cemetery: A Pioneer Cemetery in the Gillette Community, Manatee County, Florida.

No comments about Florida Place-Names of Indian Origin and Seminole Personal Names (Alabama Fire Ant).

2 comments about Fort Meade, 1849-1900.

1. Author Canter Brown has a knack for bringing local history to life.
   
   Though this title has a fairly narrow scope, it is both well-written and thorough.
   
   If you like it, you will love Brown's masterpiece "The Peace River Frontier."



2. I bought this book for my father for Father's Day. He was born in Bartow and this book contains details about his great-grandfather that he had never known. Well written and very informative regarding Florida during the Civil War. Excellent!!

No comments about St. John's River: An Illustrated History.

5 comments about Key West: History of an Island of Dreams.

1. A book on the history of Key West -- with all of its pirates, wreckers, rum runners and assorted scalawags -- should be lively, engaging and colorful. Maureen Ogle has accomplished just that with this readable and fascinating story. I say "story" because it reads that way, as a tale, not a dry recitation of events.

   Dry? Hardly. You won't get through this book without your jaw dropping at some of the incidents related in its pages. Ogle's research is thorough with plenty of personal correspondence and colorful firsthand detail that really gives you a resident's eye view of this island.

   I'm visiting Key West next year and I can't wait to go. Whether or not you've been there, this book makes for an excellent read. Highly recommended.




2. If you watch the Key West sunset on the webcam daily, or dream of a life in the Keys, then this book is for you...



3. Maureen Ogle's history of Key West is the best single source for understanding this bizarre and remarkable place. Key West is the product of piracy, salvaging, the Civil War, fishing, sponging, turtling, cigar making, shrimping, military involvement, and tourism -- all this the result of Key West's unique position on a coral reef, adjacent to the Gulf Stream, 90 miles from Cuba, 120 miles off the US coast.
   
   Ogle weaves together all the disparate influences of dreamers and planners, run-aways and con men, sailors and politicians who still shape history here on a daily basis. The best way to enjoy Key West is through frequent visits and a reading, and re-reading, of this most helpful book.
   
   Marsh Muirhead, author of Key West Explained - a guide for the traveler



4. . . . but it is not a quick read. If you are interested in something other than partying on Duval Street, then when you encounter snippets of the past (perhaps at a museum or Dry Tortugas), it will be for the second time.



5. In preparation for a trip to the Conch Republic,a reading of this book brings meaning to everything you see & visit in Cayo Hueso! From the street names,to the old water cistern on the roof of Blue Heaven,there is meaning TO EVERYTHING after this read!! It's short,easy and a primer for the Keys Disease!!!

1 comments about Selling the Sunshine State: A Celebration of Florida Tourism Advertising.

1. After my review of Dixie Before Disney, I got an email from Tim Hollis letting me know he had additional titles (IN COLOR!) that covered the subject of Southern tourism from different angles. So, back off to Interlibrary Loan I went, and I soon received a copy of Selling the Sunshine State: A Celebration of Florida Tourism Advertising. This was probably what I was most looking for when I first read the Dixie title, but that's not to say Dixie Before Disney wasn't good. Selling the Sunshine State focuses entirely on Florida tourism, and is in full color. Brochures, maps, advertising, you name it... Places that exist now, no longer exist, or probably should have *never* existed. This book took me on a nostalgic trip of what Florida *used* to be before the heavy hitters (like Disney) redefined tourism.
   
   Hollis divides the book up into the following chapters: When You Need It Bad We've Got It Good (overall state), The Miracle Strip, The Big Bend, Florida's Crown, The Grove Coast, The Sun Coast, The Tropicoast, and The Paradise Islands. After a page or two of intro into the material, you then get the goods... full-color reproductions of all the material that the state and various attractions used to catch your attention and get you to spend your dollars. Hollis also has great captions and insets describing each item, which add even more meaning and color (no pun intended) to the overall effect. It's amazing to think that these placemats, maps, postcards, and brochures were probably gathered up by travelers, poured over by kids, and then relegated to the trash. It's great that Hollis has saved and preserved so many of them so we don't lose sight of what used to be...
   
   Felt pennants... hadn't thought about those in years...
   
   I found it most interesting to see how so many of the attractions tended to follow each other in various forms and images. For instance, *all* of the various "Springs" attractions (Silver Springs, Rainbow Springs, etc) had to have pictures of attractive women in bathing suits. If you had a marine-themed attraction, you *had* to have dolphins and porpoises adorning your material. And if you didn't have the required glass-bottom boat picture somewhere, you could just forget about it. :) I also now understand the impact that Silver Springs had on the entire tourism industry in Florida. They were the Disneyworld of their era, and the attraction by which all others were measured. Yes, it would be considered quite tame today, but step back 40 years or so, and it was *the* place to be.
   
   If this subject at all appeals to you, Selling the Sunshine State is a must-read. It won't take much time in terms of reading, but you will spend a considerable amount of time just lingering over the pictures and enjoying the images.

5 comments about LIKE JUDGMENT DAY, The Ruin and Redemption of a Town Called Rosewood (Movie Tie-In to ROSEWOOD).

1. This is not a good book if you want to get straight to the facts or a quick summary of what happened. Tight it's not. The author writes in a meandering style, interrupting the narrative with the life stories of every incidental character. I mean I could careless about the jogging habits of some lawyer involved in the case. The movie about Rosewood was not that great either. I think the whole story needs to be retold.



2. Do not read this book looking for a detailed version of what happened in Rosewood 80 years ago. The stories of the survivors, the contemporary news clippings, and lack of unbiased information makes this a difficult if not impossible task. What this book is good at is illustrating the wheels of politics (a lesson that is not readily attained in such a readable format) and pointing out that while there have been many wrongs in American history, that it is important to not only owe up to them, but to try to DO something about them, no matter how long ago they may have happened. While some many think that D'Orso spends too much time introducing the MANY key players in this story, I believe that this adds to the book. He does this in an unbiased way and helped me see that there were so many interpretations on this issue and that none of them were wrong...just different. There are so many lessons that this book helped open my eyes to, that I believe the uncertainty of the history of the Rosewood massacre may add to the book rather than detract. I would reccomend this book to anyone. Period.



3. I found this book very, very moving; and as an African American woman, it took me on an emotional roller-coaster. I thought the author did a great job of filling out many of the people in the book, that have long since died. I didn't just want a recitation of the facts or a quick history lesson. I think this event deserved more than that, in its re-telling. I wanted to see, feel, hear and get a real glimpse of the people portrayed in the book, and D'Orso accomplished that "in spades". Well done.



4. This book is incredible. The way the writer takes us to the history of Rosewood from present day investigation to lawsuit. The background of this predominantly black community and the climate of the south in the early part of the last century are detailed thru newspaper articles and recollections of the survivors. This is definitely not for the sensitive, there are stories that will make your skin crawl. It's an important piece regardless, a book we all should read. The ending is positive and the Rosewood survivors are inspirational. Arnell Doctor, the man that investigated his mother's family all the way to the town that was obliviated from the map of America is an enduring and brave person you'll grow to admire as you read.



5. This book was recommended by an African-American friend of mine. It is an excellent, excellent book. Shame on the bigots in our country.

5 comments about Dream State: Eight Generations of Swamp Lawyers, Conquistadors, Confederate Daughters, Banana Republicans, and Other Florida Wildlife.

1. This book is actually three books in one: A personal family history, a general Florida history, and current Florida event editorials. Overall, it was an enjoyable trip through the anecdotal history of America's most um...culturally diverse state.
   
   Diane Robert's family history is one that most people wish they could write. Going back some 10 generations (she is lucky to be able to trace back that far) for stories. You might as well give up keeping track of all the relations in you mind. As she described it, a written version of her family tree would cover the floor of a small apartment.
   
   When her ancestors were not available during a particularly important point in Florida's history, she provides a description of events that is a stew of fact, anecdote, illustration, and rumor to make it colorful for the reader.
   
   On the downside, when describing current events in business and politics it is clear that her political leaning is Democrat. Even though I may agree with her, this point of view may turn off some more conservative readers. My advice is, get over it, you'll still enjoy the rest of the book.
   
   This was an entertainment read, however, Diane does make one key point at the very end that most of us can learn from, and that is history is written by those it serves. An event may have occurred one way or another or not at all, but the way it is relayed to others will serve the purpose of it's author.



2. Up front let me disclose that I get a heapin' helpin' of Diane via our local paper, where she contributes noisy tirades and rants about Western Civilization in general. So my opinion is biased...against her. Like Diane, my people are from Tallahassee going back to the very beginning, and before that to the Spanish Period at Amelia Island and St.Augustine. And like Diane I descend from the Roberts' Line; so we're probably cousins....as are most people with Tallahassee roots.
   
   Diane's writing reminds me of my father's Aunt Jimmie. Like Diane, she and her heirs protest their association with the Old South (especially slavery) but you couldnt loosen their grip on the inherited silver service and china and crystal that slavery paid for (with dynamite!). Both are proud as hell for descending from aristocrats and money, and both are deluded in believing that anyone takes their protests seriously. I mean, this is what her book is about. On the one hand she asserts her equality & fraternity with the unwashed masses then discloses how she wipes her ass with monogrammed linen. To paraphrase my great-grandmother, herself a Tallahassee belle: Diane, we always love you, but we dont always love how you translate yourself.
   
   Like her newspaper articles, her book is a noisy jumble of loose associations and tangential thoughts.



3. For a history book, the research and footnotes were not very substantial. Historians have been getting a lot of negative publicity lately for less that exemplary scholarhip. Since this is not a very important book it will not be scrutinized the way Doris Kerns Goodwin or Joseph J.Ellis would be if they were to write about Florida. I felt like someone was snearing at me throughout the book. It seemed more like a big long blog. I'd love to read more about Florida history since so many friends live there now, but I truly hated this book.



4. I never did like Florida. Reading a book about this place would never have entered my mind, but while visiting a Floridian cousin, she gave me a copy as a going away present. When I eventually got around to it, I found it very enjoyable. It was quite interesting learning about the history of this area, and her writing style drew me in. Perhaps the author's less-than-glowing assessment of Florida is what hooked me, but just the same I read it cover to cover. It left me with more of an impression of what the real Florida is, not just Mouse Land and the Transplant Coasts. Though I'd never, ever want to live there, I enjoyed this book.



5. The only part of this book worth reading is the first part about the Bush Gore election. After that this was a jumbeled mess. I think the author never quit smoking what she started at Florida High.

1 comments about Roadside Florida: The Definitive Guide to the Kingdom of Kitsch.

1. "Roadside Florida: The Definitive Guide to the Kingdom of Kitsch" by Peter Genovese is a real ride through the old highwayland of Florida. Rather than cashing in on all of the bigger attractions that most people have heard of, Peter gets in and really digs out some lesser heard of gems of true kitsch. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the pictures are great, and I'm not going to get into context because I don't want to give any of it away.

3 comments about Florida's Geological Treasures.

1. What a wonderful addition to Florida lore. A well written, well structured book that can add a lot of fun to a family vacation or inform the experienced rock hound. Ms. Comfort has written a useful and delightful book.



2. For young people,parents and teachers, a "must have" on explorations of Florida's bountiful geological treasures. Many surprises await the reader as he is introduced to this trove of unique fascinating facts.



3. This a definite must for a Florida vacation and was an excellent substitute until I can get there in the flesh. From the data on Florida's earthquakes (few), to her lightning storms (many), to description of "braiding" rivers and such poetic formations of fulgurites (lightning strikes frozen in sand when the grains melt and fuse along the lightning's course), to the beautiful color photos of crystals (I am still OOOOoooohhhhing over the golden wavellites) this was a poetical but PRACTICAL guide to rock hunting and caving in Florida. I recommend it highly.