Florida Books

This gives you tips for differentiating between an anhinga and a cormorant (pointed or hooked beak) or snowy egret vs American egret (black vs yellow beak). Also shows chicks, immature birds, breeding plumage and females that vary in coloration.
The photos are large (some even full page), colorful and a real help in identifying the birds. It is a good browsing book as well, to just enjoy the birds flying, eating, swimming, etc.
Only 60+ pages, but the oversize format makes it a great souvenir of a trip to Florida or a resource for bird lovers or Florida residents. Actually it is useful to anyone living in the South or the Gulf coast states where these birds can be seen.
It includes coots, ducks, egrets, flamingos, frigatebirds, gallinules, gulls, herons, ibis, kingfisher, limpkins, osprey, pelicans, sandpipers, skimmers, spoonbills, storks and terns.

This gives you tips for differentiating between an anhinga and a cormorant (pointed or hooked beak) or snowy egret vs American egret (black vs yellow beak). Also shows chicks, immature birds, breeding plumage and females that vary in coloration.
The photos are large (some even full page), colorful and a real help in identifying the birds. It is a good browsing book as well, to just enjoy the birds flying, eating, swimming, etc.
Only 60+ pages, but the oversize format makes it a great souvenir of a trip to Florida or a resource for bird lovers or Florida residents. Actually it is useful to anyone living in the South or the Gulf coast states where these birds can be seen.
It includes coots, ducks, egrets, flamingos, frigatebirds, gallinules, gulls, herons, ibis, kingfisher, limpkins, osprey, pelicans, sandpipers, skimmers, spoonbills, storks and terns.

This was a wonderful book. I had to buy it for an ecology class on the Everglades, but it was well worth it. It has beautiful large color illustrations, and descriptions of the various water birds of Florida. A great investment whether you plan to visit, like I did, or just to enjoy the book by itself. Really useful in identifying birds, especially wading, in the cypress swamps, as well as the entire Everglades water shed. A must buy.

This is an awesome book with great fun facts. The pictures are beautiful! If you are a fan of Florida and the waterbirds, you will love this book and want to display it for others to see.

NOT the book for experienced birders. Absolutely perfect for the dabbler as you will always be able to easily and quickly find your bird in this book. Though the book does provide a limited number of facts and descriptions of each bird, it should be used more as a visual guide to help you learn the name of each bird species.

Great book!!! The recipes are simple, easy to follow and delicious. No hard to find ingredients. It includes recipes from different Int'l cuisines. The prelude to the recipes, history, anecdotes, etc...was interesting to read as well. Highly recommended.

How many cookbooks do you buy, look at them once or twice and then forget about them? This cookbook is packed with genuine Florida Keys recipes including my favorite, "Chardonnay Shrimp." Since most of the recipes come from Keys restaurants, the book also acts as a restaurant guide. Interspersed with old photos and the history of the area, the book gives new meaning to "flavor of the area." A must have for those who love food and the Florida Keys.

Tasty recipes are interspersed with tidbits about the ingredients (pineapple, crab, papaya seeds, etc.). Vintage photos of Key West and interesting bits of history round out the book. The Chef's Note at the end of each recipe offers substitutions for hard-to-find ingredients. Key West is a melting pot of Cuban, French, Spaniards, Bahamians, and many other cultures, so the cuisine in this book reflects that diversity.

Here's the Table of Contents:
Food Customs, Cultures, and Traditions of the Florida Keys
Cocktails, Coolers, and Finger Food
Soups, Bisques, and Chowders
Salads and Vegetables
Rice, Beans, Tubers, and Pasta
Fish and Seafood
Meat and Poultry
Grand Finales
Bread and Breakfast
Stocking the Tropical Pantry

The Florida Keys Cookbook is one of the five best Florida/Gulf Coast cookbooks out there. Well, that's my opinion. I've been updating my Amazon "So You'd Like to Guides" and I have one on Key Lime Pie. Take a look at it if you want. Anyway, I've included fifty cookbooks (the maximum Amazon will allow) in all my guides, so I've had a chance to go through my collection. And quite a collection it is, I've got hundreds of cookbooks and I go through them all the time. That's my problem, how to organize them. While going through what I wanted to include in my guides, I started separating them into piles, the ones I couldn't live without and the ones, if I absolutely had to, I could give away as gifts, you know, like if we moved into a very small place.

The Florida Keys Cookbook is one I could never part with. I love the food and the atmosphere of Florida and the Gulf Coast, have spent a lot of time there, as I'm a sailing lady. I'm also somewhat of a gourmet chef. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, or galley, depending if I'm at home in the States or on our boat in the Caribbean. The recipes here will make your family, or even just yourself, if you live alone, drool. They are mouthwatering good and that's the truth.

Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (7/06)

Victoria Shearer is a travel and food journalist. In "the Florida Keys Cookbook" she combines history, culture and recipes. This book is as versatile as the variety of ethnic influences of the Keys. Mix "Afro-Caribbean and Cuban to Spanish, Asian, British, German, and Italian-and the result is a diverse and vibrant culinary scene."

Ms. Shearer walks us through history beginning with the ice age and advancing to the 21st century. The residents in the 1800's had to be a tough lot. "They endured hurricanes, mosquitoes, sand fleas, extreme heat, isolation, no fresh water, no refrigeration, no electricity, no modern plumbing and no medical aide." They battled "large roaches, and ants." They did have "clean air, warm sunshine, and the riches of the sea."

I found of particular interest the discussion of water. Water was a precious commodity. Cisterns were built and houses equipped with a method of collecting rainwater.

The Keys' becoming a popular vacation spot in the 1980's, was instrumental in a change in cuisine. Floribbean, was "colorful, ethnic, and bursting with new flavors, it swept the nation." The new cuisine has unofficially been dubbed "Conchfusion", "takes advantage of the increased availability of unusual ingredients from around the globe, fusing them with the bounty of the sea and the tropical jewels of the dooryard garden."

The recipe for "Pulled Pork Barbecue" intrigued me. I could hardly wait to give it a try. It was worth the wait. The recipe reminds me of southern barbecue. The taste is tangy and rich, well worth the effort. Of course no Florida Keys Cookbook would be complete without recipes containing key limes. "Key Lime Cheese Cake" is delicious. I plan to hang on to this one and use it for special occasions. "Key Lime Cake" is a winner with my family.

Anyone that has dreamed of a warm tropical nights with a gourmet meal, a fruit drink and palm trees swaying in the breeze will want a copy of this book.

This book is an excellent reference book for Florida trees. The photography is absolutely beautiful. It allows the reader to easily identify a tree and then read about it as a layman or a more advanced horticulturist.

I believe it is a must buy for newcomers to Florida as well as anyone interested in flowering trees in the south.

A must for your Florida flora collection.

Like so many of us, Mark obviously loves tropical trees with gorgeous flowers. He has gathered together the best of the best and his photos are exceptional. Most of the trees covered are not just restricted to Florida but can be grown in other tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world.

This is really neat little book, well-printed and with top quality color pictures. The pictures are supported by brief and informative texts. The book gives a good overview of trees that blossom profusely with showy flowers and that are suitable for planting in the tropics. Beyond an emphasis on (C-& S-) American species and the use of Florida common names there is nothing in the book that ties it to Florida in particular.

This is a great reference book for flowering trees. The photos are outstanding. Includes a view of the whole tree and then a close-up of the flowers. Also good info about each tree.

I live in Southern California and most (if not all) can also be grown here. I want them all!

I highly recommend this book!

Planning on a move to Florida from Michigan, I was lost as to what kind of trees to landscape my large yard with. This book is wonderful! Especially helpful are the clear, color photos of both the flowers close-up, and then the entire tree in its flowered state. These pictures show the trees "shape" when full grown also. I'm so glad I got this, it will definitely help with my decisions on what trees to buy!!

Superbly illustrated with black/white photography and "user friendly" maps, One Tank Trips With Bill Murphy showcases 52 Florida-based adventures that can, quite literally, be taken with one tank of gas in the car, van, truck, or motorhome. From the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City to the Mote Marine Aquarium in Sarasota, a wealth of relevant information and "how to" advice make One Tank Trips With Bill Murphy a strongly recommended planning aid for anyone seeking fun in the Florida sun! Also very highly recommended is the new sequel, More One Tank Trips With Bill Murphy (0942084276, ...) which follows the same superbly presented composition of the first book and offers the vacationer with 52 additional fun-filled Florida excursions based on the "one tank of gas to get there and back) that ranges from the San Sebastian Winery in St. Augustine to the Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum in Parrish. If you are planning an outing anywhere in Florida, begin by browsing through these two excellent travel idea guidebooks by Bill Murphy.

I got this book because I was new to the area - Am I glad I did! It has lots of wonderful places to visit including nature parks that locals didn't even know existed. I have given a copy of this book to all my overseas & out of state guests and they have enjoyed exploring the wonderful area we live in. Does not contain the big theme parks - we all know where they are - but all the hidden and interesting places that are suitable for all ages. A great book!!!!

I've lived in the Tampa area for a year now, and I was under the impression that besides Busch Gardens, there wasn't much to do. Boy was I wrong! This book not only gives great attractions to see in the area, including Pasco & other counties, but it also details things like great restaurants and stores that have been here forever. (Try Pete's Famous Smoked Fish in Clearwater, if you like smoked fish. The mackeral is to die for!) If you just want to get out of the house one weekend, this is the book for you!

I like Bill Murphy's choices for downhome, uniquely Floridian trips to a variety of sights. But if you would like more of the same painted on a bigger canvas, give Real Florida: A Travel Guide for the Passionate Yet Practical (The Budget Romance Traveler series) a try. This friendly book has a great "budget-romance" attitude and spans the state from Apalachicola to the upper Keys. (The author is a Tampa native, too.)

THIS GREAT TRAVEL BOOKS BY WELL KNOWN TV ANCHOR BILL MURPHY HAS SOLD 75,000 COPIES SINCE November. It is well written with 52 great trips to take on just one tank of gas. You will be surprised how many other interesting places has besides Walt Disneyworld!!!!

This book is amazing! I really, truly think so! You will like this book if you love animals, especially dogs, and enjoy reading chapter books. I read this book first when I was eight, then when I was nine, but I think this book would be ideal for people aged ten to twelve. This book is, basically, about a boy who finds a dog whom he names Foxy. She is an abused stray, and cannot be trained. Trust me, this is an amazing book! It would be great if there were a sequel. Have fun reading it! I'm sure you will!

I must have read this book when it first came out in 1984, and it was one of my favorites. Now, reading it again later (for a Children's Lit class), I can see why. It's a bit sad, but a wonderful book.

It is a very good book and has a great ending. My favorite part is when Jeff finds Foxy, after being lost, and fixes her up and makes her happy.

I liked this book a lot. It was sad when Jeff and the dog named Foxy almost got killed in a car accident. It was happy too. Like when he found it. It was also iteresting that the kid Jeff could sneak out of the hospital. This time I actually liked reading it because it was like a adventure.

This was the best book ive ever read deffinetly read this book if u need a good book to read

This book is an insightful look into the person rather than the wrestling announcer. A lot of his inner thoughts are told through poems and short stories that he scribbled throughout his life, and the accompanying photos were perfectly placed, making this a great read. If you are looking for wrestling material, there's some, but don't go into this one expecting to come away with an education on the business. Nope - you'll come away with a better understanding of who Solie was. Highly recommended.

GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com

I consider myself unfortunate to have come along in this world too late to experience the greatness that was Gordon Solie. By the time I was introduced to anything outside of McMahon-land it was too late, Mr. Solie was pretty much retired and out of the spotlight. I heard his name many times, and read about him in magazines all the time. The stories of what he contributed to the wrestling business always made me wonder just what kind of man he really was. It seemed nobody ever had a bad thing to say about him. A few years later, through the miracle of videotape, I did get see and hear the golden voice of professional wrestling work his magic. I was so impressed by his intelligent vocabulary and undeniable ability to get a wrestler or storyline over with the fans. I quickly became a fan of Gordon Solie.

So when I found out that Gordon Solie's daughter, Pamela Allyn, had collaborated with her husband, Robert, to assemble a collection of her father's personal memoirs, short stories, poems, and photos, all laid out in scrap book form, I knew I had to add it to my collection of wrestling books. It is a brilliant journey through the life and career (several of them actually) of wrestling's most respected announcer. In the pages of this book you will learn about Gordon's childhood, his early days in radio, his stint in the Air Force, his experiences with an interesting concept known as "Thrillcade", his love of stock car racing, his career as a pro-wrestling announcer, and on top of all that you will read interesting short stories and poems written about various topics that interested Gordon at the time. One particular short story was the opening chapter of a screenplay Gordon wrote that was so suspenseful I couldn't wait to turn the page.

I would like to thank Robert & Pamela Allyn for sharing Gordon's life with me, and with anybody else who picks up this book to read it. I found it to be more than just a wrestling book, but a scrapbook about the life of a truly wonderful man who meant a lot of things to a lot of different people. Included in this book are a large number of never before seen photographs straight from the Gordon Solie collection, bringing his stories to life with illustration. Every fan of professional wrestling will have Gordon Solie's voice etched in their mind forever, and now they can own a piece of his life.....

Rating: 8/10 Recommended highly for anyone who respected Gordon Solie. That's everybody.

Reviewed by Obsessedwithwrestling.com's Brad Dykens

You don't have to be a wrestling or racing fan

to enjoy this book. If you are, you must have

this book. A fine concise history of the rise

of the sports and Solie's contributions. Lot's

of great photo's of celebrities. Don't just

skim through the pictures, read the insightful

and introspective writings of this remarkable

man. Great stories, poems and essays about

real life and feelings.
V. Johnson, Ocala, Fl.

This book is absolutely marvelous. The authors have included so much more than I expected from reading the reviews. The way they have artistically woven prose, philosophy, poetry and photography together makes it very difficult to put down and with every purusal I discover a new and rich insight. *Something Left Behind* will stand as a timeless tribute to the awesome breath and depth of Gordon Solie's talent and character and is an enriching companion to *Master of the Ring*.

I have had this book for about a year now. I have found myself going back again and again, re-reading this wonderful in-site into the life of a true genius of the commentary profession. It is not what you would expect, Mr. Solie had such a full life, such diverse interests, among them of course, the wide world of wrestling. The pictures of all of his interests are riveting. His writings are poetic, intelligent, and reflect the richness of the time he spent with the passions of his life.
I cannot recommend this book too strongly. If you can manage to find a copy, you will not be disappointed. It is a real treasure.
S. Whitten

The division of flowers by color makes this really easy to use. It is very extensive in the amount of flowers in the book. It doesn't have them all, though.

The Guide to Florida Wildflowers by Taylor has been most helpful to me, a photographer, in identification for cataloging of my images. The book is well organized and probably one of the most complete on the subject of Southeastern wildflowers that I own or have been able to borrow. The only drawback, which presents itself as a major problem at times, is that many of the images in the book are ill-defined. The flowers in some of the images are either out of focus (ex: Buttonweed, pg. 105) or so small in relation to the picture (ex: White Lobelia, pg. 107) that even a magnifying glass is of no use. Overall though, I give the book a very good rating. I have read a great many books on the subject of wildflowers and have yet to find anything to replace it. MAB

The organization of this book (by flower color) makes it so incredibly easy for you to find the flower you're looking at or for. The photos are clear and helpful, as is the writing. A very handy guide to finding sturdy, attractive, and low-maintenance flowers for a butterfly garden or easy-care back yard as well as being a superb field guide.

I can't get over the amazing range of wildflowers growing in Central Florida. Finding this book was a thrill, as now I can identify them all. There's forsythia salvia, pinkish horsemint, beach sunflower, pine lily, and so many more.
For each flower, he provides the scientific and common names, a brief description, flowering time, habitats, geographical range, color photo, and miscellaneous comments.

I have used this book to identify many wildflowers in my neighborhood and undeveloped areas. It is well-organized by flower colors. Also included are excellent and clear sketches regarding flower parts. I highly recommend it for the natural hobby botanist.

First, this book is chocked full of Bruce Roberts' beautiful photographs of the lighthouses in this region. The photographs are nothing less than SPECTACULAR! Combined with the revised and updated information on each makes this regional lighthouse guide a requirement you won't want to be without whether you're visiting the region or a life-long resident. The text contains full, rich descriptions of each lighthouse, too.

I have many lighthouse books and all of Bruce Roberts' and Ray Jones' regional guides. I've read them all and used most of them while traveling. I've found them to be first rate, an excellent choice for people who want everything lighthouse between two covers. A joy to look at and informative to read.

There are directions and other info for finding and visiting lighthouses. They do not always show all lights for a given area. The photos are all color. I own 3 of these books. There are not many other guide books out there so if you are looking for guide books these are good to have. Since there are so many books in this series I thought I'd help people find them easier. This is the series.
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American Lighthouses
California Lighthouses
Eastern Great Lakes Lighthouses - I own this one
Western Great Lakes Lighthouses - I own this one
Southeastern Lighthouses - I own this one
Southern Lighthouses
New England Lighthouses
Mid Atlantic Lighthouses
Gulf Coast Lighthouses

Bruce Roberts and Ray Jones produce the best lighthouse travel guides available. This one is no exception.

This is a very comprehensive collection of information about the lighthouses along the gulf coast. The photos are wonderful, the historical facts interesting and layout beautiful. And it includes directions to all the pictured lighthouses.

There aren't that many books about Gulf Coast Lighthouses, especially the Western Gulf. This book covers all the lights that are still standing, gives a picture and directions to each one, as well as a short history. It also has some good history in the introductions to each section, and general maps. It isn't an encyclopedia, but a very nice coverage of its subject. I think it belongs in the library of anyone interested in Gulf Coast Lighthouses.

I appreciate being able to review some of the content of the book before I buy. I don't feel I'm buying a pig-in-a-poke. If you like US history and a good story, this one and others by Rick Tonyan give a good, accurate picture of early life in Florida.
Thanks

Rick Tonyan has written an extremely readable novel that is well-researched and historically realistic. It is excellent reading for anyone who would like to know more about the Florida frontier during the Civil War of the Florida "Cracker" cattle era. If a reader isn't interested in history, per se, this is still a darn good yarn! I hope there are more books from Rick Tonyan.

This book really opened my eyes as to what the most Southern of our Confederate states was like during the War of Yankee Aggression (Civil War for those of you North of the Mason-Dixon line). Although not a big fiction reader, It is obvoius that this book is well researched and makes up for the fictional dialogue with more than enough historical content to keep a reader like myself turning pages. Ths book is an eye-opener about the deepest of the deep South. The story seems more like the badlands of Idaho than 1860's Florida. Definitely not the modern day "sunshine state"......in any way.

Guns of the Palmetto Plains is an entertaining and well-written cowboy saga set in a location which readers would not expect. Little known in comparison to the beaches, cattle have been and still are a major part of Florida's history, with this particular story set in the latter portion of the Civil War. The characters are captivating as well as believable in the context of the harshness of their lifestyles. The descriptions of the swamp and forest topography of East Central Florida and its history are woven into the chain of events in a way that is especially interesting to those of us who live in the area. They provide a new perspective on nature of life in this part of the country while weaving a tale that is hard to put down. There are tough, strong good guys you will befriend and really bad bad guys you will love to hate. And their interaction is as complex and unpredictable as real life.

This is one of the best books I have ever read! And if you get a chance to meet the author, do so. I am pretty sure he really is Tree, the main character.

Rick Tonyan has done a superb job in blending fact and fiction. His description of the area is very accurate. One can visit many of the places mentioned - Volusia County, Palatka, St. Augustine - all have places mentioned in the book that are still very much in use.

It is the end of the Civil War. The cattle needs to be moved to help feed the Confederacy. The challenges of doing so makes for interesting reading. Some of the area described has changed very little. Granted, power poles and lines grow next to major paved highways. However, many roads are still sand. There are still swamps and forests. We who live in this area like to think of it as the "real" Florida. The union officers housed in Palatka and St. Augustine are met with a hostile hospitality. These events did happen and Mr. Tonyan has written them beautifully.

As another reviewer has said - try to meet the author. He has more stories to tell.

This book will be the most used reference in your possession if you are trying to grow herbs in Florida. I have an herb business, and it has been a godsend. Ms. Brandies has not only explained how, where and when you can grow literally ALL the herbs and spices available, but she has even divided Florida into North, Central & South growing climates. For those of you who have been struggling with herb books written for the Northeast or Texas, this one fabulous book will save you time, money and frustration.

This book is a great guide to growing herbs, all year long. The fact that it is broken down into the actual different parts of the state is a great help. Being in the herb business for 10 years, it is nice to see somthing so spacific. In Florida, just a few miles means a difference in temps and weather conditions, this book addresses each in its own right.

I bought this book for my wife, who is into natural health remedies. She absolutely loves this book. She not only learned alot more about growing herbs, but harvesting them and what to do with them after she has them. She's happy I'm happy.

Herbs And Spices For Florida Gardens, by herb gardening expert Monica Moran Brandies, is specifically designed to help the aspiring gardening grow and enjoy Florida plants that have special culinary, medical, floral, and horticultural properties. Black-and-white drawings succinctly illustrate the methodical instructions and advice, as well as the basic wealth of practical and descriptive information concerning a vast variety of plant species. A handy, no-nonsense reference for everything from simple window ledge gardens to involved and complex personal plots.

I consider this book a must for any Florida gardener's library. The book covers a wide variety of herbs and their ability (or lack of) to withstand Florida's hot and humid climate. Ms. Brandies writes from experience and her knowledge of the the subject matter has been invaluable in assisting me with making a success of my own garden.