Florida Books

This is certainly one of the most useful collections of essay discussing the problems facing contextual study of antiquity and the illicit trade in antiquities. Important topics explored include: looting in Iraq and the movement of objects from that region to western markets; the processes that occur within the trade and an analysis of dealer arguments that the trade is legitimate and unharmful and the clever circumnavigation of various laws; and finally, some that discuss the motivations for collecting and the need for cooperation between polarized factions (professionals/academics/archaeologists and collectors/dealers).

This volume gives a great overview of current issues relating to the antiquities trade and the threat that it poses to cultural heritage across the world. Many of the case studies are extremely recent, demonstrating the urgency of the problem, a must for anyone to read who cares about the world's finite heritage resource.

SOUTH MOON UNDER is a page flipper and hard to set aside. Definitely 5 Star Quality.

True, it's a tale of the demeaned and marginalized Florida Cracker, who ekes a living from the Scrub, avoiding unnecessary contact with civilization; but Rawlings' anthropology is soaked with death. Her book is a lament for the death of Old Florida.

Civilization destroys the land and the critters and the people.

South Moon Under is beautifully written with fascinating detail and plenty of suspense. Rawlings wrote this story of subsistence living in the Florida scrub country after living with a moonshiner family for several weeks. The picture of their struggle to eke a living in this marginal land makes for fascinating reading.

But the more important aspect of this novel is the revelation of what government laws and power mean in the every day lives of people living only a hair's breath away from starvation. We see how immoral and corrupt laws and those who enforce them destroyed the delicate balance of survival for the people of the scrub. I don't know if she intended it to be, but this is an anti government, libertarian novel and an important contribution to the historical record. Every liberty lover would gain much from reading this book.

The Art of Shelling is loaded with interesting facts about shells and other beach collectibles. It provides detailed information on how and where to find shells at twenty-six locations in six East Coast states. I truly found this to be a great companion on my vacations at the beaches mentioned...as I found shells right where the book said I would!

The Art of Shelling is loaded with interesting facts about shells and other beach collectibles. It provides detailed information on how and where to find shells at twenty-six locations in six East Coast states. I truly found this to be a great companion on my vacations at the beaches mentioned...as I found shells right where the book said I would!

My mom had the version of this written in the 80's and I recently decided to check out the most recent edition. I was not disappointed; this one-volume encyclopedia contains facts on just about every imaginable aspect of Florida's natural environment, history, politics, culture, demographics, issues, etc. etc. It is a bit dated, but changes to Florida since the mid-90's have not affected the overall "character", nature, and history of the state, just some minor details. Great reference for all Floridians.

Very well done book that will let you know everything about population, elections, land development, and climate in the sunshine state.

This book kept me reading for hours. Especially on the beach! I finished the first three books in three days. I kind of knew who Summer's brother was the whole time, But I was still surprised when they said who it was. If you haven't read it yet, I definitely recommend it! I also recommend the Ocean City series too! I love her books.

The Summer series by Katherine Applegate has been my favorite series for quite some time. The stories are believable, and Summer is the average 'girl next door'. Coming from Minnesota, as Summer did, I can relate to a lot of the things in the books. Readiing them was a plesant trip that took me from the frigid tundra of central Minnesota to the beaches of Florida. I would recommend these books to any girl who ever dared to dream.

Grant's captivating autobiography was an inspiration-- it was very difficult to put down. Here's a man who has clearly overcome much adversity and has a concrete plan in place to help others take responsibility for their lives and rise above their own challenging situations. At a time in my life's journey where the sheer scale and number of causes for which I have the capacity to fight have overwhelmed me, this poignant (and humorous) book helped me to see on practical terms that one who is focused, determined, and willing to help real people in real communities can truly leave an imprint which can alter our society for the better. It's not just for "today's African American youth" as the editorial review suggests... it's for people of all ethnicities and ages. READ THIS BOOK!

(Actually this review is written by my 13 year old son, Zach. )

This Book is a must read. He is my best friend, knowing him since I was three. this book is unbelievable....His story is even more...it's a sin not to read this book

This was a "coffee table" book in a beach house we rented. We were really excited about it and ordered one for ourself and one for our daughter's family. We also ordered the SC and GA one for another daughter. The writing style is so homey and comfortable and the pictures are beatiful and relaxing. The stories and the paintings made us want to see all of the lighthouses. Therefore, we are planning a trip this year to see as many of them as we can. We have also found it exciting to know so much more about the 5-6 lighthouses in our area. This book really piqued our interest in lighthouses with its enjoyable writing and lovely art.

Bansemer's Book of Florida Lighthouses is the best book on lighthouses that I have ever read. Inside, is beautiful and colorful artwork of every Florida Lighthouse. This book contains very descriptive information and how to get to the lighthouses. I have read every book on Florida Lighthouses and this one is the BEST and will be for a long time!

In The Barefoot Fisherman Guide To The Emerald Coast, Gregory Dew reveals forty very special spots to fish along the Gulf Shores, Alabama, to Apalachicola, Florida. Also included for the angler is a wealth of sound advice on rigging an outfit, basic angling techniques, special fishing techniques, picking a prime location (considering tides, currents, wind, water, and geography), fish species and habitats, even local recipes! The Barefoot Fisherman Guide To The Emerald Coast is enhanced further with a chapter dedicated to resource websites, addresses, telephone numbers, tackle shops, and selected fishing charters. If you are planning a fishing trip anywhere along this spectacular Gulf of Mexico shoreline, begin with browsing through Gregory Dew's The Barefoot Fisherman Guide To The Emerald Coast!

I am from the midwest and had only engaged in freshwater fishing so it was breaking unfamiliar ground (or water) when my Florida vacation was to include fishing in beautiful St. Joe's Bay. I had no idea what kind of fish were there let alone how to catch them. I purchased Gregory Dew's book, "The Barefoot Fisherman Guide To The Emerald Coast from Gulf Shores Alabama To Apalachicola, Florida" and was not disappointed. The book was easy to read, packed with information and ultimately helped me to catch some fish. The book discusses the proper tackle, rigs, angling techniques in the first chapter. The second chapter is dedicated to picking a prime location. Chapters 3 and 4 were of great interest to me and I read them in detail. Chapter three covers the entire coast from Gulf Shores, Alabama to Apalachicola, Florida and highlights some of the hotspots there. I was delighted to see that one section was dedicated to St. Joseph's bay. Chapter 4 contained great information on the species of fish one might catch and how to fish for them. He also included a rating for edibility. He rated each species of fish on a scale of 1-10 for how good they are to eat. We found his scale to be accurate with the species we caught. Chapters 5 and 6 discuss recipes and gives some Fishing Links for more information. The ultimate measure of the books effectiveness was catching fish. I caught one Speckled Trout that was a keeper and a 23 inch Red Fish (Red Drum). The book helped make my vacation more enjoyable and makes me want to return for more "Barefoot Fishing".

Reviewed by Linda Benninghoff for Reader Views (4/06)

This rich historical novel traces one man and his family's struggle for economic success and happiness. The story begins in Depression-era Florida and continues up to recent decades.

"Bath Pond" is hard to put down. Garrett, the protagonist, marries Mary Fran with only about 15 dollars to his name. Thanks to the generosity of family, neighbors and friends, they acquire cattle, chickens and rent a house with money they do not yet have.

The novel is partly about business, but business that is not done ruthlessly, with an eye only for profit. Garrett and Mary Fran are noteworthy for their goodwill and generosity. Their benevolence makes the farm succeed. They give work to friends, but also to a group of farmers who arrive from Alabama in a truck with only a little gas left and no money to get them further. The farmers are wearing old clothes, have no medical care and are running out of food. At one time they may have been middle-class like Garrett. These visitors agree to work for no pay and only take food and shelter, under the understanding that they would be paid if money came in. Whenever anything does come in, Garrett is generous.

It is probably difficult to write a novel about one man's attempt to overcome poverty, and the help he gives to others. However, the business decisions that bring Garrett economic success are told in an interesting way--in this sense the novel is unusual. Garrett clears his land of timber and becomes especially interested in citrus crops when frozen concentrate orange juice is invented. The historical details behind the story of the business make it doubly meaningful.

Garrett has luck and achieves success, but this does not free him from tragedy. Some of those closest to him die, and the joy in the novel is interwoven with sorrow. Still, it is the joy which predominates. The novel almost seems to create a portrait of a man who is larger than life, yet the sorrow he experiences and his human failings make him believable. Garrett sometimes seems to work too hard, almost to the point of ignoring his family. Yet, he comes through in crises and remains, despite his work, a man of deep feeling.

This broad canvas encompasses characters drawn from all walks of life - from a wealthy landowner, to the Alabama poor, to Garrett's eldest son who seems to take after him in some ways, but can be reckless and lacks his father's luck.

The novel portrays one family and also an era. Lowell Teal was apparently born in Florida, into a family who grew citrus and raised cattle. He portrays his subject and characters well. The reader sees them at work and at play and empathizes with them through good and bad experiences. I recommend this novel and would like to read more by this author.

I'm a reviewer of business books. I don't read much outside that genre, because I haven't really found that many books that really seem worth my time. A friend suggested I read Bath Pond, and I felt uncomfortable right away. "Bath Pond," what kind of title is that? What am I getting into? But, friendship being what it is, I agreed.

Almost from the beginning, I was pulled into this book. The writing style is easy to flow with--almost too contrived in the dialog in a few places. But, captivating! I'll admit to actually giving up some work time to return to the pages of this historical novel. When tears begin to well up just from reading words on a page, something's happening. This writer has a way of engaging the reader that makes this book worthy of my highest recommendation.

The storyline is the tale of a family growing up in Florida in the Depression and the decades that followed. From literally having nothing but each other, a young couple build an inspiring life in the cattle, farming, and citrus business that characterizes Florida's history. Joy and tragedy take the reader on a roller-coaster ride of real-life experiences that are vividly portrayed. I found myself emotionally involved a number of times, even when trying to be dispassionate about my reading. Teal obviously used his background--growing up in the environment he writes about--to good measure.

A book I tried to avoid became a favorite. For some great appreciation of a slice of history rarely seen, a very human story of people so real you can almost talk with them, and an opportunity to reflect on your own life, read Bath Pond.

Betrock has provided a wonderful source for the Florida gardener. This book provides the hardiness zone for each and every plant they review, which is very helpfull for the northern Florida gardener that is trying to plant a tropical looking garden, and does not want to replant each year. There are color pictures of every plant, many of them when they are in bloom, and they are on the same page as the subject matter (no looking all over the book for the pictures). Everything from how to culture, care for, and plant, to special notes specific to each plant. The notes frequently cover what happens to that tropical plant, that you plant in zone 8 when you really should have planted it in zone 9-10, like will it come back from the ground in the spring or are you going to have to be looking for that Lowe's/Home Depot reciept. If you are a serious botanist this is not your book, but if you are the weekend warrior, that is aspiring for greatness, this is the book for you. You will love the simplicity.

I moved to Florida from NJ. Betrocks Florida Plant Guide has been a life saver for me. The pictures are great. Because I am near the ocean I was very concerned about plants withstanding the salt spray and constant winds. I refer to this book very often and have recommended it to everyone who asks. Great reference.