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 lifes paths.
This book takes you through decades of one couples 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."
