Florida On The Page

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Doc Creed

Doc Creed

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For some time, I've wanted to survey the American literary landscape and take a closer look at each state's crop of books and writers. This endeavor begins with this thread (Florida, not Alabama, no less) in which I will solicit your help in finding the best books each state has produced. Other threads will follow for other states. I'd be interested in hearing about any books written about Florida but preferably prose of high quality.

In my recent memory I've heard good things about Shadow Country by Matthiessen and Florida by Laura Groff and Swamplandia! by Karen Russell. I've read the latter. Any thoughts about these mentioned? Any other suggestions? Goodreads and Amazon are always helpful but they only offer so much assistance. Some of you are a veritable compendium of bookish information. Although Florida is my second home, and it's not a complete roll of the dice that I began with it, I don't know of that many books set there. Wasn't Their Eyes Were Watching God set there? I believe Hurston lived there for some time in her youth.

Thanks for your help and comments.

(Obviously, working in libraries and scouring bookstores all my life has broadened my knowledge about these things, but I'm hoping to hear about books you've actually read. All comments welcome, however.)
 
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Doc Creed

Doc Creed

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Spideyman

Spideyman

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Doc Creed I am not sure if this fits your inquiry. Eons ago I read a book by Cambell McGrath--Florida Poems. Have no idea where this book has been placed. It was a time of my mom needing to move to Fl, and the book disappeared. Maybe your library has a copy, or can obtain one from another library. I found it to be full of imagery, humor, and beauty.
 
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Doc Creed

Doc Creed

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Spideyman said:
Doc Creed I am not sure if this fits your inquiry. Eons ago I read a book by Cambell McGrath--Florida Poems. Have no idea where this book has been placed. It was a time of my mom needing to move to Fl, and the book disappeared. Maybe your library has a copy, or can obtain one from another library. I found it to be full of imagery, humor, and beauty.
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Thank you, Spidey. The fact that it is meaningful to you certainly sharpens my interest. I'll add it to my list.
 
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Wayoftheredpanda

Wayoftheredpanda

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Doc Creed said:
Oh yes, I'm familiar with his books. I never read a single one. You? It's my understanding he writes gritty but comical mysteries.
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He’s also written a line of rather mediocre children’s novels with environmental messages all in your face. Sadly his brother was killed in the newspaper shooting that happened during summer.
 
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Tery

Tery

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Doc Creed said:
Oh yes, I'm familiar with his books. I never read a single one. You? It's my understanding he writes gritty but comical mysteries.
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I've read all his novels. I love him. He has a knack for creating Rube Goldberg-ish plots. Start with Double Whammy.

Swamplandia is another terrific Florida book.
 
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fljoe0

fljoe0

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Tery said:
I've read all his novels. I love him. He has a knack for creating Rube Goldberg-ish plots. Start with Double Whammy.
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I thought Skinny Dip was funny.It's been a long time since I read it but the book started with someone getting tossed overboard from a cruise ship and managed to survive by hanging on to a floating bale of marijuana. :)

There was another that did a pretty good number on Disney World. I can't remember the name of that one.
 
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Doc Creed

Doc Creed

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fljoe0 said:
Elmore Leonard was a Florida resident for a period of time. He had a few novels that were set in Florida. His crime novels moved from Detroit to Florida for a while (Stick was one)
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I didn't know he'd written about Florida. Thanks. Have you heard of this book I mentioned in OP?
220px-ShadowCountry.jpg
It is a reworking and condensing of a trilogy that was originally published in the Nineties. The New York Times said to read the original three books but praised the updated version as a "typhoon across the Everglades". It sounds like Peaky Blinders set in the Sunshine State.
 
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fljoe0

fljoe0

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It's non-fiction but Ernest Lyons was a wonderful Scripps-Howard newspaper columnist and there are (or at least used to be) a couple of compilations of his columns. He was born in Florida before 1920 and had great stories of wild Florida. I have a book called The Last Cracker Barrel. If you can find any of his work, it's worth reading. I think there is another called My Florida.

Ernest Lyons | Florida Press Association
 
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