What do you think?
Rate this book
The Florida History and Culture Series
Seasons of Real Florida
From the
"What is raw, alive, and essential about Florida is becoming more difficult to find, true; but it's still possible to encounter it, to experience it, and a good place to start is any story or book by Jeff Klinkenberg. . . . Jeff loves Florida. It shows."--Randy Wayne White, author of Shark River and Everglades "Klinkenberg is a genius reporter and a wonderful writer. I read this book in one gulp, then went outside, looked at that magnificent Florida sky and made myself all sorts of promises."--William McKeen, author of Highway 61: A Father-and-Son Journey through the Middle of America No wonder Jeff Klinkenberg loves Florida. At any time of year he can find a place in the state that's ripe to enjoy or a person whose story has aged to perfection. Arranged by season, the book opens in the fall, which Klinkenberg says is like spring in the north--a time of "Having survived our harshest season, we feel renewed." Fair weather, good food, and the joys of nature lie ahead, described here in essays that are like time capsules of "old Florida values." Preserving the past, they reveal Klinkenberg's waggish appreciation of the state's history, folkways, and landscape, not to mention its barbequed ribs, smoked mullet, stone crab claws, and fresh lemonade. Many pieces focus off the beaten path and on modern rogues who seem to turn their backsides to the subdivisions and shopping malls that pave the Miss Ruby, whose fruit stand features rutabagas, boiled peanuts, and her own brightly colored plywood paintings; an 85-year-old resident of the remote island of Cayo Costa who hums Beethoven while she hunts for shells; the scientists who test mosquito repellent in Everglades National Park; and the unofficial caretaker of Lilly Spring on the Santa Fe River, who greets canoeists wearing glasses, a necklace, and on occasion a synthetic fur loincloth. Other pieces pay homage to Klinkenberg's literary heroes who've written in and about Florida, such as Pulitzer Prize-winner Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Rawlings's companion and memoirist Idella Parker, Everglades crusader Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and novelist Ernest Hemingway. Klinkenberg also revisits an old St. Johns River campsite of 19th-century botanist William Bartram, whose encounters with alligators there were as alarming as Klinkenberg's with beer cans and soda bottles. For anyone who has a stake in the real Florida--resident, tourist, naturalist, or newcomer--this tour of the seasons will linger in memory like the aroma of orange blossoms on a clear winter night.
"What is raw, alive, and essential about Florida is becoming more difficult to find, true; but it's still possible to encounter it, to experience it, and a good place to start is any story or book by Jeff Klinkenberg. . . . Jeff loves Florida. It shows."--Randy Wayne White, author of Shark River and Everglades "Klinkenberg is a genius reporter and a wonderful writer. I read this book in one gulp, then went outside, looked at that magnificent Florida sky and made myself all sorts of promises."--William McKeen, author of Highway 61: A Father-and-Son Journey through the Middle of America No wonder Jeff Klinkenberg loves Florida. At any time of year he can find a place in the state that's ripe to enjoy or a person whose story has aged to perfection. Arranged by season, the book opens in the fall, which Klinkenberg says is like spring in the north--a time of "Having survived our harshest season, we feel renewed." Fair weather, good food, and the joys of nature lie ahead, described here in essays that are like time capsules of "old Florida values." Preserving the past, they reveal Klinkenberg's waggish appreciation of the state's history, folkways, and landscape, not to mention its barbequed ribs, smoked mullet, stone crab claws, and fresh lemonade. Many pieces focus off the beaten path and on modern rogues who seem to turn their backsides to the subdivisions and shopping malls that pave the Miss Ruby, whose fruit stand features rutabagas, boiled peanuts, and her own brightly colored plywood paintings; an 85-year-old resident of the remote island of Cayo Costa who hums Beethoven while she hunts for shells; the scientists who test mosquito repellent in Everglades National Park; and the unofficial caretaker of Lilly Spring on the Santa Fe River, who greets canoeists wearing glasses, a necklace, and on occasion a synthetic fur loincloth. Other pieces pay homage to Klinkenberg's literary heroes who've written in and about Florida, such as Pulitzer Prize-winner Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Rawlings's companion and memoirist Idella Parker, Everglades crusader Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and novelist Ernest Hemingway. Klinkenberg also revisits an old St. Johns River campsite of 19th-century botanist William Bartram, whose encounters with alligators there were as alarming as Klinkenberg's with beer cans and soda bottles. For anyone who has a stake in the real Florida--resident, tourist, naturalist, or newcomer--this tour of the seasons will linger in memory like the aroma of orange blossoms on a clear winter night.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published April 8, 2004
12 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 7, 2012
Being a native Floridian, I just loved this book. Journalist Jeff Klinkenberg takes you on a journey deep into the history, nature, and people who comprise REAL Florida. I revisited many memories and learned many new things about my beloved state and its uniqueness. Just great!
December 15, 2016
This book kinda gives the reader a way to travel around Florida without having to go anywhere. This book is a series of short stories about slices of real Florida from around the state. The are stories of great places to eat, artists, wildlife, hermits, as well as adventurers. It was hard to get into with it not being a continuous read but it was very enjoyable.
Some of these stories were quite old so it was fun to get on the internet and look up the current status of some of these individuals and places. Some of the characters unfortunately have passed away since this book was written.
My favorite story of course is the one about Lake Wales where I live. Was proud to see Tiger Creek and Steve Morrison as one of the stories. A true slice of real Florida from my hometown.
Some of these stories were quite old so it was fun to get on the internet and look up the current status of some of these individuals and places. Some of the characters unfortunately have passed away since this book was written.
My favorite story of course is the one about Lake Wales where I live. Was proud to see Tiger Creek and Steve Morrison as one of the stories. A true slice of real Florida from my hometown.
December 17, 2016
The Truth is Stranger Non-Fiction Book Club found "Seasons of Real Florida" by Jeff Klinkengerg to be incredibly compelling because of the anecdotal stories throughout that really explain the seasons. Many people, especially northerners coming from areas that have very distinct seasons, automatically assume that Florida has one season: warm. However, what you come to find when living here and what this book reinforces is that the seasons are more subtle and nuanced. You have to recognize the sub-tropical transition in season. They do exist and Floridians experience them in very different ways. A very good book!
March 22, 2014
I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of how Florida was when we came down to visit 40 or 30 years ago. Its nice to know that those places and people are still here, because it is a little hard to see or find through the crowds of people.
June 8, 2025
This was a collection of articles covering some uniquely Florida themes. An alligator trapper/hunter, who holds the record for the heaviest captured alligator (at the time this was written), a ranger in the everglades working amongst clouds of mosquitos, and an expert on citrus fruit. Articles about
famous Floridians/ - Marjorie Stoneman Doulas Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Ernest Hemingway.
Stories about lots of small time stores and restaurants that are probably gone by now- a fish seller, a
soul food restaurant, a roadside produce market.
Interesting but a little sad since a lot of the subjects he covered are going away.
famous Floridians/ - Marjorie Stoneman Doulas Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Ernest Hemingway.
Stories about lots of small time stores and restaurants that are probably gone by now- a fish seller, a
soul food restaurant, a roadside produce market.
Interesting but a little sad since a lot of the subjects he covered are going away.
March 21, 2018
I am only going to put one review up about all of Jeff Klinkenberg's books. I have read and enjoyed everyone of his books on Florida. I also have "Blind Dog in a Smokehouse." All of my books have been autographed by Jeff. This coming weekend I will purchase his latest at a signing in
St. Petersburg, Florida. I have lived her since 1954 when I turned 12. These are stories of "My" Florida and the people who lived in this wonderful state. No place I would rather be living. All are totally worth the money spent.
St. Petersburg, Florida. I have lived her since 1954 when I turned 12. These are stories of "My" Florida and the people who lived in this wonderful state. No place I would rather be living. All are totally worth the money spent.
July 14, 2021
Fun read about many characters in the Sunshine state. Each story has a date and place so you can compare the Florida of today with the Florida over the past five decades. Environmentally it is not a pretty history. Shockingly, the current politicians are proud of what they and developers have created. The recent issues in Florida such as the Surfside condo and many other tragic events are harbingers of a tragic future for Florida.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2018
4.5 actually - interesting articles about people, places and things Florida, not commercial mousey Florida but REAL Florida - if you are like me and you live in Florida, this book tells you about things you do not know and places you'll want to see in person, especially those articles dealing with restaurants.
August 16, 2012
Fun and informative in depth journalism.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews