We Can't Help It If We're From Florida: New Stories from a Sinking Peninsula

by Shane Hinton

“As hot and wild and dangerous as our beloved (or is it bedeviled?) state, itself.”
– Lauren Groff, author of Fates & Furies

“As weird and funny and beautiful and unnerving as you might expect from some of our state’s best writers.”
– Karen Russell, author of Swamplandia!

“A heartfelt, complex counter to all those #FloridaMan jokes.”
– Kirkus Reviews

Florida is more than just fodder for hard-boiled crime novels and zany farces. This anthology of new stories and essays challenges a star-studded line up of current and former Floridians to write about the state through a literary lens, though not without the requisite weirdness. The Florida within this book contains: lightning, oil spills, road rage, a lizard tied to a balloon, swimmers, sleepwalkers, characters that love Florida, characters that hate Florida, and at least three sinkholes.

Featuring new work by: Lidia Yuknavitch, Sarah Gerard, Kevin Moffett, Laura van den Berg, Lindsay Hunter, John Brandon, Jaquira Díaz, Alissa Nutting and many more.

Genres: Short Stories, Nonfiction, Essays, Anthologies

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2017

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this one while I was shelving books at work. If you're familiar with the early 80's FL punk and hardcore comp of the same name, you'll understand why I had to at least have a look at it. This is a great written comp; a collection of essays, poetry, and short stories contributed by writers who at some point did or still do live in Florida. I have to laugh at all the disgruntled Goodreads reviewers who were expecting Carl Hiaasen vibes but instead got a look at the more sinister and often jaded aspects of Floridian life a la Lauren Groff, Kristen Arnett, and other contemporary writers. Haters will love this book and lifers will have to take the commentary with a grain of salt and remember that Florida isn't for everyone. As usual when it comes to me reading collections by multiple authors it's always hit or miss, but I generally enjoyed this one! The stories I enjoyed the most were In Praise of the Greyhound by Nathan Deuel, Dummy Up by Kristen Arnett and The Lampshade by Asha Dore. I read my first Lidia Yuknavitch and Laura Van den Berg books this year, so it was cool to see more of their writing in this book.

[Jennie Machines · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the blurbs I was expecting more stories about Florida and not just a bunch of writers from Florida talking about how they hate it or moved away and never came back. There were a couple good ones, but most were mediocre.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sorry to report that my rating is 3 stars. I was mislead to believe that this would be stories/essays of what it is like to live here in Flori-duh (as I call it) and it was, just not the type of stories I was expecting. One of the reviews I read said it was "wacky" and it was the furthest thing from wacky. The essays/stories are grounded in the hard-living truth of Florida - the bad relationships, the drugs, etc. The book is probably a 4 star book, as far as presentation and writing, I just skipped around and didn't find that many essays that I enjoy. I guess that really says how horrible it is to live in Florida. I must still be in denial that I live here.

[Jonas · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, coming from comedic authors such as Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen. I was expecting engaging works about Florida but instead got drab, self-absorbed writing that featured Florida as a backdrop or metaphor.

[Joy Treacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well written; this counts as the first serious book I’ve read this year . As a Floridian, I thought Carl Hiassen & John D. McDonald were the only authors with a true feel for depicting Florida, that is to say until I read this book.
Won an ARC on Goodreads; once I started reading this book of short prose/essays by various authors, I finished it quickly. Lots of talented writers contributed their own sense of the Florida “climate”, with many quirky characters & their connections to Florida depicted.
Recommended reading for anyone who is curious about the weird & zany things that can only happen in Florida.

[Erin Tuzuner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Split and briny, oysters and hearts. Few places inspire environment as character like Florida. Sure New York proliferates the good schools and manners of the urbane world traveler mired in Salinger forsaken dialogue mining for a heart of substance and a line of gin soaked wit. Florida is the expanse of divorced parents, rehab bound gagged and discarded, childhood stretched and bent like gum in summer. This collection was truly excellent; young voices that I hope will become smokier, louder, and a bit less weary.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Floridian, I enjoyed the book immensely. The collection showcases the craziness of Florida in such an intimate way that it was hard to put down. A breath of fresh air for anyone stressed. I have no doubt that anyone - regardless of if they've been to Florida or not - can find a piece they can relate to!

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection of stories wasn't really as wacky or as 'Florida' as I had expected it to be. And actually, it reads like the work of people living in a group home doing therapeutic writing to deal with all their issues, a surprising number of which included suicide. Florida might need even more help than I expected.

[Mlg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly mediocre short stories with a few decent ones

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very much not for me but other people may find it enjoyable. The essays were meant to be very real accounts by real people from Florida but it all comes together to be kind of sad, morose, and boring in the end. I would recommend this for people who are looking for deep journeys into real personal stories, but not so much if you are looking for a connection to the people of Florida. I was hoping it might be a variety of styles, maybe some funny, some real, etc, but it was all just very meh.

[Patricia Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Expected more from this book...having lived for a short time in Florida and reading the newspaper and online events/happenings there is so much more about Florida..some of these stories are just creepy, some are sad..good thing that they are short stories so I could read them all without putting down the book..

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This was a collection of short stories written by authors who have a connection to Florida. Some were really great, well thought out, and fun.

[Rita Ciresi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect present for the Florida lover/hater in your life.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best collections of stories and poetry I've read. Like a rumrunner on a dock bar to this Floridian ex-pat's cold, black heart.

[Alissa Hattman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of fiction and essays. I particularly liked Sarah Gerard and Lidia Yuknavitch's essays that deftly weave facts with raw, personal prose.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give it three and a half stars, but alas, there are no halves. It's a weird and disturbing (and sometimes boring) book. Like Florida!

[Keith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd like to say something favorable about this collection, but the best I can come up with is that its title appropriately reflects the tone, or monotone, of the contents.

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similarly to other readers, wasn’t quite what I expected - especially the classic “judged the book by its cover” narrative. Maybe escaped Floridians would appreciate more?

[Maria Hiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yea.

[Ariell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible.

[Ariell · Rating 1 out of 5]

terrible.