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Our Florida: Heritage of the Sunshine State in Stories and Photos
"Our Florida" is a fabulous collection of writing and photography that celebrates Florida's history, variety of people, and culture. Stories range from reflections on the state's natural wonders to pieces that honor Florida's multicultural heritage. Contributors represent the best of Florida Carl Hiaasen and Marjory Stoneman Douglas on the Everglades, Dave Barry on Disney World, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Zora Neale Hurston, the world of old-time "Crackers," Jose Yglesias on the Cuban-immigrant cigar factories, John McPhee on oranges, Jeff Ripple on Florida's natural wonders, and more. The comprehensive artwork perfectly matches the mood of the written selections. Illustrating the breadth of Florida culture, it includes historical photographs of cigar factories; a panoramic of a 1920s bathing beauties swimsuit contest; Seminole Indians; highly collectible fruit labels and cigar labels from the 1930s; 1950s tourist kitsch; Audubon prints of flamingos; 1920s tourist promotion posters; funky old postcards; and more. Florida has 14 million residents, and approximately 47 million visitors each year; it's the second most visited tourist destination in the U.S. Also "Miami," " The Natural Wonders," "The Florida Keys," and "Sanibel Island."
160 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 2, 2009
This collection of articles and book excerpts is a pretty good introduction to Florida. Obviously the different pieces featured here (more than a dozen in the book) had a range of qualities, and I personally found the first couple to be either pointless or tedious, so either plow on through them or skip them, because the good stuff is coming. And, it is well-rounded, covering geologic history through to modern retirees, "colored" culture, "Cracker" culture (Florida hick), Everglade frontiersmen, Latin Americans, doughy northern visitors and Cuban immigrants!
My favorite parts:
"The Walt 'You Will Have Fun' Disney World Themed Shopping Complex and Resort Compound," by Dave Barry.
It was laugh-out-loud funny. Barry's satire is cutting but not obnoxious. I've never been to Disney World, never much wanted to go, and this article helped reinforce that. (Those of you in from Vatican High, it seems might feel at home there though, according to Barry;-)
Excerpt from Oranges, by John McPhee.
Truly a comprehensive history of the oranges, even this little excerpt had a heap of fascinating facts.
"How it Feels to be Colored Me," by Zora Neale Hurston.
I already knew I liked the author from Their Eyes Were Watching God, her voice comes through clearly in this article about growing up in Florida.
Excerpt from "The Tin Canners," by David A. Thornburg.
It gives a fascinating bit of history on early 20th century American tourism (named after the first generation of automobile drivers in America, traveling around on vacation with all their food and supplies in tin cans).
Excerpt from "The Tropic of Cracker," by Al Burt.
Florida is where the term comes from. And, after Burt's description of them, I realize that Florida is still crawling with them Crackers, not all of whom are quite as dumb and backwards as legend suggests.
And, some beautiful writing in an excerpts from "Cigars" by Jose Yglesias and "A Life in the Everglades" by Loren "Totch" Brown.
What I liked best about this book is that it was not tourist-trap-trash, like a lot of what I find in Europe (see my review on the book supposed to be about Saint Paul in Greece). These pieces have relevant, interesting content, meant for the reader's enjoyment, not just to convince them to spend money at the editor's cousin's gift shop, as I see so often in European regional books.
It was actually a pretty great read, especially while here spending time in southwestern Florida, and the photos and graphics are also great and fascinating.
My favorite parts:
"The Walt 'You Will Have Fun' Disney World Themed Shopping Complex and Resort Compound," by Dave Barry.
It was laugh-out-loud funny. Barry's satire is cutting but not obnoxious. I've never been to Disney World, never much wanted to go, and this article helped reinforce that. (Those of you in from Vatican High, it seems might feel at home there though, according to Barry;-)
Excerpt from Oranges, by John McPhee.
Truly a comprehensive history of the oranges, even this little excerpt had a heap of fascinating facts.
"How it Feels to be Colored Me," by Zora Neale Hurston.
I already knew I liked the author from Their Eyes Were Watching God, her voice comes through clearly in this article about growing up in Florida.
Excerpt from "The Tin Canners," by David A. Thornburg.
It gives a fascinating bit of history on early 20th century American tourism (named after the first generation of automobile drivers in America, traveling around on vacation with all their food and supplies in tin cans).
Excerpt from "The Tropic of Cracker," by Al Burt.
Florida is where the term comes from. And, after Burt's description of them, I realize that Florida is still crawling with them Crackers, not all of whom are quite as dumb and backwards as legend suggests.
And, some beautiful writing in an excerpts from "Cigars" by Jose Yglesias and "A Life in the Everglades" by Loren "Totch" Brown.
What I liked best about this book is that it was not tourist-trap-trash, like a lot of what I find in Europe (see my review on the book supposed to be about Saint Paul in Greece). These pieces have relevant, interesting content, meant for the reader's enjoyment, not just to convince them to spend money at the editor's cousin's gift shop, as I see so often in European regional books.
It was actually a pretty great read, especially while here spending time in southwestern Florida, and the photos and graphics are also great and fascinating.
November 27, 2021
Not new but a nice mix of culture and historical notes. I agree fully with Ryan's review. I just thought I'd add: I like to see a mix of art-photo and text, not either in exclusion. This book, with its short 'segments' included both very interesting text and an excellent choice of graphics. Very satisfactory. Found at a local library.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews