A Land Remembered

By: Patrick D. Smith

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Patrick D. Smith here tells the story of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family who battle the hardships of the frontier to rise from a dirt-poor Cracker life to the wealth and standing of real estate tycoons. The story opens in 1858, when Tobias MacIvey arrives in the Florida wilderness to start a new life, and ends in 1968 with Solomon MacIvey, who realizes that the land has been exploited far beyond human need. Between is a sweeping story rich in Florida history.

A best-selling novel of Florida historical fiction, A Land Remembered was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and received the state’s highest literary award from the Florida Historical Society, the 1986 Tebeau Prize for the Most Outstanding Florida Historical novel.

©1984 Patrick D. Smith (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

WOW

This was an amazing story!!! The narration was equally as good. So so glad I read this again. I read it long ago but appreciate all the more now and ir was even better with the narration. Wow.

Fantastic!

The story was intriguing and the narration was impeccable! I read the for a book club and was really thankful that I did!

Remarkable.

Fascinating story about the settling of Florida. Excellent writing made the story captivating. Sure does make you appreciate the hard work and determination of our forefathers to survive.

My Life is Richer for having listened to this book

such a well-written book the development of characters is beyond that of three books. Narration has no equal I don't believe that you could see the amount of books but I've listened to put it far exceeds 400 and this is absolutely in the top five.

Good historical novel re Florida

Great story re Tobias, Emma, Zach, Glenda, Skillet, Solomon, Tawanda and her son, Frog, dogs Nip and Tuck, horse Ishmael, swamp, dangers by villains and wild animals. Very good story about simple pioneer living. Lots of sadness too. Mistaken notion that God is responsible for everything that happens. Ecclesiastes says time and unforeseen occurrence happen to all; sometimes people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. God wants people to live, not die, that is why he gave his son as a ransom sacrifice so they can get everlasting life. So God does NOT TAKE people, as this book indicates. God does allow freedom of choice and sometimes people make bad choices.
The loyalty shown very touching. Also realistic was the portrayal of money as a useful tool and a protection, but acquiring it not the purpose of life. Wealthy family still lived simply and used their money to help others too. Very nice.
Very good portrayal of people leading good lives and then passing away, but leaving behind a legacy of love, hard work and good memories.

I recommend this book.

Oh Florida

As an old Florida native I was transported by this book. It stirs the soul. I loved it.

Change is not always better

A good story of a family in old florida. Written with emotion, love, reflection. It had a bit too much filler and did seem to run on quite a bit at times. Nevertheless, I enjoyed enough to look for other books by Patrick Smith. Mr. Guidall reading could have been a bit better. Did not have the poetry of the book and did seem to be abrupt at times. Easy to understand and interesting voice but just a good, not great reading.

Great,Great,Great

Where does A Land Remembered rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The best.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Land Remembered?

Too many to just pick one.

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I've listen to a lot of audiobooks. He is the best narrator I've heard.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

This will leave a mark.

Any additional comments?

I know everyone has different taste,but this is a book I guarantee you will enjoy.

Fantastic tale from the Florida of yesteryear

This is a great story that weaves through Florida’s past and the northerners that settled there and the effect they would have on the land and it’s people. Great story with lots of interesting details about the land and people of early Florida. If you live in Florida and appreciate it’s history, this is a must read.

Fascinating Florida History in story form

You don't have to be a fan of historical fiction to fall in love with this story that covers Florida from the late 1800's/Civil War era to the 1970;'s. I learned so much about Florida that I never would of dreamed, and I lived there for a period of 5 years, so I was especially fascinated. I was saddened to read of the wildness and beauty and vastness of this remarkable state, before it truly became ruined by the modern world.

You will follow three generations of MacIvey's as they begin their time in Florida dirt poor, chasing down wild cattle, eventually growing a cattle empire and then acquiring thousands of acres or orange trees, and vegetable farms, and into the land boom of growth of Florida. Each character was fully real to me, the men, their wives, the Indians, the sons. Many times through out the story I found myself in tears and it's a rare book that makes me cry. I felt so much the emotion of this story and these people's lives.

I do feel sadness at the way the story ended, nothing dramatic, just an ending, and I had questions about certain characters that I was left to wonder about, what happened to them. But still overall, a 5 star book. The narration were perfection. I would like to have a hard copy of this book now as well, to read again some day.