Floridiana / IDS 3920 / Spring 2004

Bibliography of "Florida" Books

An incomplete list of books to further advance your sense of place in Florida

Brown, R. C. (1994). Florida's First People. Sarasota: Pineapple Press.

Examines the 12,000 year history of Florida's real native people. A real archaeological adventure!

Douglas, M. S. (1997). Everglades River of Grass. Sarasota: Pineapple Press.

The book that created enough awareness of the flight of the Everglades to make a difference. A must-read for any Floridians who wish to consider themselves ecologically literate

Douglas, M.S. (1991). Voice of the River. Sarasota: Pineapple Press.

Marjory Stoneman Douglass's autobiography.

Hall, J. W. (1995). Gone Wild. New York: Dell.

An active conservationist dangerously confronts the business of trafficking endangered species. This thrilling novel takes the reader from deep in the Everglades to Miami and to the jungles of Borneo.

Hiaasen, C. (1994). Strip Tease. New York: Warner.

The 1996 film did this novel little justice. The story involves a fictional, corrupt sugar industry executive and a U.S. senator invovled in murder and deception. The story centers around a mother turned stripper, trying to survive with her young daughter.

Hiaasen, C. (1996). Stormy Weather. New York: Warner.

A novel set just after hurricane Andrew collides with South Florida. The characters and situations, schemes and double crossings make a hilarious story.

Hiaasen, C. (Ed.). (1997). Naked Came the Manatee. New York: Fawcett.

Thirteen Florida authors each take a turn writing the thirteen chapters of this hilarious Miami story about a woman who seems to resemble MSD, her granddaughter, Booger the manatee, and various and sundry low lives trying to cause a revolution with the stolen body parts of a certain Cuban military and political leader.

Hurston, Z. N. (1990). Their Eyes Were Watching God. New York: Harper. (Original work published 1937).

Describes an individual's journey to selfhood amongst personal, social, and environmental challenges.

Hurston, Z. N. (1991). Seraph on the Suwanee. New York: Harper. (Original work published 1948).

A work of classic Florida literature that explores both the search for self and the longing for nature in the foreground of Florida's splendor.

Lindbergh, A. M. (1955). Gift from the Sea. New York: Panteon.

A book on self-realization. It is like finding a perfect shell . . . A surprising and beautiful experience. This book is an inspirational work of reflection and insight written on Captiva Island.

Matthiessen, P. (1991). Killing Mr. Watson. New York: Vintage.

A novel set in the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands just after the turn of the century describing the events that lead up to the vigilante execution of the notorious E. J. Watson.

Muir, J. (1991). A Thousand-mile Walk to the Gulf. San Francisco: Sierra Club. (Original work published 1916).

A classic nature writing by a classic environmental activist, Muir's book outlines his one-thousand mile walk from Louisville, Kentucky to Northern Florida. The Florida chapters are marvelously descriptive.

Orlean, Susan (1998). The Orchid Thief. New York: Random House

A true story. New Yorker writer Susan Orlean follows orchid thief, John Laroche through Southwest Florida's Fakahatchee Swamp and into the eccentric world of orchid collectors, a subculture of aristocrats, fanatics, and smugglers whose obsession with plants is all-consuming. Absolutely fascinating reading!

Rawlings, M. K. (1996). Cross Creek. New York: Touchstone. (Original work published 1942).

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings's account of her thirteen year stay in the remote Florida town of Cross Creek.

Ripple, J. (1996). Southwest Florida's Wetland Wilderness: Big Cypress Swamp and the Ten Thousand Islands. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.

A wonderful educational adventure through Southwest Florida's various ecosystems, enhanced with a collection of Clyde Butcher's photographs.

White, Randy Wayne--- Different Novels: Sanibel Flats., The Man Who Invented Florida, The Heat Island.,***His latest***; Ten Thousand Islands. New York: St. Martin's Press.

These novels follow the life of Doc Ford, a marine biologist with a secret CIA past, who lives on a stilt house in the back bay behind Sanibel island. Ford to the rescue! Very enjoyable reading.

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