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Here are some book discussion questions to get you started:

“A Land Remembered” by Patrick D. Smith
Copyright © 1984 by Patrick D. Smith
Published by Pineapple Press, Sarasota, Florida

Book Discussion Guide  

1. Start us off with a brief synopsis of the story.
2. What did you feel were the important themes of this story?
3. What were some of your favorite scenes?  Or those you felt were most revealing?
4. Let’s talk about the main characters.  What were some of their distinguishing characteristics?  What did you admire or dislike about him or her?
5. Do any of the characters remind you of someone you know?
6. What were some of the hardships Tobias and Emma faced?  How did they deal with them?  (Refer to page 124, discussion between Tobias and Emma.)
7. How do the roles of the women in this book compare to the roles of women today?
8. Tobias got what was then a fortune in gold for his cows. Did this change the MacIvey’s life?  Why do you suppose that was?
9. Read p. 159, advice of Tobias to Zech.  Do you agree, disagree?  Why?
10. How did Emma and Tobias feel about the drought? (p. 167-168)
11. What were some of the key events that changed the life of the MacIveys and other cattlemen?
12. Why didn’t Tobias think it was necessary to purchase the land he had settled? How did the views on land ownership change over the course of the book?
13. How did the land itself change?  (P. 270 – Zech’s thoughts)
14. The MacIveys’ acceptance of people of different cultures helped them to make friends who stood by the MacIveys in their most difficult times.  What made these mutually beneficial relationships possible?
15. What did you think of Glenda and Zech’s trip to Palm Beach? (p. 317)
16. What did you think of Sol selling buzzards to the tourists?  About Zech’s reaction?
17. Read P. 331, last paragraph.  What did that make you think of?
18. Regarding the relationship of Sol and Toby, how does it compare to the environmentalists and entrepreneurs?  (p. 370)
19. How does Sol change after Bonnie’s death?  (p. 383, 400)
20. How did you feel about the ending of the story?
21. How long ago did your family come to Florida?  Why did they decide to move here?
22. The characters in this book were based on real survivors of the Florida wilderness.  What character traits were essential t their survival?
23. Does this book remind you of any other books you have read?