Scan barcode
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
4.0
Heart of Palm
Utina, Florida, is a small, raggedy town off the beaten path of any of the state’s real estate booms—so far. I’m using that old school “beaten path” expression in place of the more modern-ish “radar” because Utina is not the sort of place where people know from radar, but they definitely do know about tangled, root-rich, overgrown paths leading to the Intercostal Waterway. The Bravo family owns the town’s bar and grill—the only one—which is run by the good-hearted Frank, who stayed in town with his eccentric mother and erratic sister, while his brother Carson married the woman Frank loves and moved to St. Augustine.
Laura Lee Smith’s first novel is a story of people and place, both of which are rendered in affectionate, believable detail. This is not to say that this is a sweet story; it has plenty of depth and plenty of bite. The Bravos are faced with an opportunity that would secure their futures but destroy their town. They are certainly Quixotic, but Carson is also desperate for cash and Frank would like to move somewhere cooler. Termite-riddled Aberdeen, the family home, is being held together by rampant vines and is so crammed with junk that it just might be impossible to ever clear out. What will they choose? The answer will surprise you.
Heart of Palm is a lovely read. Smith manages to create characters who spark even in the sweaty atmosphere of Utina. She has published a number of short pieces and she has expanded into the novelist’s realm with grace and ease. I think we can look forward to an ongoing exploration of the hearts and minds of a state so many people visit, but so few people actually know.
Utina, Florida, is a small, raggedy town off the beaten path of any of the state’s real estate booms—so far. I’m using that old school “beaten path” expression in place of the more modern-ish “radar” because Utina is not the sort of place where people know from radar, but they definitely do know about tangled, root-rich, overgrown paths leading to the Intercostal Waterway. The Bravo family owns the town’s bar and grill—the only one—which is run by the good-hearted Frank, who stayed in town with his eccentric mother and erratic sister, while his brother Carson married the woman Frank loves and moved to St. Augustine.
Laura Lee Smith’s first novel is a story of people and place, both of which are rendered in affectionate, believable detail. This is not to say that this is a sweet story; it has plenty of depth and plenty of bite. The Bravos are faced with an opportunity that would secure their futures but destroy their town. They are certainly Quixotic, but Carson is also desperate for cash and Frank would like to move somewhere cooler. Termite-riddled Aberdeen, the family home, is being held together by rampant vines and is so crammed with junk that it just might be impossible to ever clear out. What will they choose? The answer will surprise you.
Heart of Palm is a lovely read. Smith manages to create characters who spark even in the sweaty atmosphere of Utina. She has published a number of short pieces and she has expanded into the novelist’s realm with grace and ease. I think we can look forward to an ongoing exploration of the hearts and minds of a state so many people visit, but so few people actually know.
lucasgarner's review
5.0
While this book is definitely not in a genre that I usually find myself reading, I was completely captivated and pulled-in to the Bravo family's story line. The story may seem simple at a first glance, but author Smith has really pulled off an impressive feat by creating a small town that seems to be really alive. The characters and setting feel authentic and are fun to read about. The Bravos are a very unpredictable family, and will leave you stunned, laughing, horrified, and just about any other emotion you can imagine. Smith is an amazing writer, and I look forward to reading other books by her in the future.
cook_memorial_public_library's review
5.0
A 2013 staff fiction favorite recommended by Andrea. Read her review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/621801440
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sheart%20of%20palm%20smith__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sheart%20of%20palm%20smith__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=pearl
dana_in_denver's review against another edition
5.0
I rarely enjoy books that I randomly pick off the shelf, but this one was really a pleasant surprise. This book takes place in Florida and there is a lot of discussion about how hot it is... which was a very nice reprieve while watching it snow during a mountain vacation in May. I always enjoy a messed up family to read about!
imanreads's review against another edition
4.0
Well, that was an unexpected gem. I blame Sarah Dessen and Nicholas Sparks for instilling my formative reading years with a love for small town family dramas. It's a big reason why this book felt a little like coming home.
cuelake's review
1.0
I was wanting this to be a good read because it took place in North Florida but it had little character development and had a simplistic approach to developers taking over "Old Florida". I think the author checked off her list every white trash stereotype she heard of and included it as well as followed a scaffolding of how to write a novel. I always learn at least one thing from each book I read and I learned nothing from this simplistic book. It is very close to chick lit and if that is your thing so be it.
melissarochelle's review
3.0
I wish Goodreads would make half stars available because I like this more than 3 stars, but didn't "really" like it enough for 4 stars. It's simply a good story about a family in a small North Florida town.
We first meet Arla when she's 18 years old. After she marries Dean, we jump forward about fifty years and meet Arla's children. This isn't really a book with action, it's just a story about a small-town and the Bravo family. There were a few slow moments, but I was always interested in learning more about the Bravo's tough times -- both past and present.
We first meet Arla when she's 18 years old. After she marries Dean, we jump forward about fifty years and meet Arla's children. This isn't really a book with action, it's just a story about a small-town and the Bravo family. There were a few slow moments, but I was always interested in learning more about the Bravo's tough times -- both past and present.
lindsay_loves_literature's review against another edition
4.0
Utina is a fictional town in Northeast Florida that progress has passed by, until the real estate developers finally show up. The Bravo’s are a family just trying to survive in a small town and deal with their painful past.
It’s always fun to read a story set where you live. The swampy areas set between the Atlantic Ocean and Intercoastal were described so perfectly. I loved reading about my college and my church in Saint Augustine!
Each member of the Bravo family has their own secrets and troubles, and they are learning to come together as a family to deal with their shared grief. They were funny, flawed, and so deeply human you couldn’t help but hurt for them and cheer for them at the same time.
The ending fell a little flat for me, I think I was wanting a little more of a resolution. But if you are looking for a summer read that’s not all fluff, this is a good pick!
It’s always fun to read a story set where you live. The swampy areas set between the Atlantic Ocean and Intercoastal were described so perfectly. I loved reading about my college and my church in Saint Augustine!
Each member of the Bravo family has their own secrets and troubles, and they are learning to come together as a family to deal with their shared grief. They were funny, flawed, and so deeply human you couldn’t help but hurt for them and cheer for them at the same time.
The ending fell a little flat for me, I think I was wanting a little more of a resolution. But if you are looking for a summer read that’s not all fluff, this is a good pick!
canadianbookworm's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2021/06/heart-of-palm.html
elizabeth75's review against another edition
4.0
A story about a dysfunctional family that I liked infinitely more than This Is Where I Leave You. Funny, sad, and witty. Warning: deplorable language scattered throughout!