Bath Pond: A Heart-Warming Story Of An Early Florida Family (ISBN 1886939705)

Heartwarming, touching, hard to put down:
I'm a reviewer of business books. I don't read much outside that genre, because I haven't really found that many books that really seem worth my time. A friend suggested I read Bath Pond, and I felt uncomfortable right away. "Bath Pond," what kind of title is that? What am I getting into? But, friendship being what it is, I agreed. Almost from the beginning, I was pulled into this book. The writing style is easy to flow with--almost too contrived in the dialog in a few places. But, captivating! I'll admit to actually giving up some work time to return to the pages of this historical novel. When tears begin to well up just from reading words on a page, something's happening. This writer has a way of engaging the reader that makes this book worthy of my highest recommendation. The storyline is the tale of a family growing up in Florida in the Depression and the decades that followed. From literally having nothing but each other, a young couple build an inspiring life in the cattle, farming, and citrus business that characterizes Florida's history. Joy and tragedy take the reader on a roller-coaster ride of real-life experiences that are vividly portrayed. I found myself emotionally involved a number of times, even when trying to be dispassionate about my reading. Teal obviously used his background--growing up in the environment he writes about--to good measure. A book I tried to avoid became a favorite. For some great appreciation of a slice of history rarely seen, a very human story of people so real you can almost talk with them, and an opportunity to reflect on your own life, read Bath Pond.

Rich historical novel:
Reviewed by Linda Benninghoff for Reader Views (4/06) This rich historical novel traces one man and his family's struggle for economic success and happiness. The story begins in Depression-era Florida and continues up to recent decades. "Bath Pond" is hard to put down. Garrett, the protagonist, marries Mary Fran with only about 15 dollars to his name. Thanks to the generosity of family, neighbors and friends, they acquire cattle, chickens and rent a house with money they do not yet have. The novel is partly about business, but business that is not done ruthlessly, with an eye only for profit. Garrett and Mary Fran are noteworthy for their goodwill and generosity. Their benevolence makes the farm succeed. They give work to friends, but also to a group of farmers who arrive from Alabama in a truck with only a little gas left and no money to get them further. The farmers are wearing old clothes, have no medical care and are running out of food. At one time they may have been middle-class like Garrett. These visitors agree to work for no pay and only take food and shelter, under the understanding that they would be paid if money came in. Whenever anything does come in, Garrett is generous. It is probably difficult to write a novel about one man's attempt to overcome poverty, and the help he gives to others. However, the business decisions that bring Garrett economic success are told in an interesting way--in this sense the novel is unusual. Garrett clears his land of timber and becomes especially interested in citrus crops when frozen concentrate orange juice is invented. The historical details behind the story of the business make it doubly meaningful. Garrett has luck and achieves success, but this does not free him from tragedy. Some of those closest to him die, and the joy in the novel is interwoven with sorrow. Still, it is the joy which predominates. The novel almost seems to create a portrait of a man who is larger than life, yet the sorrow he experiences and his human failings make him believable. Garrett sometimes seems to work too hard, almost to the point of ignoring his family. Yet, he comes through in crises and remains, despite his work, a man of deep feeling. This broad canvas encompasses characters drawn from all walks of life - from a wealthy landowner, to the Alabama poor, to Garrett's eldest son who seems to take after him in some ways, but can be reckless and lacks his father's luck. The novel portrays one family and also an era. Lowell Teal was apparently born in Florida, into a family who grew citrus and raised cattle. He portrays his subject and characters well. The reader sees them at work and at play and empathizes with them through good and bad experiences. I recommend this novel and would like to read more by this author.