Rediscovering the Forgotten Florida: 'Through the Groves' Unveils a Lost World
"Through the Groves" is a memoir by journalist Anne Hull, recounting her childhood in rural Central Florida during the 1960s and '70s, before the rise of Disney. Hull vividly describes her father's job as a fruit buyer, driving through remote orange and grapefruit groves, and the unique experiences she had riding along with him. The memoir also touches on her parents' divorce, her struggle with her queer sexuality, and the changing landscape of Florida due to the influence of Walt Disney. Hull's evocative storytelling brings to life a lost world filled with small, charged details, while also addressing issues such as racism and the human cost of pesticide use in the citrus industry.