Why I Started the Cedar Key Book Club
I started the Cedar Key Book Club to bring together curious, like-minded people who share a love for the stories that shaped our islands. Whether you've called Cedar Key home for decades or you're just passing through, there's always something new to discover about Cedar Key's rich history, wildlife, and natural beauty — and sometimes, the stories get a little wild!
When: We meet every other Thursday at 5:30 PM. Current dates are posted on the events list on our and in our Cedar Key Book Club Facebook Group.
Where: Meetings are typically held at Sip & Sea in Cedar Key, though we occasionally take "field trips" to explore local sights firsthand.
The Pace: Our Cedar Key book club members choose titles together, and everyone reads at their own speed — roughly one book per month. We read both fiction and non-fiction focused on Cedar Key's history, nature, and culture. This isn't a race; it's about enjoying the journey and the conversation.
Join the Cedar Key Book Club
Cedar Key locals, we'd love to hear your perspective on our latest read. Visitors to Cedar Key, stop by to learn what makes this Gulf Coast gem so special — you might just fall even more in love with our little island town.
Explore Cedar Key History at Your Own Pace
Want to dive deeper into Cedar Key's local history? Take a stroll down 2nd Street and visit the Cedar Key Public Library or the Cedar Key Historical Society. The library's reference department houses a fantastic collection of regional books, while the Historical Society offers curated titles and exhibits that bring Cedar Key's past to life. Can't make it to Cedar Key in person? Join our private Cedar Key Book Club Facebook Group to stay connected — just introduce yourself and tell us what you love about Cedar Key!
I hope you join us, Lisa🌴
Are you interested in what we have read so far?
The Cedar Key Book Club Reading List
1. A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf by John Muir
Description: This classic nature journal chronicles legendary naturalist John Muir's 1,000-mile walk from Indiana to Florida in 1867. The final leg of his journey brought him directly to Cedar Key, where he recovered from a severe bout of malaria while working at a local sawmill.
Buy it on Amazon here. (Affiliate link.) Also sold at the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum.
2. Cedar Key Stories: Island Interludes by Gary Wadley
Description: A wonderful collection of stories imagined and historical sketches that captures the unique heart, character, and quirky charm of the island community. It dives into the lives of the residents and local legends that has defined this coastal town over the generations.
Buy it on Amazon here. (Affiliate link.) Also sold at Main Street Mercantile and Cedar Key Historical Society Museum.
3. Cedar Key in the 19th Century by Charles Fishburne, Jr.
Description: For the history enthusiasts, this book serves as an essential deep-dive into the island's bustling past. It explores Cedar Key's golden era in the 1800s, detailing its transformation into a major shipping port, the impact of the historic railroad, and the rise and fall of the 19th-century industrial pencil mill industry.
To purchase: you might find it on eBay. It is only sold locally at the Cedar Key Historical Society and Museum.
4. Godspeed, Cedar Key by Michael Bobbitt
Description: Written by local author Michael Presley Bobbitt, this engaging pseudo-historical fiction novel is set against the backdrop of nuclear warfare. It follows a compelling cast of characters — including many loosely based on locals — navigating the destruction of the town, offering a dramatic look at resilience, survival, and the spirit of the island.
Buy it on Amazon here. (Affiliate link.) Also sold at Main Street Mercantile.
5. Spinning Forward by Terri Dulong
Description: As a native New Englander, Sydney Webster is surprised to find herself starting over on an island off the coast of Florida. Yet here she is in Cedar Key, trying to pull herself together after her husband's untimely death — and the even more untimely revelation of his gambling addiction. Amidst the bougainvillea blossoms and the island's gentle rhythms, she begins to plan her next chapter.
Buy it on Amazon here. (Affiliate link.)
6. Not To Keep by Rebecca Johnston
Description: Not to Keep follows the lives of five young friends as they grow from their shared childhood in the woods and swamps of North Central Florida through their experiences in WW1 and their return home from war. Their story weaves through the history of America's reception of returning WWI vets, including the Bonus Army in Washington D.C. and the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.
Buy on Amazon here. (Affiliate link.) Also sold locally at the Historical Society and Main Street Mercantile.
7. Cedar Key Cookin’ by Verona Watson
Description: Verona was much more than just a talented chef; she was a lifelong resident, a gifted artist, and a foundational pillar of the Keyhole Artist Co-op. To open one of her cookbooks is to invite a bit of old-school Cedar Key magic into your own kitchen. Copies are only available at the Cedar Keyhole Artist Gallery on 2nd St. If you are not local and would like to buy a copy, send me a message.
Book 8 coming soon…