Martin County, located in Florida, is an enchanting place known for its natural beauty and unique attractions. Referred to as the "Magic in Martin County," this destination offers a combination of stunning beaches, lush greenery, and a wide range of recreational activities that make it a perfect spot for both tourists and locals alike. One of the highlights of Martin County is its pristine coastline, with miles of golden sandy beaches that entice visitors from all over the world. Whether you want to relax under the warm sun or take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters, the beaches in Martin County provide an idyllic setting for beachgoers. In addition to the beaches, Martin County is also home to numerous parks and nature preserves. Jonathan Dickinson State Park, for example, is a sprawling reserve that offers various outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and kayaking.
It mixes magic and reality in such a brilliant way that the magic feels very real. It is about two sets of children, each from divorced families. The father from one and the mother from another have got together and this new blended family is struggling to get along.
There s much fun to be had in watching the islanders diplomatic handling of the missionaries, who are fine as far as education and healthcare and food parcels go, but no use at all when it comes to spiritual ills. What You Pawn I Will Redeem by Sherman Alexie The narrator attempts to reclaim a source of power that has been stolen, while we enjoy a running gag about mental arithmetic.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park, for example, is a sprawling reserve that offers various outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and kayaking. The park is known for its diverse ecosystem and is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. For those who enjoy water-related adventures, Martin County has an abundance of opportunities for boating, fishing, and diving.
Top 10 magical short stories
A ccording to the blurb writer on my Penguin Classics copy, Hans Christian Andersen was the “first writer to create timeless universal fairytales from his own imagination”. (Islamic golden age: “Are you sure?”)
It’s actually harder to find magical stories beyond the 19th century, outside children’s literature and fantasy, or the deliberately circumscribed forms of fable, parable and fairytale.
English Magic by Uschi Gatward review – exquisitely eerie withholding Read moreI think they still exist, in stories that don’t announce themselves as fantasy or even as magical realism, but they have become better at camouflaging themselves amid ordinary life, especially when the magic is the legacy of an older culture that has been suppressed but not quite extinguished.
So The Little Match Girl (the heartwarming story of an abused child-labourer hallucinating as she dies of hypothermia – Merry Christmas one and all!) might become, down the generations, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess.
Witches, healers and sorcerers feature in the stories I’ve chosen, but in a few of my Top 10 the enchantment comes from elsewhere – as it often does in my own stories – ineffable and mysterious. Magic is a resort of the dispossessed as much as of the powerful, a rival to the established orthodoxy, and some of these stories also show that precept in action.
1. Arrival of the Snake-Woman by Olive Senior
“She was enchanted when I took an Atlas I had borrowed from Parson and showed her first the world where our tiny island and India were located so far apart and then a map of India itself, like our island colored red.”
This story is full of delicate irony and of all kinds of surprising magic. There’s much fun to be had in watching the islanders’ diplomatic handling of the missionaries, who are fine as far as education and healthcare and food parcels go, but “no use at all” when it comes to spiritual ills. And the help these incomers offer is very much conditional.
2. The Fisherman and His Soul by Oscar Wilde
More pricing-up of the soul, albeit for different motives. This strange and metaphysical story, inspired by Andersen’s The Little Mermaid and The Shadow, was my favourite as a child (I owned the beautiful edition illustrated by Harold Jones). I couldn’t have understood it fully but I loved it for its language and imagery and for its genuine spookiness. The cutting-off of the immortal part – by moonlight, with a green-handled knife on wet sand – is particularly arresting, as is the shivery final paragraph. And then we have sentences such as this: “The other kept munching scented pastilles, which he took with an affected gesture out of an oval box of lilac enamel.” Delicious.
3. What You Pawn I Will Redeem by Sherman Alexie
The narrator attempts to reclaim a source of power that has been stolen, while we enjoy a running gag about mental arithmetic. Probably my favourite contemporary short story. I love everything about it, from the affirmation of the title to the final image. Colonialism 101.
4. Five Leaves and a Stranger byJacob Ross
Ross is such a subtle writer, and I love the mordancy found in his work. With echoes of Senior, this story follows a stranger who arrives in the narrator’s close-knit community during a time of sickness, sets up house with one of the women and has a child with her. There ensues a quest in the wilderness, redemption and a cure.
5. The Standard of Living by Dorothy Parker
Another shop-based redemption narrative featuring two modern-day Match Girls. Clever, simple, funny and charming. I love the magic trick it pulls off.
Very odd indeed … Robert Aickman. Photograph: Louisiana State University
6. Bind Your Hair by Robert Aickman
Poor old Clarinda has found herself engaged to Dudley, who has never missed a train in his life. She goes to spend a weekend with his family “in one of the remote parts of a county where the remote parts are surprisingly many and extensive”, and where a rather eccentric soiree guest seizes on her as a kindred spirit. And then – surely the most horrifying thing about going to stay with people: “Every Sunday evening, Clarinda understood, Mr Carstairs read aloud from about half past six until they had supper at eight.” Understandably, Clarinda has to escape. And then it all gets very odd indeed.
“In a way,” the shopman said. “Though we pay in the end. But not so heavily – as people suppose …”
Something anarchic and alarming – possibly evil – erupts into the delightfully ordered and middle-class world of this story, in which every street is known and money is ready for the granting of wishes, and birthdays are counted down to exactly and well in advance. Or does it? It’s so difficult to tell.
8. The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Andersen
As with so many of Andersen’s tales, there’s almost nothing to this – a few pages, and even the telling is simple. How is it so powerful? It’s partly the psychological acuity – Karen’s obsession with red shoes is of manifold origin and convincingly drawn – and partly imagery: the shoe shop, the various shoes themselves, the coffins, the graveyard, the spiteful and perhaps jealous old soldier (spiteful and jealous old world, even). The inability to stop – the whirling faster and faster – is genuinely the stuff of nightmares and taps directly into our sympathies.
Even without its famous adaptation, the story has an especial glamour lent by the beauty, the repeated visual accent of red (which stands out in life more than any other colour, and I think in literature too), the dancing, the riches and expensive objects, and even by the possession/obsession – everything is thrilling for Karen (and us).
The St. Lucie River, which runs through the county, provides an ideal setting for kayaking and paddleboarding, allowing visitors to explore the area's natural wonders at their own pace. Beyond its natural attractions, Martin County is also known for its charming downtown areas and vibrant communities. Stuart, the county seat, boasts a historic downtown lined with boutique shops, art galleries, and delicious restaurants. Here, visitors can get a taste of the local culture and indulge in the county's vibrant arts scene. The magic of Martin County doesn't stop there – the area also offers unique events and festivals throughout the year. From the Stuart Sailfish Regatta to the Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival, there is always something exciting happening that brings the community together and showcases the county's lively spirit. In conclusion, Martin County is a truly magical destination that offers a little something for everyone. From its breathtaking beaches and nature preserves to its charming downtown areas and vibrant communities, this county has it all. Whether you're looking for outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply a place to unwind, Martin County is sure to cast its spell on you..
Reviews for "Martin County's Rich Native American Culture and Heritage"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Martin County Magic". The story was slow-paced and lacked any real depth. I found it hard to connect with the characters as they were one-dimensional and their actions felt forced. Additionally, the writing style was mediocre at best, with repetitive phrases and a lack of descriptive language. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book as it failed to capture my interest.
2. John - 1 star - I couldn't finish reading "Martin County Magic". The plot was predictable and the dialogue felt unrealistic. The writing was amateurish, with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structure. The characters were unlikeable and lacked development. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at the clichéd and forced romantic subplot. Save yourself the time and skip this book.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Martin County Magic", but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The story lacked originality and was filled with clichés. The pacing was off, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed and unsatisfying resolutions. The characters felt flat and their motivations were unclear. While there were a few moments of potential, overall it was a forgettable read.