Wildflower is a compelling work of narrative nonfiction in which the shocking death of a dedicated environmentalist becomes a broader story of a be...
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Jul 17, 2009
Amanda
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I am familiar with the Root's documentaries. If you have seen any nature documentaries at all, you sometimes feel frustrated how someone can film an animal in distress and not help somehow. Even though it may be for science, a starving or suffering animal is very difficult to watch. I've always liked the Root's documentaries because they do help. When the Wildebeest gets stuck crossing the Mara River, Alan risks his life to pull it out. Does it make a difference? No, only to that wildebees
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Jun 06, 2009
Andrea
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Mark Seal admits in the opening of the book that he had never been to Kenya before he decided to research this story for an article that grew into a book. The early part of the book, which deals with Joan and Alan Root's early lives and the development of their film making careers, as well as the eventual end of their marriage and partnership, is an interesting personal story. But when Seal moves on to describe Joan's life alone, and the personal and political circumstances that led to murder,
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Aug 17, 2009
Carolyn
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This is a fascinating book written by Mark Seal, a Vanity Fair editor, who tells the story of the life and murder of Joan Root who along with her husband Alan Root, are Oscar winning African wildlife filmmakers. Joan Root's story is one of her unconditional love for her husband, Africa, and the wild animals that inhabit Kenya and Lake Naivaasha, her Kenyan home. She was a strong, principled, beautiful woman, who dedicated her life to protecting and fighting to preserve every beast, reptile, fi
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(1 person liked it)
Jul 07, 2009
Sarah
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The first part was awesome; the dashing Roots' idyllic, storybook early partnership in glorious wild Africa was almost unbearably atmostpheric and romantic, with all that skinnydipping in rivers, and sleeping under the stars (scorpion bite on her wedding night and all). But oh wow, that last third was a catalog of woes that was sooooo depressing, as Joan Root can't have the children she wants due to an illness that nearly paralyses her, gets left by the husband she so desperately loves, pines o
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Oct 17, 2010
Melissa
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http://www.gerberadaisydiaries.com/2010/...
Joan Root was in love: with her husband, her native Africa, the animals that surrounded her and her home. She built a life filming those things with her husband, award winning documentary film director, Alan Root. But after Alan left her for another woman, she had to rediscover who she was and what in life was worth fighting for. She found that in her home – her 80 acres and small farm on the banks of Lake Naivasha in Kenya. When industri More...
Joan Root was in love: with her husband, her native Africa, the animals that surrounded her and her home. She built a life filming those things with her husband, award winning documentary film director, Alan Root. But after Alan left her for another woman, she had to rediscover who she was and what in life was worth fighting for. She found that in her home – her 80 acres and small farm on the banks of Lake Naivasha in Kenya. When industri More...
Jul 16, 2011
Ali
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I have read a book! I completed my thirty day challenge in less than two weeks. It can be done. With two kids I had been using the excuse that I don't have time to read and I just proved myself wrong. I discovered that the best place to read is in my parked car, when the kids are sleeping.
Wildflower was of particular interest because of the subject matter - a conservationist in Africa, her life and untimely death - and I hoped to live vicariously through her adventures. Joan Root and her hu More...
Wildflower was of particular interest because of the subject matter - a conservationist in Africa, her life and untimely death - and I hoped to live vicariously through her adventures. Joan Root and her hu More...
May 10, 2011
Becki
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I was completely engrossed in this story. The first half of the book tells us about Joan, how she grew up and her life and work with her husband Alan. I kept looking back at the cover trying to reconcile the person in the book with the woman on the cover with the shy smile. It was hard for me to put the two together. She was strong and courageous and committed yet still shy and vulnerable......such a unique combination. Even more interesting for me is the story of her efforts to save the la
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Aug 12, 2009
Mark Seal has been a journalist for over 30 years. He wrote a story for Vanity Fair in 2006 about the brutal murder of Joan Root, a native of Kenya woh had been a naturalist, Osacar-nominated filmaker and conservationist. She was murdered in the bedroom of her house on the shore of Lake Naivasha in Kenya. From this story, came the book of her life and death. Not only is this book a wonderful story of her life including the twenty year marriage with Allen Root and thier groundbreaking filmaki
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Aug 15, 2009
IreneS
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Oct 19, 2009
Trish
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I sped-read this when it came out because I'm a sucker for books about understanding the capacities of wild animals. It also had sexy come-ons: beautiful woman, murder, safari photography. But I thought it thin, and the mystery of this woman's life felt unresolved. I got a picture of a woman, a marriage, and of a career filming animals in the wild, but it all felt pieced together and voyeuristic. Perhaps she knew how difficult it was for people to get past her beauty to her accomplishments--she
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Dec 18, 2010
Pam
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A compelling story about Joan and Allen Root, naturalists and film makers and about Joan's murder. But along the way you learn some interesting things about preservation and Africa in the 60's and 70's and onward and you see Joan become her own person stepping out of the shadow of Allen...only to find that many of her skills that made her an excellent second in command such as her determination to finish a job, her intense love of the ecosystem/nature in general, her organizational skills and st
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Aug 24, 2009
Amy
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Mark Seal's first book provides an intriguing portrait of a fascinating woman and an informative look at Kenyan life. As important, it exposes a critical concern for conservationists, environmentalists and anyone who cares even a little for our earth and its wildlife -- the rose industry. We hear about Fair Trade coffees, teas and textiles, but how many of us think about what goes into getting those stacks of roses to supermarkets? Sometimes a rose isn't just a rose. Oh, and WILDFLOWER is a wel
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Apr 23, 2011
Sarah
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I'm pretty sure Seal is the kind of writer I would hate to meet in real life (he's pretty open about how cool he is despite the fact that his writing isn't that great and he clearly cranked this out as fast as possible to be able get back to writing about deem and ashton for VF, but he gets a few points for taking the time to give you the run down on the absolutely insane situation going on in Kenya in regards to environmental degradation. I hope someone comes along and writes the same book ag
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Feb 07, 2011
Michele
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Such a fantastic and inspiring story! I really enjoyed getting to know the essence of who Jane Root was and I so admired her passion for her beloved animals and land. I am thankful for Mark Seal's curiosity and subsequent call to bring her story to the world. However, the primary reason for not giving it five stars was that his distance from the primary subject was always present. I think the story would have been much different if someone who knew Joan intimately had written it. You could
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Dec 20, 2011
Jessica
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In some ways the best aspect of this book is Seal's remove from the political and social tempest in Kenya at the time of Root's death - he doesn't attempt to recast Root's decisions or pass judgment on them but rather lets them stand as being in some ways an emblem of her life. Her life was a difficult one, and throughout her actions reveal a person who, once committed to another or a cause, would stand for it in the face of great personal cost. And ultimately, Seal's rendering of her story en
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Jan 25, 2010
Jessica
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I discovered this book in an airline magazine on our way to the Dominican Republic this summer. The book caught my attention since Tim had been in Africa in December 2007.
The book is an autobiography of conservationist Joan Root and her life as a wildlife filmmaker's producer and wife. Joan's story is concentrated in Kenya, a place full of corruption and violence. Joan was shot to death at age 69 in her Kenyan home and her murder has gone unsolved.
A Vanity Fair journalis More...
The book is an autobiography of conservationist Joan Root and her life as a wildlife filmmaker's producer and wife. Joan's story is concentrated in Kenya, a place full of corruption and violence. Joan was shot to death at age 69 in her Kenyan home and her murder has gone unsolved.
A Vanity Fair journalis More...
Jun 12, 2009
Emily
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And excellent tribute to Joan's life and her filmmaking with her husband and a very personal look at the disillusion of her marriage. There is also the wonderful and terrible description of what is happening to the land and water in Africa. It definitely made me want to read more on conservation and ecology in Africa.
The only disappointment for me was that the last part that discussed her murder and the case surrounding her murder was unsatisfying. I understand that the murder was ne More...
The only disappointment for me was that the last part that discussed her murder and the case surrounding her murder was unsatisfying. I understand that the murder was ne More...
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Sep 07, 2011
Mary
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Once, again, a very interesting book. I loved the descriptive writing about African animals and wild country. Just amazing the places this couple went, the things they saw and filmed. Not everyone is rewarded for loyalty and hard work. Sometimes, reality, the human condition and greed or want are bad for a beautiful environment (destroy it); it's hard to fight 'progress'. The male author was on the woman's side, kind of refreshing. What are we willing to fight for?
May 17, 2011
Jaime
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A poignant memoir of an early naturalist and conservationist. I'd give this book 3.5 stars if possible. I was interested to learn about her and her husband's adventures (and later her adventures without him), however I felt that the book repeatedly told the same short story over and over - the same brief adventure while making a film, only with different animals and different places. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the author had not only described the nature film she and her husband wer
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Oct 17, 2010
Shawna
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It doesn't pay to be a woman in Africa trying to affect change with the wildlife or the land. Joy Adamson, Dian Fossey, and Joan Root were three high profile women who were brutally murdered trying to protect what they loved. This is a compelling story of a woman who lived her life on her own terms. She spent a great deal of her young life in the shadow of her more outgoing husband, and in a strange set of circumstances he ended up leaving her, though, it seems they still loved each other. J
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Jul 13, 2009
Trish
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Tragic ending for a British woman who did so much good for Africa. She had a good heart and dedicated her whole life to preserving the wildlife and beauty but in the end the people of Africa don't care and are in a struggle to survive. Learned a lot about the dynamics of the British people who live in Africa and why they continue to live there under the dangerous conditions and the poor people who struggle to survive and rob and murder the "rich" whites. Very heart-wrenching true st
Jan 16, 2010
Debbie
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Joan Root was an extraordinary environmentalist, wildlife filmmaker and conservationist. She was born, lived, and murdered in Kenya. This story reveals much about her passion for wildlife and the environment and her many human flaws which culminate in her tragic murder. It also gives a small view into the corruption in Kenya. I use think an African Photo Safari would be a wonderful vacation, now I would be afraid to go to.
Jul 19, 2011
Ashley
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Up until her untimely death I want this lady's life!! She lived in Africa with her husband and was one of the first to film and help rehabilitate African animals. The pictures in this book are amazing! Her and her husband later divorsed and she stayed in Africa fighting to help protect endangered animals and their habitat and was murdered in her own home for it. I recommend this book to all animal lovers.
Jan 25, 2010
Kate
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This is an amazing and heartbreaking story of Joan Root, who was a Kenyan wildlife film maker and conservationist. It is an emotional tribute to a woman who was brutally murdered in her home in Kenya in 2006. It is impossible not to love Joan with her silent resilience. The story itself is incredible, but the writing really brings to life the characters with charming stories and photographs. Sad, but still a great read.
Dec 06, 2011
Sally
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A remarkable story of Joan Root, and her unfaithful husband Alan Root. At his prime, Alan was the world's top wildlife cinematographer and Joan was his dauntless wife/fellow photographer/producer/manager. Set in Kenya from the 1950s thru the present, it chronicles the gradual devastation of Kenya's Eden-like natural environment simultaneously with the collapse of native society into barbarism.
Oct 21, 2011
Peggy
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This book deals with the life and death of Joan Root, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker and environmentalist. She spent most of her life in Kenya where she and her husband, Alan Root, shared so many exciting adventures. She was fearless when it came to approaching and caring for wild animals and also eventually trying to protect the natural beauty of Africa. She was murdered in 2006.
Nov 08, 2010
Earleen
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This is the true story of a strong woman, all that she lived, and all that she accomplished. Both shy and adventurous, she was loyal and loving to her husband, the animals of Africa and the land she considered her home. It appeared to me that she had extraordinary wisdom and not enough caution.
It is heartbreaking to read this book and know the truth, but I highly recommend it.
It is heartbreaking to read this book and know the truth, but I highly recommend it.
Dec 28, 2009
This book is so well written, that you can taste Africa.
part of me wishes I was born earlier on and could have experienced Africa as Joan and Alan Root did. Untouched, full of sounds and smells and the colour of ochre.
Animals roamed free and drank at the edge of Lake Naivasha - but all changed.
A very well rounded book - written with empathy, and a strong edge.
part of me wishes I was born earlier on and could have experienced Africa as Joan and Alan Root did. Untouched, full of sounds and smells and the colour of ochre.
Animals roamed free and drank at the edge of Lake Naivasha - but all changed.
A very well rounded book - written with empathy, and a strong edge.
Oct 25, 2010
Jeanne
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This is the story of Joan Root, filmmaker and conservationist. The story begins with romance and the almost idyllic partnership with Alan Root. Their relationship as wildlife filmmakers, and adventurers, and spouses was amazing, to say the least.
But when Alan left her, things changed dramatically for Joan. An outspoken conservationist and a white Kenyan woman on her own, Joan was living a precarious life, a life that was taken from her much too soon.
What I loved abou More...
But when Alan left her, things changed dramatically for Joan. An outspoken conservationist and a white Kenyan woman on her own, Joan was living a precarious life, a life that was taken from her much too soon.
What I loved abou More...
