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I do units on Linnaean exploration, plant hunters, "gentle herborizers," and botanical "anti-conquest" in a couple of classes, so I'm all about plant hunting. I saw Adaptation years ago and somehow have brought four orchids to full flower for the past four winters, so I'm not sure why I've taken this long to pick up this book. I give Black Orchid parties in mid-winter, for God's sake! Will be awesome for Mexico beach reading, I'm hoping!
Update: fabulous book. I of course wanted more actual plant ...more
Update: fabulous book. I of course wanted more actual plant ...more
One of the few books I enjoyed less than the movie. My main complaint was that I disliked the author's style. It was such an appealing subject that I was disappointed the writing was not equally interesting. Instead, I found the writing plodding, confused, and lackluster. Much as I wanted to like it, I didn't.
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Now I can see why Charlie Kaufman had such a hard time making a screenplay from this book. I already loved the movie "Adaptation" and after reading this book, I love the movie that much more.
As for the book itself, it was fine. It has a colorful person in the orchid thief himself, John Laroche, and it's chock full of fascinating facts about Florida and the subculture of the orchid-crazed. It was all very nice, but that's just it--there was no oomph behind it. I had to push myself to finish it. I ...more
As for the book itself, it was fine. It has a colorful person in the orchid thief himself, John Laroche, and it's chock full of fascinating facts about Florida and the subculture of the orchid-crazed. It was all very nice, but that's just it--there was no oomph behind it. I had to push myself to finish it. I ...more
this book starts out with a bang. totally addicting at first, and then...by the middle, it takes some pushing through. still, definitely worth a read. orlean is thorough. she really digs into the orchid subculture; I loved learning so many fun details about how people go crazy for these plants. there were some passages that just stuck out for me so much I had to scrawl them all over my bookmark, for example: "Everyone I was meeting connected to the orchid poaching had circled their lives around
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The movie "Adaption," which I really liked, was partly based on this book by Susan Orlean. The book is straight & interesting reporting on the orchid industry in Florida, and highlights some of its main characters. Borrowed this audiobook from the library.
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Amazing story of how orchids were discovered and how obsessed people have become over them. John Laroche who is the thief of the title is undoubtedly brilliant, though about as unconventional as one can be. Talk about a one track mind!
Orlean has a great ear for her subjects, picking out exactly the right quotes to make them come alive to her readers. A fascinating story that offers up some interesting nuggets to chew over about the line between hobby and obsession and where it gets blurred - reminds me of the History Channel series "American Pickers" in that way.
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Jan 01, 2009
YoSafBridg
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