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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
The level of obsession described was interesting, but as I often do, I felt like this could have been a terrific article rather than a book that went on a bit too long.
A painfully taxonomic book, that sort of purports to be about obsession with beauty but really is about colonialism, in my opinion. Yet, somehow the author seems to be completely ambivalent about it? I don't know why I kept reading, maybe because I hoped it would get reflective or critical at some point. Regardless, it can be taken as a history of yet ANOTHER facet of colonial exploitation of the global south and the objectification of their cultures, resources, and lives for the purpose of creating wealth in Euro and American places for no other purpose than greed, I suppose. Hard to read for these reasons.
This is a fascinating historical/travel/non-fiction account of the human obsession with orchids, in particular in the Florida part of the world. It all started out when Orlean read a random little newspaper snippet about a guy, Laroche, on trial for stealing wild orchids out of the Fakahatchee nature reserve in Florida, which is tribal, and using the random excuse that he was with Indians, who can't be prosecuted from taking wildlife/flora from their lands, as they are exempt. She decides to go down to Florida to meet this guy and hear about these ghost orchids he was trying to steal. She gets drawn into his very, very eccentric life history and obsessions, and from there meets smugglers, nursery men, orchid assocations, orchid obsessives and discovers the history of orchid plundering and smuggling and just how obsessed the human race has become with these plants. It is insane. Back in the "good old days" - the 1800s - pre environmetal laws, smugglers were taking cart loads of plants out to send over the seas to collectors - most of which died en route. These orchid hunters led dangerous lives, were highly competitive and often killed one another if they met in the jungle. Over flowers. And to a greater or lesser extent, the human race just can't help itself, and the madness continues. What is tragic is that no one seems to be able to respect these plants, leave them be, and just admire them in their natural habitat. The need to posess takes over all.
This book was written twenty years ago, so the story no doubt has continued and progressed, but it's a very interesting story up to the point it gets to here.
This book was written twenty years ago, so the story no doubt has continued and progressed, but it's a very interesting story up to the point it gets to here.
I usually like books on one topic with lots of history. This one not as much. I learned a lot. And I liked the background stories. But the actual theft wasn't much of a draw or a story tbh.
Idk. Sometimes the monologues seems too much. Too philosophical. Too much of a stretch.
Idk. Sometimes the monologues seems too much. Too philosophical. Too much of a stretch.
Really enjoyed this in-depth look into a subject I knew nothing about. Made it all the more enjoyable living in that area and having a connection to many of the places.
I really enjoyed this, more so than I expected too, actually. Laroche is certainly a character and Orlean does an excellent job of showing that and letting the reader make up their own mind about him. It is also a very informative book -- I learned a great deal about Florida the the Seminole Indians as well as orchids. Orlean also really seems to embrace the idea of exploring obsession in general, which I found fascinating. An excellent read, all the way around
Orlean provides incredible insight into the world of competitive and private orchid growing that is interesting and whimsical, but her long, Tolkien-esq tangents and narrow if at times intangible plot through-line made getting through this story a downright struggle at times.
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
What a wild romp through an area of Florida I've never heard of with an eccentric cast of characters.