Reviews

The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession by Susan Orlean

theobobeo's review against another edition

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3.25

Very interesting but kind of disjointed. 

ericj's review against another edition

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funny hopeful informative sad medium-paced

5.0

ryanpait's review against another edition

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informative mysterious fast-paced

3.5

adholmes3's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

2.0

oatylime's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

4.25

I never thought I’d find the world of orchid collecting - or Florida - so interesting.

If I didn’t enjoy having plants, I would have zero interest in this topic. But it’s just wonderful meandering journalism. 

And within that, the beauty of finding passions to make the vastness of life smaller, more focused, and therefore not as overwhelming. 

elsadler's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

3.5

kangaruthie's review against another edition

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3.0

I read this book because I loved Orlean's The Library Book. This one contained lots of fascinating information about the community of people who are obsessive about orchids (which I didn't even know existed before). However, it was much too long, and as many reviewers have mentioned, I feel like the most interesting information could've been condensed down into one article. I found myself skimming through several pages and getting impatient with all of her random, rambling asides and rushing to the end. Overall, it contained good chunks of interesting information, but I would recommend passing this one over and reading The Library Book instead.

rozereads's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

2.5

Pretty dry -- the audio book more so

no30's review against another edition

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funny informative lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

4.0

bellamonster's review against another edition

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4.0

Wow I learned a lot. Florida is crazy. Orchids are crazy. People are crazy.