The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession by Susan OrleanOrlean, a New York writer, heads to Florida to live among the "orchid obsessed", and tries to understand the passion orchid dealers feel for this exotic plant. She also adds a history of orchid adventurers, the Florida Native American tribes, and even underhanded Florida real estate agents selling swampland as subdivisions. But the main story centers around John Laroche, who stole rare ghost orchids from the swamps in order to clone them and make millions of dollars.
Just when I thought she was padding her story, the author ties what seems to be unrelated Florida history into the story of orchids. Orchids are not for wimps, and although I think they are beautiful, I don't want to own any now after learning of the heartless way orchid hunters try to assure that they have the most unique, beautiful, singular samples... and make a few bucks along the way.
No comments:
Post a Comment