Scan barcode
samarakroeger's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
2.75
I was expecting investigative journalism more akin to The Feather Thief, but this ended up just being a disorganized ramble through the Florida swamp with an interesting character that we don’t really get to know. It ends up being a surface-level portrait of weird Florida Men who are obsessed with orchids instead of the nuanced exploration of Tribal law and the ramifications of nature-based crime I was hoping for.
morganlee98's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Then it slowed down, became a little repetitive and drawn out. It also ended very abruptly.
However, I did really like how Florida was described and weaved through the story - you really got a feel for the wildness and strangeness.
However, I did really like how Florida was described and weaved through the story - you really got a feel for the wildness and strangeness.
keishamae85's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
oatylime's review against another edition
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.
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.
kangaruthie's review against another edition
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.