'The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession' by Susan Orlean delves into the fascinating world of orchid culture and the people obsessed with these rare flowers. It unravels the true story of John Laroche, a peculiar character involved in the theft of rare orchids in Florida, as well as the history of orchid collectors, plant crimes, and the overall obsession within the orchid subculture. The narrative style of the book is described as a blend of investigative reporting and storytelling, offering a deep dive into the world of orchids and the people who are deeply passionate about them.

Characters:

The characters are eccentric and driven, particularly focusing on John Laroche, whose obsession with orchids serves as a lens into the broader community.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is descriptive and engaging, blending journalistic detail with narrative style, though it can sometimes feel repetitive.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around the theft of rare orchids, delving into a broader exploration of orchid obsession, history, and personal stories.

Setting:

The setting is primarily the Florida swamps, vividly illustrating the unique environment and cultural backdrop of orchid collecting.

Pacing:

The pacing is uneven, with occasional slowdowns due to lengthy digressions that can disrupt the central narrative.

“Orlean is a superb tour guide through the loony subculture of Florida’s orchid fanciers, and a writer whose sentences can glow like rare blooms, as when she reports that the air above an orchid swamp...

Notes:

The Orchid Thief tells the story of John Laroche, who was arrested for stealing rare orchids in Florida.

The book weaves together multiple topics including orchid collecting history, botany, and Florida's culture.

Susan Orlean provides vivid descriptions of the Florida swamp environment, captivating readers with her imagery.

Orchids are described as causing both joy and grief, leading collectors to extreme lengths to obtain them.

The book reveals the obsession some people have with orchids, comparing it to other obsessions in life.

There are over 100,000 species of orchids, displaying a huge diversity in appearance and characteristics.

Orlean examines the motivations behind people's passions for collecting, concluding it's about community and individuality.

The Orchid Thief serves as the basis for the film Adaptation, which deals with the challenges of adapting literature for the screen.

John Laroche is portrayed as an eccentric character, with a colorful and compelling personality.

The book includes anecdotes about notorious crimes associated with orchid collecting, such as smuggling and theft.

From The Publisher:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK

A modern classic of personal journalism, The Orchid Thief is Susan Orlean's wickedly funny, elegant, and captivating tale of an amazing obsession. Determined to clone an endangered flower-the rare ghost orchid Polyrrhiza lindenii-a deeply eccentric and oddly attractive man named John Laroche leads Orlean on an unforgettable tour of America's strange flower-selling subculture, through Florida's swamps and beyond, along with the Seminoles who help him and the forces of justice who fight him. In the end, Orlean-and the reader-will have more respect for underdog determination and a powerful new definition of passion.

Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader's Circle for author chats and more.

Praise for The Orchid Thief

"Stylishly written, whimsical yet sophisticated, quirkily detailed and full of empathy . . . The Orchid Thief shows [Orlean's] gifts in full bloom."-The New York Times Book Review

"Fascinating . . . an engrossing journey [full] of theft, hatred, greed, jealousy, madness, and backstabbing."-Los Angeles Times

"Orlean's snapshot-vivid, pitch-perfect prose . . . is fast becoming one of our national treasures."-The Washington Post Book World

"Orlean's gifts [are] her ear for the self-skewing dialogue, her eye for the incongruous, convincing detail, and her Didion-like deftness in description."-Boston Sunday Globe

"A swashbuckling piece of reporting that celebrates some virtues that made America great."-The Wall Street Journal

Ratings (4)

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Reader Stats (14):

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Want To Read (7)
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About the Author:

Susan Orlean has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1992 and has also written for Outside, Esquire, Rolling Stone, and Vogue. She graduated from the University of Michigan and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. Orlean now lives in…

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The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession

Susan Orlean