Journal Entry 1 by lightwavz from Detroit, Michigan USA on Thursday, April 17, 2003

I really enjoyed this book when I read it last year. I bought this copy so that I could read it again before watching Adaptation. 

Journal Entry 2 by lightwavz from Detroit, Michigan USA on Wednesday, April 30, 2003

WOOHOO!!! A Bookring!

Here's the list as it stands:

beachglass - Fresno, CA
colbaltcat - Fresno, CA
AmberLee17 - Sunnyvale, CA
moogytee - Sacramento, CA
sgscarcliff - San Francisco, CA
Geologygirl - Cary, NC
nina-ivanovna - Ithaca, NY
Cray17 - Hillsborough - NJ
Mom-of-one - Butler, PA
Seferim - Columbia, MD
pgsahm - Disputanta, VA
roadrunner - Spring, TX
spaceystacey - New Jersey
Ilios - Florida
WarEagle78 - Alabama
daidy - Michigan
Logophile - Illinois
raquelsita - Wisconsin
watergirl - Washington
caligula03 - California
Tiredngrumpy - Florida
TKT - California
tuff517 - Texas
SqueakyChu - Maryland
anyone else?
lightwavz - Detroit, MI

Just the basic stuff... email the next person on the list for the address and I would like the book back at the end.

Happy Reading! 

Journal Entry 3 by beachglass from Fresno, California USA on Tuesday, May 13, 2003

Just received in the mail from lightwavz...first on the bookring list! I've wanted to read this since seeing the movie "Adaptation". Will pass on to cobaltcat when I've read it. Thanks lightwavz! 

Journal Entry 4 by beachglass from Fresno, California USA on Friday, May 16, 2003

I finished this book this afternoon, and really enjoyed it. I learned so much about orchids, Florida, journalism, and relationships. I wasn't sure what to expect after seeing the movie Adaptation, but was not disappointed.
I'm meeting cobaltcat for coffee tomorrow morning, and will pass the book on to her as she is next on the bookring list.  

Journal Entry 5 by cobaltcat from Fresno, California USA on Sunday, May 18, 2003

I just received this book this morning from beachglass, who always seems to be reading something really interesting when I meet her for coffee. 

Journal Entry 6 by cobaltcat from Fresno, California USA on Monday, June 16, 2003

I'm only about halfway through the book but I'm sending it along to the next bookcrosser. 

Journal Entry 7 by cobaltcat at fellow bookcrosser in Fresno, California USA on Thursday, June 19, 2003

Released on Thursday, June 19, 2003 at fellow bookcrosser in Fresno, California USA.

sent to moogytee today. 

Journal Entry 8 by moogytee from Sacramento, California USA on Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Received today from cobaltcat! Thank you. Will read ASAP and pass along. 

Journal Entry 9 by moogytee from Sacramento, California USA on Saturday, July 12, 2003

Journal Entry 10 by sgscarcliff on Friday, July 25, 2003

I just received. I will read and send on. I will post when done and sending 

Journal Entry 11 by sgscarcliff on Friday, August 15, 2003

I have gotten behind in my bookrays, and was just getting ready to start this book, and have a marathon read session this weekend to get on its way by weeks end. Well a friend at work was telling me about a book she was just about done with and wanted to know if I wanted it when she is done. (we have a book trading circle at work, and I can not convience anyone to join bookcrossing, I digress) Well guess what the book is.

So I will send this on to the next person and read my friend's copy when she gives it to me.

Thanks for including me in the book ring even though I did not read this copy but I will still read "the Orchid Thief" 

Journal Entry 12 by Geologygirl from Cary, North Carolina USA on Thursday, August 21, 2003

The Orchid Thief was lurking in my mailbox today - I just finished and mailed a couple of books today, so this one I'll start tonight. Thanks for sharing. 

Journal Entry 13 by Geologygirl from Cary, North Carolina USA on Saturday, September 06, 2003

This was an interesting book - Laroche is a fascinating character, and displays the same, over the top passion that we see in bookcrossing, geocaching and any other "hobby" that people become devoted to. I also like the botanical insights that were relayed, though twisted at times, Laroche gives some very nice explanation for how hybridization works vs the process of evolution.

pg 94 - in discussing if hybridization occurs naturally, Laroche's answer - No. Asked why.
"Well you wouldn't, even in a fit of boredom, decide to have sex with a gorilla, right?"
- That made me laugh out loud!

Thanks for sharing this book - waiting for the next bookcrossers address, will mail early next week. 

Journal Entry 14 by Geologygirl at Post Office on Academy St in downtown Cary in Cary, North Carolina USA on Monday, September 08, 2003

Release planned for Tuesday, September 09, 2003 at Post Office on Academy St in downtown Cary in Cary, North Carolina USA.

Shipping to the next BCer in the ring. 

Journal Entry 15 by nina-ivanovna from Ithaca, New York USA on Friday, September 19, 2003

Received this in the mail yesterday - thanks! Planning on starting it soon. 

Journal Entry 16 by nina-ivanovna from Ithaca, New York USA on Monday, September 29, 2003

This was a very interesting read. Orlean did an impressive job of taking a tight subject - a court appearance she discovered as a small newspaper item - and opening it up into several interwoven stories, each with its own colorful history.

I put this in the mail to Cray17 this morning - enjoy! 

Journal Entry 17 by Cray17 from Hillsborough, New Jersey USA on Friday, October 03, 2003

Received it from nina-ivanovna today in the mail. Will read and send out right away! Thank you! 

Journal Entry 18 by lightwavz from Detroit, Michigan USA on Monday, October 27, 2003

Funny! I just watched "Adaptation" tonight, then jumped on the computer to find a message from Cray17 about the book and another new bookring member! Crazy how things happen that way! Very strange and funny movie... I loved the portrayal of Laroche... I wonder what Susan Orlean thought though?? 

Journal Entry 19 by Cray17 from Hillsborough, New Jersey USA on Tuesday, October 28, 2003

I loved the movie "Adaptation", but I didn't know what to expect from the book. Now that I have read it, I feel compelled to watch the movie again. I loved Laroche (anyone with an obsession is ok in my book) but all the tangents in the book fascinated me -the land issues in Florida, the Indians, the orchid hunters, the hybridization issues - all these things were new to me. It was so well written. I highly recommend this book. Thanks lightwavz for sharing! I will be sending the book on the Seferim tomorrow or Thursday. 

Journal Entry 20 by Seferim from Columbia, Maryland USA on Monday, November 03, 2003

Journal Entry 21 by roadrunner from Spring, Texas USA on Monday, December 01, 2003

This was waiting for me when I returned from my Thanksgiving vacation. I'm reading another bookring book right now but will start this one shortly. 

Journal Entry 22 by roadrunner from Spring, Texas USA on Tuesday, December 16, 2003

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Laroche was a hoot and all of the orchid information was fascinating. I had no idea orchids were a worldwide obsession. I loved reading about the different kinds and the methods for creating hybrids. I have not seen Adaptation but will certainly do so shortly. This book is on its way to Spaceystacey - enjoy! Thanks Lightwavz for sharing! 

Journal Entry 23 by spaceystacey from Bridgeton, New Jersey USA on Saturday, January 03, 2004

I received this book in the mail about 10 days ago, just before Christmas and got very busy and forgot to journal an entry. I just finished the book this evening and will be mailing it to the next reader on the list, Ilios. I enjoyed this Orlean book greatly and would recommend it to readers everywhere. What an information packed account. Learned much that I did not know before. Will be rewatching adaptation soon also. 

Journal Entry 24 by Ilios from Tampa, Florida USA on Saturday, January 10, 2004

Journal Entry 25 by WarEagle78 from Hoover, Alabama USA on Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Arrived today from Ilios. Thanks! I'll journal again when read. 

Journal Entry 26 by WarEagle78 from Hoover, Alabama USA on Sunday, February 08, 2004

A facinating book. I loved learning more about orchid culture and its history and meeting the facinating people who make it their obsession.

Throughout I kept trying to envision Orlean and how those she discussed were reacting to her. She seemed very IN the book, but very OUTSIDE of it as well. She was included in the chronology but her presence noted both in context and in the readers' knowing that as the reporter, she was also a viewer. However, despite her recurring presence it was difficult to get a read on her and I kept trying to. How did person XX relate to her, for example? I'm having a difficult time articulating this, but I found it disconcerting and, for me, distracting.

The meanderings into different Floridian topics was interesting, although sometimes it broke the rhythm of the story. But again, the story was more of a tale than a journey, rich with characterization and description but thin on actually heading in any specific direction.

Well, I'm using a lot of words but probably not making much sense. I did enjoy the book. It had its funny spots, it had some yawning spots, but I was facinated by the world of Orchid People and was glad I spent the time with the book.

Will send on when I hear from the next person in the ring. 

Journal Entry 27 by WarEagle78 from Hoover, Alabama USA on Saturday, February 21, 2004

Sent off in mail today. 

Journal Entry 28 by daidy from Kansas City, Missouri USA on Friday, February 27, 2004

Received today, thank you. 

Journal Entry 29 by daidy from Kansas City, Missouri USA on Tuesday, March 02, 2004

Well....if this weren't a bookring, I probably would not have read this book. Maybe it's because I haven't seen the movie, but I just felt let down by the book. It was interesting enough at times, but I just didn't *care* about it. I could pick it up and read a bit, then put it down and not care when I got back to it. I will mail it to the next person in line tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 30 by Logophile on Saturday, March 06, 2004

It arrived in the mail today. Thanks, daidy! What a thrill to get my first bookring book! I saw the film Adaptation, which made me curious about the book. More when I've finished it... 

Journal Entry 31 by Logophile on Tuesday, April 06, 2004

I'm sorry to say I didn't actually finish it...but not because I didn't want to! I wouldn't have thought that the movie could be so close to the book (well, I'm sure the endings were different, even though I didn't finish reading!). But as fantastic (in every sense) as Adaption was, it certainly managed to convey nonfiction incredibly well. In fact, I think I saw a documentary about orchid mania on PBS, and I don't think it came anywhere near the book.

Chris Cooper's John Laroche certainly colored my perception of Susan Orlean's description of him. I wonder exactly what my take would have been if I hadn't seen the film? And Susan Orlean certainly has no qualms about being subjective, making this more a memoir than investigative journalism, so she gave Charlie Kaufman plenty of material to build a fictitious character around.

I'm sorry not to have had time to finish, but I will certainly look this book up again when I have a chance!

I mailed it off to raquelsita (now in California) today. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 32 by raquelsita from Camarillo, California USA on Thursday, April 15, 2004

Just received in the mail today. I am interested to see how I will like the book, as it seems everyone thinks it's fascinating! 

Journal Entry 33 by raquelsita from Camarillo, California USA on Wednesday, April 28, 2004

I really didn't know what to expect from this book since I haven't seen the movie and didn't read any of the previous journal entries. I found the world of orchids and the people who get so involved in them fascinating. I had no idea that world existed. However I thought the book lacked a real plot. It just meandered into different subjects like the swamps, Seminoles, orchid-people, history of Florida, etc. In all I enjoyed the book and feel like I learned a lot from it, it just wasn't one of those books that grabbed me and couldn't be put down.

One passage I found interesting was when she talks about the difficulty of being involved in a community yet still remaining an individual. She relates this to the United States saying "It is the fundamental contradictoriness of the United States of America - the illogical but optimistic notion that you can create a union of individuals in which every man is king."

This will be mailed to watergirl tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 34 by watergirl from Walla Walla, Washington USA on Friday, May 07, 2004

Received from raquelsita in the mail today - looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 35 by watergirl from Walla Walla, Washington USA on Sunday, May 23, 2004

I pretty much read this straight through after I picked it back up. It fascinated me to read about people being so pulled in by something especially orchid collecting and growing. I'm a half-hearted if persistant gardener and have watched other people with their intense love of day lillies, or orchids, or irises, or whatever with both admiration and puzzlement. I learned a lot about orchids, checked more out on the web but I digress.

Susan's descriptions of John's ability to find a moral high ground for his activities was fascinating, how the end didn't justify the means, but the means justified the end. I'm going to be pondering that moral quagmire for awhile. Because it's non-fiction it's even more thought provoking to me.

Susan Orlean's ability to write non-fiction in the manner of fiction fascinated me. I loved this book and did not see "Adaptation." Even though I really like Chris Cooper I'm not sure I want to see this made into a film about some screenwriter's struggle. 

Journal Entry 36 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Thursday, May 27, 2004

The book arrived safe and sound. I will read it and return it to lightwavz as soon as I can. :) 

Journal Entry 37 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Tuesday, August 10, 2004

Over all it's a fascinating look at orchid collecting, the industry, the hobby, the culture around it and its history. The book starts as the author attempts to follow the trial of a man accused of trying to steal (and clone) the Ghost Orchid which grows in the wilds of Florida. The trial quickly gets left behind as the chapters follow their own orchid related tangents. By the last eighty pages I was ready for the book to refocus on the main "characters" as the book had begun to drag. 

Journal Entry 38 by caligula03 at on Tuesday, August 10, 2004

Release planned for Saturday, August 14, 2004 at Tiredngrumpy in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Mailing on Saturday. 

Journal Entry 39 by Tiredngrumpy from Palm Springs, Florida USA on Monday, August 30, 2004

Received this bookring book today. I will read it next. 

Journal Entry 40 by Tiredngrumpy from Palm Springs, Florida USA on Thursday, September 09, 2004

I hated to come to the end of this book. I wanted to learn more about Laroche, more about the world of orchid fanciers, more about the seminoles, and what happened where the story left off. I have lived in Florida all my life and have never viewed it quite the way Orlean does. It's interesting to get a different take on things that seem so familiar. Some places the author talks about are very familiar to me and some I have never seen, but she makes Florida seem like a hotbed of passion, madness even, and a totally alien place. A great read.

I will get this out in the mail as soon as possible, hopefully before the next hurricane. 

Journal Entry 41 by Tiredngrumpy from Palm Springs, Florida USA on Monday, September 13, 2004

This book will be mailed out to TKT this afternoon. 

Journal Entry 42 by TKT from Lake Mary, Florida USA on Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Just received this in the mail today from Tiredngrumpy. I'm really looking forward to it. 

Journal Entry 43 by TKT from Lake Mary, Florida USA on Friday, October 08, 2004

Having lived in South Florida for 10 years, I found this book fascinating. It opened my eyes to a Florida completely unknown to me...the natural swamp land. The characters and historical aspects were intriguing, but a bit slow in places. The personalities were dead on for South Florida, it must have something to do with the humidity and UV combo. Will ship this out soon. 

Journal Entry 44 by TKT at Postal Release in Millbrae, California USA on Sunday, October 17, 2004

Released 7 yrs ago (10/15/2004 UTC) at Postal Release in Millbrae, California USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Thanks for the bookring Lightwavz. Mailed to tuff517! 

Journal Entry 45 by tuff517 from Elk Grove Village, Illinois USA on Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Just received it today. I'll begin it ASAP when I finish one of the bookrings I'm currently reading for. 

Journal Entry 46 by tuff517 from Elk Grove Village, Illinois USA on Sunday, October 31, 2004

I knew the movie wasn't exactly about the book, so there was no disapointment in that. In fact, there was no disappointment at all. This was an excellent book. I enjoyed reading about the orchid people, Florida and its landscape, the Indians and John Laroche. This book was very informative as well as entertaining and I feel I'm coming away learning something. Thanks for sharing, this was worth the wait.

Sending out tomorrow to SqueakyChu. 

Journal Entry 47 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Tuesday, November 09, 2004

I just got this book in the mail today. Thanks for sharing it! 

Journal Entry 48 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Great quote from this book:
“I collected ferns for a while. They’re hard to grow. They like to die. That’s what they like to do the most. ‘What should we do today? Hey, let’s die’.”

Note: While halfway through this book, I had to stop to go out and buy an orchid plant. For real! :-) It's a Phalaenopsis Orchid I picked up at Trader Joe's for $12. It has three flowers and two buds. I want to see if the buds will bloom before the plant dies. (I'm not that good with plants!) :-)

The book is great! It really conveys the excitement of seeking, propogating, and keeping orchids. I loved learning about the history of Florida as well as the many other places from which orchids are collected. Having the author follow John LaRoche, a previous orchid dealer who had been arrested for illegally removing orchids from the Fakahatchee swamp while nursery manager, put an insider's view onto this story.

Thanks for sharing this interesting book with me, lightwavz. It's on its way back to you now.

Also, thanks, Ilios, for posting the picture of the ghost orchid. I *was* wondering what it looked like while John LaRoche and Susan Orlean were searching for it in the book!

Edited 12/26/04 -- The buds bloomed and the plant is still alive! :-)

Edited 04/22/05 -- The plant is alive, but the flowers are long gone! :-)

Edited 06/07/06 -- The plant is half alive. The two smallish top leaves look healthy, but the bottom leaf is yellow and dried up. :-(

Edited 01/10/2007 -- The plant died and is long gone. :-( 

Journal Entry 49 by lightwavz from Detroit, Michigan USA on Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Home again, home again... I will read this one and get it back out onto the road. This one has got SOME history now! Thanks, everyone, for participating!! 

Journal Entry 50 by leppojoove from Sandusky, Ohio USA on Saturday, April 30, 2005

I got this book from lightwavz a few weeks ago, and finished it yesterday. I didn't really know what to expect before I started it, and I wasn't sure if I'd be interested in it -- but it turned out to be a fun book. It was an interesting study of passion, obsession, and plants. The author has a nice conversational style that makes the story flow easily, even for those with little or no knowledge of orchids and plant cultivation. Of course the orchids are just the vehicle for this study of human nature.

It's ready for anyone else who'd like to read it. 

Journal Entry 51 by leppojoove from Sandusky, Ohio USA on Thursday, July 21, 2005

I guess a new bookray has started. . . . sent to fio-dagua today. 

Journal Entry 52 by AnonymousFinder on Thursday, July 28, 2005

received today.
thanks a lot!! it's been a wile since i want to read this one

sending next to

Bulan-Purnama
Heaven-Ali
 

Journal Entry 53 by fio-dagua from Porto - City, Porto Portugal on Thursday, July 28, 2005

that was me..