The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean

The Orchid Theif by Susan Orlean

Written 12/17/12015

I first heard about The Orchid Theif by Susan Orlean when I was taking a literary non-fiction class in college. We all were told to research a literally non-fiction writer - or maybe read a non-fiction book. I don't really remember. But, I do remember the young woman who had read the book say something like "It's really well written. Its funny - she talks about the weird obsessions of people and that gets obsessed in the concept of the story herself."

And I thought to myself, "...hmm...orchids are pretty. Weird people. Obsession. Sounds like my kind of book. "

And after having it in my sights to read for the last 2 years, I finally read it. And I was right. It is my kind of book. And she was also right, this book is less about orchids and thiefdom and more about the purpose of being completely and utterly obsessed with something - or more kindly put, "having a passion."

The Orchid Thief is about John Laroche's obsession with - you guessed it - orchids. Orlean first started following Laroche after she read a short article stating that Laroche and three Seminole Native Americans from Florida had been arrested for taking orchids and other plants from a park - which is against the law if you didn't know. BUT, because Native American's also have the right to take things from the forests. So, there's the pickle that intrigued Orlean.

So, she submerses herself in Laroche's flowery obsessions. She soaks in to the orchid, fern, swamp, tree, and flower world and the maniacs that surround it.

Turns out though, orchids are actually really interesting. They aren't just beautiful. They can actually be really ugly. But they have more to them then just their appearance. They are extremely adaptable and have flourished in their self-created little universes all over the world. Orchids are also "tougher than you expect", said Orlean, "they look as fragile as glass but aren't."

And lastly, they can be found in Madagascar...where all amazing things can be found...

ANYWAYS, Laroche and the people in the orchid collector crowd are absolutely "passionate" (cough cough...obsessed) about orchids and plants. They create rare hybrids and spend thousands of dollars on just one new plant. And in observing this wild obsession, and getting a little pulled into the fanatics - Orlean realizes something,

"The reason it matters to care passionately about something is that it whittles the world down to a more manageable size. It makes the world seem not huge and empty but full of possibility."

Isn't that the truth. So now I am on the search for something to be passionately obsessed with! Maybe its reading. Maybe its development work. But I think finding a passion and following it really is a beautiful part of growing up and becoming you you really are - at whatever age that is.

As John Laroche said, "Its not really about collecting the thing itself. Its about getting immersed in something, and learning about it, and having it become part of your life. Its a kind of direction."

Go whoever is reading this...go find your direction, your obsession, your passion!!