Spark & Fire, a new podcast from WaitWhat, is about the creative journey storytellers take when bringing new work—books, music, dance, art, and more— to life. Each episode is dedicated to an organization that contributes to these journeys and the creative movement at large. We're delighted that the second episode, featuring author Susan Orlean sharing how her book The Orchid Thief came to be, is dedicated to the New York Public Library for "creating a love for reading and supporting great writers." A Susan Orlean episode is a fitting tribute as she is also the author of The Library Book which recounts a ruinous and mysterious library fire, but is also a love letter to books and libraries and their essential place in American life.

 

The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean

A bizarre plant-obsessed subculture of orchid collectors is exposed in this unique and compelling expose, which introduces--among other exotic characters--the "Orchid Thief" who planned to clone flowers stolen from the Florida swamps and a band of Seminole Indians who never made peace with the U.S. government. (Publisher summary)

 

 

 

 

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Reopens the unsolved mystery of the most catastrophic library fire in American history, the 1986 Los Angeles Public Library fire, while exploring the crucial role that libraries play in modern American culture. (Publisher summary)