Reviews
Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities, by Amy Stewart
britomarte's review against another edition
4.0
I read this as an ebook borrowed from my library, and I think that it really lost something in that edition. Flipping through a physical copy shows me a beautiful reference book - the formatting of the ebook was awkward and inelegant.
Felt a little padded, but overall well executed. Perfect as a reference book on a writer's shelves, not recommended in the ebook format or as a book read cover-to-cover.
Felt a little padded, but overall well executed. Perfect as a reference book on a writer's shelves, not recommended in the ebook format or as a book read cover-to-cover.
whizbangdebris's review
informative
fast-paced
3.0
Interesting and quick read to pass a winter night but generally a 'meh' kind of book
kairosdreaming's review against another edition
2.0
Any book about botany is going to catch my interest. Talking about some of the mysterious and dangerous plants out there sounds good to me! I went into this book hoping to learn some new things, and while I did, I have to say that overall I just didn't enjoy the book.
The first thing for me was the tone. I have several of these plants in my yard (and my yard is mostly an edible landscape at this point). I don't know who's out there eating random things (as the author alludes to with the coffee cup comparison), but just no. Surely by now we have better sense to not eat anything we haven't identified yet. But I'm sure there's plenty out there that don't. But away from my rant, back to the point, this book set out to frame these 'wicked' plants as intentionally wanting to do harm. Which, they're plants, they're not roaming the nights hopping on forks and poisoning an unsuspecting victim. It was just kind of a weird tone to take for the book.
Secondly, the order of the book. It's in alphabetical order, where I think it would have been better either classified by plant type (nightshades, etc.) or by danger type (poison, smell, etc.). With the alphabetical, there were times where the same section and information was repeated multiple times (you mention one nightshade, the rest get listed, often with the same jokes) throughout the book. Having them all grouped together would have helped me retain the families and features a bit better as well.
While I did find the book informative, it just could have been so much more. For now I'll continue to roam my yard filled with edibles and Brugmansia (please don't eat Brugmansia). Go for Stewart's 'The Drunken Botanist' as an alternative, I liked that one so much better.
Review by M. Reynard 2021
The first thing for me was the tone. I have several of these plants in my yard (and my yard is mostly an edible landscape at this point). I don't know who's out there eating random things (as the author alludes to with the coffee cup comparison), but just no. Surely by now we have better sense to not eat anything we haven't identified yet. But I'm sure there's plenty out there that don't. But away from my rant, back to the point, this book set out to frame these 'wicked' plants as intentionally wanting to do harm. Which, they're plants, they're not roaming the nights hopping on forks and poisoning an unsuspecting victim. It was just kind of a weird tone to take for the book.
Secondly, the order of the book. It's in alphabetical order, where I think it would have been better either classified by plant type (nightshades, etc.) or by danger type (poison, smell, etc.). With the alphabetical, there were times where the same section and information was repeated multiple times (you mention one nightshade, the rest get listed, often with the same jokes) throughout the book. Having them all grouped together would have helped me retain the families and features a bit better as well.
While I did find the book informative, it just could have been so much more. For now I'll continue to roam my yard filled with edibles and Brugmansia (please don't eat Brugmansia). Go for Stewart's 'The Drunken Botanist' as an alternative, I liked that one so much better.
Review by M. Reynard 2021
queerandweird's review
3.0
Fun, short work on irksome to deadly plants around the world and interesting anecdotes from history. The author displays a very clear bias against drugs and rather shamefully writes that into her descriptions of plants, as well as other biased, unfounded opinions she uses as quotes. Stewart highlights that she is an amateur and not a scientist, that is made clear by her writing style.
Wouldn't read any more of her work, but this one was at least inspiring for some fantasy rpg monster plants, otherwise not a very useful reference.
Wouldn't read any more of her work, but this one was at least inspiring for some fantasy rpg monster plants, otherwise not a very useful reference.
kirbymoon's review
2.0
this was fine. it was insanely boring at some points but also extremely interesting at others.
there's only so much similar information about plants that my brain retain tbh. i found some plants i had never heard of that truly did sound wicked, like the entire section on plants that shoot at people or burst into flame but for the most part it was a lot of the same and the humor didn't hit with me.
there's only so much similar information about plants that my brain retain tbh. i found some plants i had never heard of that truly did sound wicked, like the entire section on plants that shoot at people or burst into flame but for the most part it was a lot of the same and the humor didn't hit with me.
kristiranee's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
2.0
Maybe it's because I had high hopes for this book, but I mostly didn't like it :( there is interesting information, but it seems like it should be organized by type of plants (murdering, stinking, invasive, etc) instead of whatever the organization was (maybe alphabetical? I didn't read the index so I didn't catch on). It felt all over the place between "whoa that's a cool plant!" And "huh ok, this plant is mildly irritating, good to know"
I was disappointed there are no photos or sketches of the actual plants. I understand this isn't from a botanist, but a few sketches or photos of the most unusual plants would be nice.
I also feel like a lot of it is hearsay. Like explaining a few kids ate these plants and got sick, or that handling limes will probably or just maybe give you a rash because there's an example or two. I wish the plants that didn't often have reactions (like limes/citrus, rosemary, etc.) were just left out and more information on the actual wicked plants that are dangerous or have a dirty history.
I think this book had potential, but it didn't do it for me.
I was disappointed there are no photos or sketches of the actual plants. I understand this isn't from a botanist, but a few sketches or photos of the most unusual plants would be nice.
I also feel like a lot of it is hearsay. Like explaining a few kids ate these plants and got sick, or that handling limes will probably or just maybe give you a rash because there's an example or two. I wish the plants that didn't often have reactions (like limes/citrus, rosemary, etc.) were just left out and more information on the actual wicked plants that are dangerous or have a dirty history.
I think this book had potential, but it didn't do it for me.