Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Botany of Desire (copy)

For the past few late nights, I have awakened to the sound of my own gnashing of teeth. I throw the covers off, grab my book, and head for the kitchen. Within the crisper are Fuji apples with my name written all over one of the light golden-pink orbs. A few minutes of slicing into halves and carving out the core, and I am seconds away from relief.

Michael Pollan, author of The Botany of Desire, is less interested in the health benefits from apples, but rather the sweetness in which they have evolved. He could care less that I choose the apple to ease my ache, and more that I choose it for its firmness. In his writing he points out “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” was a marketing ploy growers dreamt up to keep the temperance movement at bay.

Ah, but I am getting ahead of the story. Pollan starts with the adventures of John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) and his quest to bring apples to America. Even during pioneer times, John was seen as an oddity. He did not like the company of others and preferred to be in the wilds, bedding down under the stars. Instead of a scow to transport his seeds, he lashed two dug-out logs together and filled one with heaping amounts of apple seeds then sat on the other side to balance. The contraption, resembling a catamaran, was seen often afloat with its napping captain.

Mr. Chapman was essentially an early-American land speculator. He bought land on the many tributaries of the Ohio River, and commenced to establishing apple orchards. The land had to meet his specifications first. It had to be flat, clear of brush, approximately two acres, and near the water’s edge. By the time settlers moved into the area his orchards were 2 years old, and he sold the seedlings for six and a half cents each.

Here is the story most children’s books omit. Apples were not to be eaten, they were for drinking! Sugar did not exist in frontier America. It was hard cider the pioneers made; although, hard is a term coined in the twentieth-century. Before refrigeration, all cider was hard because pioneers did not have a way to keep sweet cider sweet.

This is just one of the many stories in The Botany of Desire by Pollan. His main point being our relationship with plants determines their survival. Through four different examples (apple, tulip, marijuana, and potato) he proves mankind is swayed by sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control. At three a.m., I am swayed by relief and a good book.

Note: Third book for Joy's Non-Fiction Five Challenge!

16 comments:

raidergirl3 said...

My sister and I had a Johnny Appleseed album that we loved to sing along with when we were young. I'll be singing those songs for the rest of the day.
Thanks for the review and the memories.
"Oh, the Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the appleseed, the Lord is good to me"

maggie moran said...

Dang you! Now it is in my head! ;D

Vasilly said...

You guys are funny! I'm putting this on my TBR list.

Laura said...

You know, I've heard about Johnny Appleseed, but I had no idea about the real history there--how interesting! I also didn't think that a book about plants could sound like a good, fun read, but this one does! Thanks for sharing! :)

Jeane said...

I'd heard of this book before, but didn't know it was so much about apples! I know very little about Johnny Appleseed and am quite curious now.

Andi said...

I would pick Granny Smith's any day, but I do have a Fuji in my fruitbowl for that midnight run.
And I'm with you in "danging" raider girl, as I trot off to bed singing "The Lord is good to me. . . "

Lana said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lana said...

that sounds good, I might have to go look for it.

I always stop by, I just don't normally comment...but I'm not a stalking booknapper so don't worry ;)

I like the gala myself, and the fiji and the golden!

maggie moran said...

Vasilly - I think you will really like it, I did! :)

Laura - I bought this book in the fall if that tells you anything. But, why do I do that? They are always the best ones! :)

Well the book is broken into four chapters, Jeane. The apple, tulip, marijuana, and potato in that order. Oh, and probably you are saying I have read enough about tulips. I know I have and was planning on skipping that chapter, but it turned out to be one of the best! :)

I used to love Granny Smith's Andi, but now they are too tart! They are actually an Auzzie apple and according to the book, the only native American apple tree is the Crab! :)

Oh, no TxMommy! Is it Fuji or Fiji apple?!? I hope it is a typo on your part b/c I sent out copy!!! Be right back!!!

maggie moran said...

I'm back TXMommy, and apparently it is both! Pshew!!! They are one in the same and they both come from China. You know that sinking feeling of writing something hundreds of people will see and thinking TYPO! Kinda like sending out wedding announcements with the wrong in-law names. That is what just happened! :D

LeeLee said...

Maggie,

I'm taking a break from Southern Fiction and am reading Pollan's In Defense of Food right now. It's a great book! I'm amazed at how engagingly he writes about the warped science of nutritionism. I will have to check out The Botany of Desire. It goes to show that good writing is good writing, huh?

maggie moran said...

Yes, I want to read that now that I have finished this one, leelee! I read TBoD for the Outstanding Books for College Bound and Life-long Learners committee! It is perfect! :)

sage said...

Eve, I mean Maggie, that does sound like an interesting book--thanks for the review

maggie moran said...

LOL, your welcome Sage! :)

Anonymous said...

Great review, and you have a very nice-looking blog here, I just found it via the NFF challenge links. Thanks for sharing!
Francesca

maggie moran said...

Thanks for stopping by Francesca! I'll return the favor when I feel better. I promise!