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Stolen World: A Tale Of Reptiles, Smugglers, And Skulduggery (2011)

by Jennie Erin Smith(Favorite Author)

3.64 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0307381471 (ISBN13: 9780307381477)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Crown

review 1: Delves into the history of the reptile trade and those who have made and lost fortunes importing wild animals from other countries; particularly snakes, but also all kinds of others. Primarily follows the rise and fall of two main smugglers/importers: Henry Molt and Tom Crutchfield. I find it fascinating and a bit mind-boggling that the American appetite for reptiles supports this type of subterfuge.
review 2: (4.5) I thought this book was a hoot. How can you not be interested in a book where people curl up 6 feet pythons into the small of their backs and pass them off as tumors at the airport? (Yes, this happened pre-9/11 security measures). Or when someone runs off the road because he digs his hand into a piece of luggage where he's keeping his gila monst... moreer and the thing latches on and begins to grind in its poison? It's fascinating! I'm very squeamish with snake talk, but for some reason, it didn't bother me. What a cast of characters. I highly recommend it if you like the zany and nearly unbelievable and can tolerate lots of reptiles. It will make you a bit paranoid that some reptile nut lives in your neighborhood and that his exotic rattlesnakes will soon be showing up in your yard (yes, that happened too - folks in Arlington petitioned the town to outlaw venomous snakes after someone's Mexican rattlesnakes kept ending up in their yards. He insisted that they couldn't crawl out of their "home" in his backyard hottub). less

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