Book Review The $64 Tomato

The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost his Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden

by William Alexander

Algonquin Books; Reprint edition (March 2, 2007)

The holidays are done. The decorations are packed away. The house has been dusted and refreshed. But we still have two and a half months left of gloom, cold and ho hum. What now? This time of year I tend to read more and I'm often craving for something to cheer my spirits.

That's why I read this title and thought, yes! But usually, when someone tries to be funny, it falls flat. So I dove in a bit skeptical yet hopeful. I wasn't disappointed.

This is a funny story of one man's true account of his struggle for a garden. And I mean funny. And I can relate to a lot of the situations he finds himself in; the late landscapers, the endless obstacles. Yet he has a way of sharing his struggles in an absurd and "fighting spirit" way. You just know that he is going to keep going and you find yourself wanting to find out the next step in his quest.

The author broke into writing with this critically-accliamed, bestselling memoir. According to his bio, "His other hobbies include cooking, woodworking, kayaking, and swimming. His former hobbies include home renovation (never again) and child-rearing (never, ever again). Bill and his incredibly patient, long-suffering wife live in Washington State, after a lifetime in New York's Hudson Valley".

If you are in search of a bit of cheer this winter, even if you aren't a gardener, or home-owner, I think you will find this just what you need.