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 is a nonfiction book by William Alexander, published in 2006. The $64 Tomato was a nominee for Quill Award in the debut author of the year category[1] and was selected for the 2006 National Book Festival.[2]
 | |
| Author | William Alexander |
|---|---|
| Subject | Gardening |
| Genre | Nonfiction |
| Publisher | Algonquin Books |
Publication date | 2006 |
| ISBN | 9781565125032 |
| Website | http://williamalexander.com/books.cfm |
Summary
editThe $64 Tomato is a memoir of Alexander's gardening project. When he and his family purchased a home with several acres in a small town in New York, he was determined to use some of the property to create a 2,000 sq ft (190 m2) organic garden. Alexander documents his adventures battling pests, weeds, plant diseases, deer, and a persistent groundhog he names Superchuck. After several years of gardening, he calculates that each Brandywine tomato he grew and harvested cost him $64.
Author
editWilliam Alexander is the director of technology at the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research in Orangeburg, New York.[3] He graduated from the University at Albany with a degree in English literature.[4] He is married to Anne Mullin, an internist,[3] and they have two children.[4]
In addition to The $64 Tomato, Alexander has written op-eds for The New York Times.[4]
Reception
editKirkus Reviews describes it as "An amusing compilation of do's and don'ts for aspiring gardeners afflicted with hubris."[5] Publishers Weekly says "this hilarious horticultural memoir ... manages to impart an existential lesson on the interconnectedness of nature and the fine line between nurturing and killing."[6]
Constance Casey, writing in The New York Times Book Review, says Alexander's writing is "engaging, well paced and informative".[7] In The New York Times Magazine, Holly Brubach recommends The $64 Tomato to prevent "Obsessive Gardening Syndrome" and says Alexander's "timing and his delivery are flawless".[8] Anthony Doerr, in The Boston Globe, calls the book a "quick and very entertaining summer read".[9]
Additional reviews
editReferences
edit- ^ Tagami, Kirsten (August 23, 2006). "Doctorow's Civil War novel among Quills nominees". The Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Atlanta, Ga., United States. p. 2. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "National Book Festival" (PDF). September 30, 2006. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Wadler, Joyce (2006). "A Long Row to Hoe, to Avoid a Store-Bought Tomato". New York Times. New York, N.Y., United States. p. 8. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c "About the author". William Alexander. March 6, 2005. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "The $64 Tomato". Kirkus Reviews. April 14, 2006. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: The $64 Tomato". PublishersWeekly.com. November 21, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Casey, Constance (May 7, 2006). "Weed Whackers". New York Times Book Review. pp. 7–20. ISSN 0028-7806. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Brubach, Holly (2007). "Growing Pains". New York Times Magazine. pp. 98–100. ISSN 0028-7822. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Doerr, Anthony (July 16, 2006). "From the sky, soil, and sea". Boston Globe. Boston, Mass., United States. p. 4. ISSN 0743-1791. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Stinson, Anne (March 23, 2007). "Save money: Grow your own $64 Tomato". The Star-Democrat (Easton, Maryland). p. 8. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Grissom, Ruth Ann (June 25, 2006). "Garden of many thorns". Charlotte Observer. p. E4. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Lembke, Janet (May 14, 2006). "His green thumb is out of control". The News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina). p. G5. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Conroy, Kathleen (April 2, 2006). "What that garden really costs you". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. 156. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Nemethy, Andrew (June 18, 2006). "A gardener recounts the growing pains". Rutland Daily Herald (Vermont). p. 63. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ O'Brien, Sue (January 2006). "The $64 Tomato". Library Journal. 131 (1): 142. ISSN 0363-0277. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Dennington, Erin (April 2006). "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". School Library Journal. 52 (4): 169. ISSN 0362-8930. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Haggas, Carol (February 15, 2006). "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". The Booklist. 102 (12): 29. ISSN 0006-7385. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Hertzler, Daniel (September 19, 2006). "The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for a Perfect Garden/The Fragrance of God/The Earth Knows My Name: Food, Culture, and Sustainability in the Gardens of Ethnic Americans". The Christian Century. Vol. 123, no. 19. pp. 38–40. ISSN 0009-5281. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Richardson, Tim (April 20, 2006). "Growing Pains". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C., United States. p. 3. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 23, 2021.