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The $64 Tomato

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Memoir of a gardening project

The $64 Tomato
AuthorWilliam Alexander
SubjectGardening
GenreNonfiction
PublisherAlgonquin Books
Publication date2006
ISBN9781565125032
Websitehttp://williamalexander.com/books.cfm

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 and was selected for the 2006 National Book Festival.

Summary

The $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 m) 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

William Alexander is the director of technology at the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research in Orangeburg, New York. He graduated from the University at Albany with a degree in English literature. He is married to Anne Mullin, an internist, and they have two children.

In addition to The $64 Tomato, Alexander has written op-eds for The New York Times.

Reception

Kirkus Reviews describes it as "An amusing compilation of do's and don'ts for aspiring gardeners afflicted with hubris." 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."

Constance Casey, writing in The New York Times Book Review, says Alexander's writing is "engaging, well paced and informative". 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". Anthony Doerr, in The Boston Globe, calls the book a "quick and very entertaining summer read".

Additional reviews

  • The Star-Democrat (Easton, Maryland)
  • Charlotte Observer
  • The News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)
  • The Honolulu Advertiser
  • Rutland Daily Herald (Vermont)
  • Library Journal
  • School Library Journal
  • The Booklist
  • The Christian Century
  • The Washington Post

References

  1. 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. ProQuest 337337916. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. "National Book Festival" (PDF). Library of Congress. September 30, 2006. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  3. ^ 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. ProQuest 93207201. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "About the author". William Alexander. March 6, 2005. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  5. "The $64 Tomato". Kirkus Reviews. April 14, 2006. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  6. "Nonfiction Book Review: The $64 Tomato". PublishersWeekly.com. November 21, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  7. Casey, Constance (May 7, 2006). "Weed Whackers". New York Times Book Review. pp. 7–20. ISSN 0028-7806. ProQuest 217290120. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  8. Brubach, Holly (2007). "Growing Pains". New York Times Magazine. pp. 98–100. ISSN 0028-7822. ProQuest 215483260. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  9. Doerr, Anthony (July 16, 2006). "From the sky, soil, and sea". Boston Globe. Boston, Mass., United States. p. 4. ISSN 0743-1791. ProQuest 405027448. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  10. Stinson, Anne (March 23, 2007). "Save money: Grow your own $64 Tomato". The Star-Democrat (Easton, Maryland). p. 8. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  11. Grissom, Ruth Ann (June 25, 2006). "Garden of many thorns". Charlotte Observer. p. E4. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  12. 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.
  13. Conroy, Kathleen (April 2, 2006). "What that garden really costs you". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. 156. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  14. Nemethy, Andrew (June 18, 2006). "A gardener recounts the growing pains". Rutland Daily Herald (Vermont). p. 63. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  15. O'Brien, Sue (January 2006). "The $64 Tomato". Library Journal. 131 (1): 142. ISSN 0363-0277. ProQuest 196755373. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  16. 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. ProQuest 211798286. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  17. 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. ProQuest 235617172. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  18. 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. ProQuest 217239901. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  19. Richardson, Tim (April 20, 2006). "Growing Pains". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C., United States. p. 3. ISSN 0190-8286. ProQuest 410013712. Retrieved February 23, 2021.

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