William Alexander's book "The $64 Tomato" asks the million-dollar question: When is enough enough? In the case of Alexander, whose memoir charts a decade of his gardening obsession (through webworms, tent caterpillars, rabid opossums and neck injuries), the answer is simply never.

Comprised of 14 pieces spanning the suggestive - "Whore in the Bedroom, Horticulturist in the Garden" - to the ironic - "One Man's Weed Is Jean George's Salad" - the book is a refreshing take on the city-mouse-turns-country-mouse-and-lives-to-tell genre...

His repeated use and misuse of the Hav-a-hart trap (which he deems "the Havahartattack trap"); a groundhog name SuperChuck that throws himself against Alexander's electric fence for kicks after munching on his tender carrots and heirloom tomatoes; and a polemic against totemic lawn penises and other schticky lawn ornaments make for a rollicking read, while the anomalous facts laced throughout keep even the avid gardener's attention pricked...