Growing a Farmer Review - Part 1

After reading the first half of the book, I would like to share some of my views on it. I was particularly impressed by his bravery to set up his own cafe and run it solely by himself with “no cake mixes, no canned fillings, no waiters, no corporate offices”. Buying ingredients, cooking food, depositing earnings into the bank — I couldn’t believe these were all done by himself. Some of his descriptions were intriguing, “With just four tables squeezed together and a minuscule kitchen on the side, this humble space represented the start of my career.” I liked this quote a lot as it implants a memorable impression in the reader’s mind, indicating his humble beginning. Then further down the chapters, he referenced this but this time, he said it grew to become a 12-table-restaurant. He effectively uses changes to his restaurant as a reflection of the development and success he has had with his restaurant business. Another quote I liked was, “As the ferry pulls out of the Seattle dock, the present-day rush and modernity are left behind. Upon coming off of the boat, a feeling of calm, slow-paced island living always washes over me.” This was just two sentences, yet it contains a lot information, namely that his life is expected to change drastically at this point, stepping out off Seattle, and being introduced to Vashon Island. In a sense, I could relate to him as I am living in Los Angeles right now, which is radically different from the fast-paced lifestyle back at my hometown—Hong Kong. I loved how he pointed out he never actually lived in the dark as darkness in the city is not actual darkness; darkness in the Island is. It is only natural to be temporarily uncomfortable at first when faced with the unfamiliar. But sometimes it is in these circumstances that we find something we truly value. Had he not gone to Vashon Island, he might still be running the restaurant business and might not be able satisfy his desire to be a farmer.

I think the use of personal pronouns helped with creating an intimate bond with the reader, effectively drawing interest. It was as if you knew him personally. Nonetheless, the use of first person perspective is not that surprising as this book is categorized as an autobiography. I think part of his success stems from the fact that this book is an easy read. He writes simple, plain English. There are rarely bureaucratic terms in this book, although there are occasional jargons that are explained. Even though he is quite direct, he does not skip the details; for instance, he provided vivid descriptions of the farms and the way he handled them. This book might not be the book for those who look for the thrill. Yet it might be the author’s intention to portray reality—which at most times might not be a total rollercoaster ride. But I do hope that the second half of the book will include some rather peculiar or shocking encounters, which could make the story more lively. Nevertheless, the straightforward, succinct writing style makes it easy for the reader to grasp the stories he tells.