When Life Was Like a Cucumber by Greg Wyss

Author Greg Wyss expertly transports readers to the chaotic 70s with remarkable ease and charm in When Life Was Like a Cucumber. Following Jeffrey Hesse’s fiery split from his wife, this is a hilariously unpredictable story of his self-exploration, healing, liberation, and growth.

For those who lived through the 1960s and 70s, this book is a nostalgic plunge that practically exudes the whiff of patchouli, illicit substances, and motor oil. Couched in the tumultuous Watergate era, there is an unmistakable weight to this story as well, giving the book a relatability for modern readers who may have not lived through the era. The culture, music, lifestyle, and laws may have changed, but the recognizable politics of fear, violence, and power also resonate in these pages, woven in beneath Hesse’s wacky exploits.

The writing is as stylized as the main character himself, winding around itself with clever turns of phrase. There are occasionally overworked descriptions, and some narrative rambles could be shortened and strengthened, but Wyss ultimately paints a consistent mood and a vivid portrait of the decade thanks to the hilarious caricatures and diverse landscapes.

All in all, Wyss has created a unique road romp with the sporadic wisdom of Pirsig, the antics of Kesey, and the visual artistry of Steinbeck. There is more to this story than meets the eye, and readers of any generation will benefit from its kaleidoscopic layers of both absurdity and meaning.

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