Willowman (Inga Simpson, Hachette)

In Inga Simpson’s heartfelt new novel Willowman, a gifted young cricketer and a dedicated batmaker live their lives in parallel to one another, their love of the game binding them together. The novel follows Allan Reader, a cricket enthusiast who grows his own willow and hand-makes bats, and Todd Harrow, a batter whose talent puts him on the world stage. Allan spends his days in his workshop carving wood and listening to classical music and cricket commentary. The sport is everything to him: it’s his livelihood, his obsession and perhaps the reason his family life fell apart. He cares deeply for the game—enough to grow his own trees and send a custom-made bat to young up-and-comer Todd. Cricket is everything to Todd, too. It’s the only thing he’s ever been good at and is essentially his reason to live. Simpson’s storytelling is superb. The novel is thoughtful, gentle and has the detail of someone who lives and breathes cricket. It’s this point that makes Willowman a book for all readers, not just cricket enthusiasts. Simpson explores family, priorities, the pain of making difficult choices and the knowledge that it’s never too late to start over. This is an uplifting book that will satisfy both cricket lovers and readers who enjoy loving stories about beginning again.

Danielle Bagnato is a book reviewer and marketing and communications professional.

Category: Reviews