Sipsworth
Published on 8. May 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
226 pages
978-1-83501-090-7 (ISBN)
Description
'A gorgeously odd tale about finding yourself again, unexpectedly. If you want a little piece of joy in your reading life, buy it' Jojo Moyes
'Loaded with charm, resilience, and the deep desire for connection that all mammals share. I loved it' Ann Patchett
'Utterly charming and beautifully written, Sipsworth is a tender tale about loss, loneliness and the healing power of connection that you won't want to put down' Mike Gayle
'Utterly charming and heartwarming' Ruth Hogan, The Keeper of Lost Things
'Beautiful and enchanting' Washington Post
Following the deaths of her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns from sixty years in Australia to the English village of her childhood. Her only wish is to die quickly and without fuss.
Helen retreats into her home on Westminster Crescent, becoming a creature of routine and habit. Then, one cold autumn night, a chance encounter with an abandoned pet mouse on the street outside her house sets Helen on a surprising journey of friendship, and a way back into life itself.
'Loaded with charm, resilience, and the deep desire for connection that all mammals share. I loved it' Ann Patchett
'Utterly charming and beautifully written, Sipsworth is a tender tale about loss, loneliness and the healing power of connection that you won't want to put down' Mike Gayle
'Utterly charming and heartwarming' Ruth Hogan, The Keeper of Lost Things
'Beautiful and enchanting' Washington Post
Following the deaths of her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns from sixty years in Australia to the English village of her childhood. Her only wish is to die quickly and without fuss.
Helen retreats into her home on Westminster Crescent, becoming a creature of routine and habit. Then, one cold autumn night, a chance encounter with an abandoned pet mouse on the street outside her house sets Helen on a surprising journey of friendship, and a way back into life itself.
Reviews / Votes
'Sipsworth is a love story about a woman and a mouse. Reason suggests that such a relationship couldn't possibly work, and yet I found myself pulling for this unlikely duo on every page. Simon Van Booy's characters are loaded with charm, resilience, and the deep desire for connection that all mammals share. I loved it.' * Ann Patchett * 'Beautifully detailed, and filled with heart, Sipsworth is a slim, sparkling jewel of a novel.' * Christina Baker Kline * 'Through tears, laughter, joy, and pain, I just couldn't stop reading this novel about friendship and second chances. Sipsworth is a marvel - storytelling at its absolute finest' -- Marc Levy 'Enchanting... Material that could easily feel saccharine or twee is fresh and often funny, thanks to the author's artful prose... Van Booy takes the familiar trope of an ageing person's unexpected renewal and makes it feel new' * Publishers Weekly starred review * 'Charming... The prose is simple yet lovely; the story sneaks up on the reader's affections, as deft as Sipsworth himself... Generous, vibrant and quiet novel' Foreword Reviews 'It's an utterly charming and heartwarming modern fairytale about finding connections and friendships in the most unlikely places. Simon Van Body's characters are beautifully drawn and completely irresistible. I was spellbound from the first page to the last!' -- Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things 'Simon Van Booy has performed another small literary miracle....trenchant and beautiful....countless passages beguile and move us' * Washington Post * 'Van Booy's gift for language is immersive... A memorable story about serendipity-and what can happen when we keep our hearts open to surprise.' * Christian Science Monitor * 'Utterly charming and beautifully written, Sipsworth is a tender tale about loss, loneliness and the healing power of connection that you won't want to put down' -- Mike Gayle 'I read in a day; it's a sweet, dry, melancholic but hopeful little novel about an elderly woman and a mouse and to say any more will make it sounds like Beatrix Potter rather than what it is, which is a gorgeously odd tale about finding yourself again, unexpectedly. If you want a little piece of joy in your reading life, buy it.' Jojo MoyesMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
175 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83501-090-7 (9781835010907)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Simon Van Booy is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than a dozen books for adults and children. He is the editor of three volumes of philosophy and has written for The New York Times, the Financial Times, the Washington Post, and the BBC.
His books have been translated into many languages and optioned for film. Raised in rural North Wales, he currently lives in New York where he is also a book editor and a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician.
His books have been translated into many languages and optioned for film. Raised in rural North Wales, he currently lives in New York where he is also a book editor and a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician.