Sipsworth

By: Simon Van Booy

Narrated by: Christine Rendel

Over the course of a single week, a woman who is ready to die discovers an unexpected reason to live.

Following the deaths of her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns to the English village of her childhood after living abroad for six decades. 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.

Sipsworth is a reminder that there can be second chances. No matter what we have planned for ourselves, sometimes the world has plans of its own. Simon Van Booy's lyrical storytelling is a delight even as it will fill your heart.

©2024 Simon Van Booy (P)2024 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Christine Rendel’s beautiful narration of this lovely book is perfect.

This is such a lovely book. The writing is beautiful, elegant, and a great introduction for me to the many fine books of Simon van Booy. It’s a story of loss, loneliness, and the realization that there are second chances to be found in the most unlikely circumstances. Very uplifting. Christine Rendel’s skillful and sensitive narration is perfect. I was enthralled listening.

Catharsis and hope

If a great book is one that engages all of your emotions, this one will be a classic… Right down to the last sentence

Beautiful and brief and a little strange

This is a gorgeously written, gorgeously performed “small story”— a lonely, elderly woman befriends a mouse. There are no epic adventures or intriguing mysteries- just a grief haunted woman alone at the end of her life learning to open up and love again. Slow paced but pleasantly easy listening; somewhat abrupt ending.
Reminiscent in some ways of Remarkably Bright Creatures and A Man Called Ove but somewhat smaller in scope. A semi-realistic fairytale for the elderly is how I’d categorize it.

Cute story

I liked the story of Mrs. Cartwright and the mouse who becomes her pet Sipsworth and the people she enlists to help her save this mouse.

I was immediately immersed in the story and found it so meaningful and touching and sweet.

Mrs Cartwright emerged slowly but so interestingly as the story developed. I loved her more all the time!