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Willowman
Cricket has a willow heart. Batmakers around the world have tried everything, crafting bats from birch, maple, ash, even poplars . . . After two hundred years, cricket bat making is still beholden to a single species: salix alba caerulea - or white willow
Reader Cricket Bats, one of the last traditional batmakers back in the old country, has a contemporary home in the Antipodes, with Allan Reader keeping the family business alive in a small workshop. Allan lives alone, all but estranged from his adult daughter, quietly going about his days with the cricket commentary for company.
When Todd Harrow, a gifted young batter, catches Allan's eye, a spark is lit and Allan decides to make a Reader bat for him, selecting the best piece of willow he's harvested in years to do so.
As Harrow charts a meteoric rise to the highest echelons of the sport, leaving his equally talented sister's dreams in his wake, Allan's magical bat takes centre stage as well, awakening something in Allan and bringing him back into himself. But can Allan's fledgling renaissance - hanging as it does on the magic of that bat - carry on after Harrow is cursed by injury and a strained personal life?
Set as the new short form of the game began to gain prominence, Willowman is a love letter to the art and beauty of cricket and a meditation on the inner lives of certain kinds of men and women, for whom it is a way of life. Award-winning author Inga Simpson writes exquisitely about a national sport you will never view the same way again.
Reader Cricket Bats, one of the last traditional batmakers back in the old country, has a contemporary home in the Antipodes, with Allan Reader keeping the family business alive in a small workshop. Allan lives alone, all but estranged from his adult daughter, quietly going about his days with the cricket commentary for company.
When Todd Harrow, a gifted young batter, catches Allan's eye, a spark is lit and Allan decides to make a Reader bat for him, selecting the best piece of willow he's harvested in years to do so.
As Harrow charts a meteoric rise to the highest echelons of the sport, leaving his equally talented sister's dreams in his wake, Allan's magical bat takes centre stage as well, awakening something in Allan and bringing him back into himself. But can Allan's fledgling renaissance - hanging as it does on the magic of that bat - carry on after Harrow is cursed by injury and a strained personal life?
Set as the new short form of the game began to gain prominence, Willowman is a love letter to the art and beauty of cricket and a meditation on the inner lives of certain kinds of men and women, for whom it is a way of life. Award-winning author Inga Simpson writes exquisitely about a national sport you will never view the same way again.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2022
36 people are currently reading
551 people want to read
About the author
Inga Simpson
19 books279 followersInga is the award-winning author of THE THINNING, WILLOWMAN, THE LAST WOMAN IN THE WORLD, THE BOOK OF AUSTRALIAN TREES, UNDERSTORY: a life with trees, WHERE THE TREES WERE, NEST and MR WIGG.
A novelist and nature writer, her work explores our relationship with the natural world.
Inga grew up in central west NSW, and has lived in Canberra, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. She is now based on the far south coast of NSW.
WILLOWMAN was shortlisted for the Bookpeople adult fiction Book of the Year 2023.
UNDERSTORY: a life with trees (2017), Inga's first book-length work of nature writing, was shortlisted for the Adelaide Writers Week prize for nonfiction.
WHERE THE TREES WERE (2016) was shortlisted for an Indie Award, and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award, ABIA book awards and Green Carnation Prize.
NEST (2014) was shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal, and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize.
Her debut novel, MR WIGG, was selected for the 2011 QWC/Hachette manuscript developemnt program and, as a result, published by Hachette in 2013. MR WIGG was shortlisted for an Indie Award and longlisted for the Dobbie Award.
In 2012, Inga was the winner of the final Eric Rolls nature essay prize.
She has a PhDs in creative writing and English literature, and her short work has been published in Griffith Review, Wonderground, the Review of Australian Fiction, Clues, WQ, and the Dictionary of Literary Biography.
A novelist and nature writer, her work explores our relationship with the natural world.
Inga grew up in central west NSW, and has lived in Canberra, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. She is now based on the far south coast of NSW.
WILLOWMAN was shortlisted for the Bookpeople adult fiction Book of the Year 2023.
UNDERSTORY: a life with trees (2017), Inga's first book-length work of nature writing, was shortlisted for the Adelaide Writers Week prize for nonfiction.
WHERE THE TREES WERE (2016) was shortlisted for an Indie Award, and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award, ABIA book awards and Green Carnation Prize.
NEST (2014) was shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal, and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize.
Her debut novel, MR WIGG, was selected for the 2011 QWC/Hachette manuscript developemnt program and, as a result, published by Hachette in 2013. MR WIGG was shortlisted for an Indie Award and longlisted for the Dobbie Award.
In 2012, Inga was the winner of the final Eric Rolls nature essay prize.
She has a PhDs in creative writing and English literature, and her short work has been published in Griffith Review, Wonderground, the Review of Australian Fiction, Clues, WQ, and the Dictionary of Literary Biography.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
November 18, 2022
Willowman is the fifth novel by prize-winning Australian author, Inga Simpson. After reeling from the shock of his impending divorce, Allan Reader emerges to see a promising young cricketer batting in the Under 19s competition, something that immediately inspires him to craft for the young Queenslander a bat.
“I enjoy picking batters on the rise… there’s a purity to their game before pride, entitlement and anxiety set in – before they become aware of the selectors on the boundary fence. They’re raw product, all possibility; how their story will play out is yet to be told.”
Reader is a man with a passionate interest in cricket, and a skill, learned from his English grandfather, for making bats. Batmaking has been in his family for generations, but Allan makes bats in Victoria, from white willow he grows himself. “I sometimes wonder if willow has a will… it’s as if some clefts want to be made, need a particular player to carry them out onto a cricket field.”
Todd Harrow and his sister Liv have loved cricket ever since their father took them to an International game. Their whole family participates, with coaching, equipment and transport, in recognition of their talent. Todd is quickly appreciated as a batsman in school and club cricket, and his promotion to grade cricket is facilitated at every turn; Liv proves to be a talented all-rounder, but the same opportunities don’t always exist for her.
When Todd receives the Reader bat Allan has made him: “The bat was alive in his hands, humming like a tuning fork, connecting him to the pitch, the ground. It was as if the willow was doing it all for him.”
With often exquisite descriptive rose, Simpson’s story details the life of this special bat from growth and harvest of the willow, through selection and batmaking, to use in matches, producing thousands of runs and helping to launch careers.
That journey involves Allan Reader and his craft, including his gradual recovery from the emotional and financial effects of his divorce, his reconnection with his adult daughter, and his return to oboe playing. It also takes in the lives, the career successes and failures, of the two cricketers who end up using the bat.
The story is told in a dual narrative: Allan’s in the first person, Todd’s in the third; in both, flashbacks fill in backstory. Allan frequently draws parallels between bats and batsmen and sometimes the wicket, but it’s for the reader to see the potential parallels between his life and Todd’s.
Simpson divides her novel into sections titled for the order of play in a cricket match. Her reverence for the white willow clear, and her depiction of the game and the culture that surrounds it is respectful but never naïve.
Her extensive research is apparent on every page. She includes a huge amount of fascinating detail about white willow and batmaking and cricket, but this is woven into the story so subtly that it is never dry or boring, at least to readers who like cricket and are familiar with the terminology. Beautifully written, this is a moving tribute to cricket and all that it encompasses.
“I enjoy picking batters on the rise… there’s a purity to their game before pride, entitlement and anxiety set in – before they become aware of the selectors on the boundary fence. They’re raw product, all possibility; how their story will play out is yet to be told.”
Reader is a man with a passionate interest in cricket, and a skill, learned from his English grandfather, for making bats. Batmaking has been in his family for generations, but Allan makes bats in Victoria, from white willow he grows himself. “I sometimes wonder if willow has a will… it’s as if some clefts want to be made, need a particular player to carry them out onto a cricket field.”
Todd Harrow and his sister Liv have loved cricket ever since their father took them to an International game. Their whole family participates, with coaching, equipment and transport, in recognition of their talent. Todd is quickly appreciated as a batsman in school and club cricket, and his promotion to grade cricket is facilitated at every turn; Liv proves to be a talented all-rounder, but the same opportunities don’t always exist for her.
When Todd receives the Reader bat Allan has made him: “The bat was alive in his hands, humming like a tuning fork, connecting him to the pitch, the ground. It was as if the willow was doing it all for him.”
With often exquisite descriptive rose, Simpson’s story details the life of this special bat from growth and harvest of the willow, through selection and batmaking, to use in matches, producing thousands of runs and helping to launch careers.
That journey involves Allan Reader and his craft, including his gradual recovery from the emotional and financial effects of his divorce, his reconnection with his adult daughter, and his return to oboe playing. It also takes in the lives, the career successes and failures, of the two cricketers who end up using the bat.
The story is told in a dual narrative: Allan’s in the first person, Todd’s in the third; in both, flashbacks fill in backstory. Allan frequently draws parallels between bats and batsmen and sometimes the wicket, but it’s for the reader to see the potential parallels between his life and Todd’s.
Simpson divides her novel into sections titled for the order of play in a cricket match. Her reverence for the white willow clear, and her depiction of the game and the culture that surrounds it is respectful but never naïve.
Her extensive research is apparent on every page. She includes a huge amount of fascinating detail about white willow and batmaking and cricket, but this is woven into the story so subtly that it is never dry or boring, at least to readers who like cricket and are familiar with the terminology. Beautifully written, this is a moving tribute to cricket and all that it encompasses.
September 23, 2022
What a lovely read. This is absolutely a book about cricket but it’s almost equally a book about classical music, craftsmanship, friendship, feminism and fatherhood. The cricket and music writing is lovely and although the prose and tone occasionally leans a little too heavily on sentimentality for my tastes I was completely swept along by Simpson’s story of cricket, tradition and change. Anybody with an interest in cricket or classical music is going to absolutely love this
December 30, 2023
A novel that is very much about cricket, but also is about so much more than cricket. Willowman charts the meteoric rise of a young cricket star, and setbacks he faces in his career against the struggle to maintain the traditional craft of bat-making. I’m by no means a cricket fanatic, but I found there was much to love here. Simpson captures the energy of a summer in cricket-loving nation, the pressure of performance, the complexity of competition against people you love, and the art of balancing our passions against the maintenance of our relationships. At times it’s a bit sentimental but I found that tone endearing. I’m really happy that Books on the Go podcast brought this one to my attention, I might not have chosen to read it myself.
July 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. You don’t have to be a cricket tragic to enjoy it. But if you hate cricket you might not engage with it.
It’s a beautifully written story about choices we make, the path those choices put us on and the family of other choices that radiate out from it. There’s a touching sadness through the book, a soft under current of ‘what-if’ or ‘if-only’. What if a particular choice hadn’t been made, or if only a particular consequence hadn’t eventuated. The two main characters in the book are negotiating this type of thinking throughout the story. One of the main themes is their acceptance of this path and their choices.
While their lives take twists and turns, the constants that they both fall back on are trees, in the form of cricket bats and woodwind instruments. Simpson really excels in nature writing and the passages about cricket bat making, white willows, making oboe reeds and playing oboes are some of the best in the book.
I wasn’t surprised that the life of Phil Hughes had provided Simpson with inspiration for this story. I wonder if this was a source of some of the wistfulness that came through in the writing, as well as her love of trees and cricket.
I found it to be a beautiful book, not overly sentimental, but restrained and perfectly balanced between what was written and what was left unwritten.
It’s a beautifully written story about choices we make, the path those choices put us on and the family of other choices that radiate out from it. There’s a touching sadness through the book, a soft under current of ‘what-if’ or ‘if-only’. What if a particular choice hadn’t been made, or if only a particular consequence hadn’t eventuated. The two main characters in the book are negotiating this type of thinking throughout the story. One of the main themes is their acceptance of this path and their choices.
While their lives take twists and turns, the constants that they both fall back on are trees, in the form of cricket bats and woodwind instruments. Simpson really excels in nature writing and the passages about cricket bat making, white willows, making oboe reeds and playing oboes are some of the best in the book.
I wasn’t surprised that the life of Phil Hughes had provided Simpson with inspiration for this story. I wonder if this was a source of some of the wistfulness that came through in the writing, as well as her love of trees and cricket.
I found it to be a beautiful book, not overly sentimental, but restrained and perfectly balanced between what was written and what was left unwritten.
January 23, 2023
2.5 rounded up
Set mainly in Australia, this is a book about cricket as told through the stories of a crafter of bats, a new young talent and his sister, also a cricketer, at a time when the game is progressing into the new short form era.
I enjoyed this book but, despite the fact that I am a bit of cricket fanatic, there was too much cricket even for me. I appreciated Simpson's research and I enjoyed the story of the bat maker however, the details of game after game, tour after tour, became a little monotonous and really distracted me from the more subtle telling of the struggles of the game. One bad ball, a change of bat, the superstitions players maintain, how a whole career can change at any moment were overshadowed for me. Similarly, the story of Harrow's younger sister was lost and I so wanted more of these tales, which almost became backstories, to a book that read like a cricket commentary. I wanted more emotion.
Set mainly in Australia, this is a book about cricket as told through the stories of a crafter of bats, a new young talent and his sister, also a cricketer, at a time when the game is progressing into the new short form era.
I enjoyed this book but, despite the fact that I am a bit of cricket fanatic, there was too much cricket even for me. I appreciated Simpson's research and I enjoyed the story of the bat maker however, the details of game after game, tour after tour, became a little monotonous and really distracted me from the more subtle telling of the struggles of the game. One bad ball, a change of bat, the superstitions players maintain, how a whole career can change at any moment were overshadowed for me. Similarly, the story of Harrow's younger sister was lost and I so wanted more of these tales, which almost became backstories, to a book that read like a cricket commentary. I wanted more emotion.
October 31, 2022
A beautiful book. I was fully immersed in the story loving the music, nature, friendship and of course the cricket and the interesting story of bat making.
January 31, 2023
Another beautiful novel by Inga Simpson.
I haven't followed the Cricket since the early 80s and I knew nothing about Bat making but this novel bring both to life, with delightful characters.
Who thought A Test match could be written about in such a tense and exciting way!
Loved it and I'm pleased that she tackled the subject. It's hardly ever talked about in most Australian novels, despite the way Cricket can be such a large part of an Australian summer. When I was a kid, my Dad, my Pop and Uncles were all glued to the Cricket on TV in front of the evaporative cooler, so we kids would also spend afternoons there. Mornings and evenings would be playing backyard cricket, although I never learned to bowl overarm properly and always preferred playing with a tennis ball. My eldest son played cricket for a time and being a spectator was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, almost forced relaxation in a busy life. This Saturday my Brother-in-law and my son will be coming over to my place to watch the T20. Not sure if that will spark renewed interest but they may have to suffer with me talking about this book and probably why we need more women's cricket televised, lol.
I haven't followed the Cricket since the early 80s and I knew nothing about Bat making but this novel bring both to life, with delightful characters.
Who thought A Test match could be written about in such a tense and exciting way!
Loved it and I'm pleased that she tackled the subject. It's hardly ever talked about in most Australian novels, despite the way Cricket can be such a large part of an Australian summer. When I was a kid, my Dad, my Pop and Uncles were all glued to the Cricket on TV in front of the evaporative cooler, so we kids would also spend afternoons there. Mornings and evenings would be playing backyard cricket, although I never learned to bowl overarm properly and always preferred playing with a tennis ball. My eldest son played cricket for a time and being a spectator was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, almost forced relaxation in a busy life. This Saturday my Brother-in-law and my son will be coming over to my place to watch the T20. Not sure if that will spark renewed interest but they may have to suffer with me talking about this book and probably why we need more women's cricket televised, lol.
September 5, 2023
This book is written with the kind of passion for cricket & bat making usually reserved for astronomers & ornithologists. It’s hard not to get caught up in the deep passion with which the author has written, even if like me, you don’t like cricket. The writing is beautiful. There’s a rhythm to it, a bit like a wooden bat to ball.
But for all that cricket, & there is a LOT of cricket, it’s really a character driven narrative about the opportunities and knocks life throws and how the choices made in reaction to these shape our lives.
Well played Inga Simpson, this novel deserves a doff of the baggy green.
But for all that cricket, & there is a LOT of cricket, it’s really a character driven narrative about the opportunities and knocks life throws and how the choices made in reaction to these shape our lives.
Well played Inga Simpson, this novel deserves a doff of the baggy green.
September 1, 2023
A captivating read, i am not a cricket fan and you don’t need to be to find yourself absorbed in the rhythm of this marvellous novel. Its about passion in all its forms. and how commitment and hard-work can bring both success and disappointment, but also unexpected opportunity.
It is a journey through multiple love stories, love and loss, disappointment, and transformation. love of sport, art, music, children, partners, parents and willow. I heartily recommend this a both a compulsive and a meditative read.
It is a journey through multiple love stories, love and loss, disappointment, and transformation. love of sport, art, music, children, partners, parents and willow. I heartily recommend this a both a compulsive and a meditative read.
November 14, 2022
I am not a cricket fan. I picked this up, put it down and then found myself drawn back into it. I am so glad I picked it up again.
It is very detailed on both the techniques of the sport and those of fashioning a cricket bat which will doubtless add enormously to the pleasure of cricket fans and bat makers everywhere who pick this up - and I hope they do. Simpson's research is impeccable and she translates her knowledge into clean and musical prose. It has a simple narrative hook: an artisan bat maker sees a talented youngster play in the Melbourne U19 National Championships and recognises genius so he fashions a bat for him. The pairing is magical. Through the experiences of both men, Simpson looks at the hazards of their profession, their risk-taking and what their passion might cost them in terms of health, finances and personal wellbeing.
There are moments of uplift, the pure joy of sporting magic carry this novel on its tide. I rode the wave of events in a state of exhilaration: the romance of the achievements and dedication to art, the vision or magic of fashioning a perfect artefact, the poetics of play, the exultation when your heart lifts out of your chest in communion with something true be it love, music or the perfect strike.
It is very detailed on both the techniques of the sport and those of fashioning a cricket bat which will doubtless add enormously to the pleasure of cricket fans and bat makers everywhere who pick this up - and I hope they do. Simpson's research is impeccable and she translates her knowledge into clean and musical prose. It has a simple narrative hook: an artisan bat maker sees a talented youngster play in the Melbourne U19 National Championships and recognises genius so he fashions a bat for him. The pairing is magical. Through the experiences of both men, Simpson looks at the hazards of their profession, their risk-taking and what their passion might cost them in terms of health, finances and personal wellbeing.
There are moments of uplift, the pure joy of sporting magic carry this novel on its tide. I rode the wave of events in a state of exhilaration: the romance of the achievements and dedication to art, the vision or magic of fashioning a perfect artefact, the poetics of play, the exultation when your heart lifts out of your chest in communion with something true be it love, music or the perfect strike.
January 21, 2023
Reading this book reminded me of a test match - long, fascinating and rewarding. It seems like my cricket season is off to a good start
March 23, 2023
My mum would have loved this 💚💚💚💚
November 24, 2022
So a book about cricket hey?
If you had asked me to pick this up a few years ago I’d have flinched but in recent years cricket has kind of taken over our lives in summer. My kids both play and my husband coaches my son’s team. The Big Bash League fills our TV throughout summer and I find myself knowing more about a sport than I ever thought I would. So Willowman by Inga Simpson definitely intrigued me and I was happy to give this one a go.
The story flicks between Allan Reader, owner of Reader Bats one of the last traditional batmakers in Australia, and up and coming young cricketer Todd Harrow who catches Allan’s eye early in his career. Allan makes Todd a Reader bat and his meteoric rise is set in motion. But will an injury be the end of Harrow’s career? And will his younger sister be able to shine in her brother’s shadow?
This is a book about cricket but it's also a book about being human. I liked the structural set up with sections labelled The Toss, The Morning Session etc. I liked the acknowledgement of the importance and impact of women’s cricket. I liked how Allan re-engaged with his adult daughter. But there are definitely moments where the blow by blow account of a cricket match had me losing interest. Sometimes it felt like reading a history of cricket book. So much telling rather than showing! All somewhat interesting to me as a cricket fan but I think this would be hard to read if you weren't a sports fan.
If you have zero interest in sport and cricket in particular this may be a bit much but if you have some understanding of the game and of team sports in general you may find this a quiet story about one older man and his lifelong obsession with the game of cricket and one young man with the world at his feet. Willowman is a niche and slightly sentimental novel but I did like it.
Thank you very much to @allenandunwin for my #gifted copy.
If you had asked me to pick this up a few years ago I’d have flinched but in recent years cricket has kind of taken over our lives in summer. My kids both play and my husband coaches my son’s team. The Big Bash League fills our TV throughout summer and I find myself knowing more about a sport than I ever thought I would. So Willowman by Inga Simpson definitely intrigued me and I was happy to give this one a go.
The story flicks between Allan Reader, owner of Reader Bats one of the last traditional batmakers in Australia, and up and coming young cricketer Todd Harrow who catches Allan’s eye early in his career. Allan makes Todd a Reader bat and his meteoric rise is set in motion. But will an injury be the end of Harrow’s career? And will his younger sister be able to shine in her brother’s shadow?
This is a book about cricket but it's also a book about being human. I liked the structural set up with sections labelled The Toss, The Morning Session etc. I liked the acknowledgement of the importance and impact of women’s cricket. I liked how Allan re-engaged with his adult daughter. But there are definitely moments where the blow by blow account of a cricket match had me losing interest. Sometimes it felt like reading a history of cricket book. So much telling rather than showing! All somewhat interesting to me as a cricket fan but I think this would be hard to read if you weren't a sports fan.
If you have zero interest in sport and cricket in particular this may be a bit much but if you have some understanding of the game and of team sports in general you may find this a quiet story about one older man and his lifelong obsession with the game of cricket and one young man with the world at his feet. Willowman is a niche and slightly sentimental novel but I did like it.
Thank you very much to @allenandunwin for my #gifted copy.
June 10, 2023
What an exquisitely written book! I am not an avid cricket follower but I was fascinated by this story. There were times when my heart rate was hammering as I followed the end of a thrilling game. There seems a lot of luck involved in being selected, in not being injured yourself, in someone else being out and you get your chance. The traditions of the game, the love of the game and the support of your team members is incredibly important to the players. It’s also a way of life to the man who makes the bats for the cricketers. The story of the willow trees and how the bats are crafted is fascinating. It brings this man back to life after a heartbreaking separation. I love the mix of music and family in the story. In the background is the comparison of how much harder if is for a woman to make her way as a cricketer. The research that was done to have such an understanding of cricket is just mind-blowing!
June 27, 2024
Willowman was a difficult book to get into, but quickly became a difficult book to put down. Straight off the bat if you don’t fully understand cricket terminology or how the game works, you will not be able to fully unlock the excitement and disparity that is created between chapters. I’m well versed in cricket, and I found the first few chapters to be long, and hard to finish, with long passages of play by play cricket commentary. Although I understood it, it’s hard to read about a fictional game of cricket with fictional characters that you have absolutely no connection with yet. And yet, you are reading a 5 star review, howzat?
The research and effort put into Willowman really shines through. Chapters upon chapters of in depth descriptions of the bat making process, from the nurturing of willow tree seedlings all the way to the sound of the crack as ball hits wood. While about half of the book focussed on the career of a young super-talented cricketer Todd Harrow, and the other half follows the batmaker (podshaver) Allan Reader, the real story follows the Reader bat. The bat embodies the spirit of cricket. Handmade with love and wisdom, held close to the heart of the cricketer who bears it and providing a little magic for those who truly believe in it. It wasn’t until Harrow replaced his personal bat for a heavier wallet did he lose his touch. He lost the spirit of cricket.
Willowman touched on some heavier subjects including racism, sexism, and depression to name a few, but never really went anywhere with any of them. Nevertheless, one of my favourite quotes from the book comes from Gibbos statement in respond to racist comments;
“His line, about being proud to play for his country but not proud of what his country has done to his people, would be replayed for the rest of the summer.”
What I got from this book is that it brought to the surface the rawest feeling of change. Nobody inherently likes change, but the way the lives of each and every character change as the novel progressed highlights that change, in many cases, may take a while to show itself as a friend. I experienced the feeling of loss of what could have been if change had not occurred, but was able to see its direct effects on the improvement and development of the characters lives. That is real. And it’s hard to comprehend without a time machine.
Overall, I wish I could experience reading Willowman for the first time again. The range of raw emotion I experienced was like none other, and although the ending wasn’t all sunshine fireworks and rainbows, I think it was the most meaningful and fulfilling.
Inga Simpson will have you getting goosebumps and cheering at a passage of written cricket commentary. Take that as you will.
The research and effort put into Willowman really shines through. Chapters upon chapters of in depth descriptions of the bat making process, from the nurturing of willow tree seedlings all the way to the sound of the crack as ball hits wood. While about half of the book focussed on the career of a young super-talented cricketer Todd Harrow, and the other half follows the batmaker (podshaver) Allan Reader, the real story follows the Reader bat. The bat embodies the spirit of cricket. Handmade with love and wisdom, held close to the heart of the cricketer who bears it and providing a little magic for those who truly believe in it. It wasn’t until Harrow replaced his personal bat for a heavier wallet did he lose his touch. He lost the spirit of cricket.
Willowman touched on some heavier subjects including racism, sexism, and depression to name a few, but never really went anywhere with any of them. Nevertheless, one of my favourite quotes from the book comes from Gibbos statement in respond to racist comments;
“His line, about being proud to play for his country but not proud of what his country has done to his people, would be replayed for the rest of the summer.”
What I got from this book is that it brought to the surface the rawest feeling of change. Nobody inherently likes change, but the way the lives of each and every character change as the novel progressed highlights that change, in many cases, may take a while to show itself as a friend. I experienced the feeling of loss of what could have been if change had not occurred, but was able to see its direct effects on the improvement and development of the characters lives. That is real. And it’s hard to comprehend without a time machine.
Overall, I wish I could experience reading Willowman for the first time again. The range of raw emotion I experienced was like none other, and although the ending wasn’t all sunshine fireworks and rainbows, I think it was the most meaningful and fulfilling.
Inga Simpson will have you getting goosebumps and cheering at a passage of written cricket commentary. Take that as you will.
January 20, 2023
A young cricketer has a dream run, from backyard practice on the farm, through state cricket, to being selected for the big time. An opener with flare, talent and poise, capturing the imagination of the nation.
A middle aged man, working through a divorce and strained relationship with his daughter, makes the cricketer a bat, and sends it to him for his debut as an Australian opening batter.
This is a love letter to cricket, that sound we all love of ball being struck in the middle of the bat, from the middle of the ground. The hair-raising moments of perfection when batter finds his or her groove, and can do nothing wrong. The magic and wonder of the game, the thrill of a five-day test coming down to the wire.
We travel the highs and lows, of being player and fan, through series and life drama. Soaking in the different experiences of cricket travel, from the buzz and energy in Sri Lanka, the edge of South Africa, the prestige of England grounds, and the oppressive heat and grit of Indian crowds. Made my cricket memories come alive again, with all the joys and overwhelm.
This is told from a time just as T20 was introduced - but is a socially advanced time on the page, with an openly queer men's player in the squad, and the equal focus on the women's game.
I knew I would love this read, just from the premise. But didn't fully appreciate how much of the old cricket flame within it would ignite in the special, beautifully written emotional moments.
"It's the orchestra of leather meeting willow, the whoop and huddle of players when a wicket falls, and the generous applause each time a player hits a boundary, takes a wicket or reaches a milestone, no matter which side they're on. With the backing hum of the cicadas, the weight of eucalyptus in the warming air, it all adds up to a kind of meditation."
A middle aged man, working through a divorce and strained relationship with his daughter, makes the cricketer a bat, and sends it to him for his debut as an Australian opening batter.
This is a love letter to cricket, that sound we all love of ball being struck in the middle of the bat, from the middle of the ground. The hair-raising moments of perfection when batter finds his or her groove, and can do nothing wrong. The magic and wonder of the game, the thrill of a five-day test coming down to the wire.
We travel the highs and lows, of being player and fan, through series and life drama. Soaking in the different experiences of cricket travel, from the buzz and energy in Sri Lanka, the edge of South Africa, the prestige of England grounds, and the oppressive heat and grit of Indian crowds. Made my cricket memories come alive again, with all the joys and overwhelm.
This is told from a time just as T20 was introduced - but is a socially advanced time on the page, with an openly queer men's player in the squad, and the equal focus on the women's game.
I knew I would love this read, just from the premise. But didn't fully appreciate how much of the old cricket flame within it would ignite in the special, beautifully written emotional moments.
"It's the orchestra of leather meeting willow, the whoop and huddle of players when a wicket falls, and the generous applause each time a player hits a boundary, takes a wicket or reaches a milestone, no matter which side they're on. With the backing hum of the cicadas, the weight of eucalyptus in the warming air, it all adds up to a kind of meditation."
October 23, 2024
I'm not a sports fan at all; it was only on the strength of my love of Simpson's Mr Wigg that I bought Willowman, and it was with some trepidation that I opened it. But ... I loved it.
I loved how Simpson trusted that I would need no explanation for a 'four', for a 'quick', for the 'slips' or the 'seams'. I loved the characters and their interactions, intimate or distant, her deft treatment of important current issues such as coercive control, concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
I'm not a cricket tragic and never will be, but I grew up in Australia. The kitchen radio was always on through those long summer days, and I suppose it was just osmosis.
This summer, I may even watch a game.
I loved how Simpson trusted that I would need no explanation for a 'four', for a 'quick', for the 'slips' or the 'seams'. I loved the characters and their interactions, intimate or distant, her deft treatment of important current issues such as coercive control, concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
I'm not a cricket tragic and never will be, but I grew up in Australia. The kitchen radio was always on through those long summer days, and I suppose it was just osmosis.
This summer, I may even watch a game.
December 1, 2022
I know nothing about cricket but love Inga Simpson’s writing and the vignettes about music.
April 29, 2024
i LOVED this book - a gorgeous story about relationships, love and growing up, beautifully combined with cricket!!
November 24, 2024
Although ostensibly about cricket it is also about so much more. Love, disappointment, reconciliation and how to make a cricket bat. Allan Reader hand makes a bat for what he sees as being a promising young batter, Todd Harrow. His career goes well using this handcrafted bat until injury and disappointment follow.
April 7, 2024
Interesting information in this book on the history of cricket and bat making. Good read for cricket tragics.
November 12, 2024
Another lovely story from Inga. The detail on bat making, cricket and music was enchanting, interwoven with love and loss.
January 13, 2023
What a charming and wonderfully written book picked up at a local Barossa valley bookshop in South Australia. So glad I did. Just loved the story of Alan the willow bag maker and his craft weaves with the cricket career of a young prodigy who he makes a bat for.
Loved it.
And learnt about willow and woodcraft and cricket!
Loved it.
And learnt about willow and woodcraft and cricket!
January 13, 2023
I first fell in love with Simpson’s Mr Wigg many years ago, and Willowman feels like a return to these roots. An absolutely beautiful book and one of my favourites.
October 30, 2022
A beautiful love letter to cricket. A wonderful entwined story of cricket, batmaking, nature, relationships and music. I love cricket and certainly appreciated the story but I think even for people that are not close to cricket they will appreciate this wonderfully written book. The story follows an up and coming batsman as well as a traditional by hand bat maker. The story is about doing what you love and being authentic in your approach. I also loved the father daughter relationship and the focus on simplicity. A feel good book that grounds us and gets us focused on the important things of life. Highly recommend!
February 12, 2023
Willowman by Inga Simpson is an Australian cricketing novel, set just before T20 re-sculptured the cricketing landscape. If you are not a cricket tragic, a lot of this novel will be stifling boring, but if like me, you love cricket, it’s lovely gentle read.
The story follows the life of bat maker (or podshaver) Allan Reader, and an elite young cricketer Todd Harrow. The bat makers workshop is beautifully portrayed - a place where you would love to spend a morning just watching cricket bats coming to life. The most fascinating part of the story are when Reader visits his willow trees and painstakingly chooses a tree to make a bat - carefully considering who will ultimately use the bat.
The story very much portrays the feel of summer in Australia - cricket on the radio, everyone following the test score, kids at all levels playing cricket fixtures.
Through the character of Harrow, Simpson explores what it means to be an elite cricketer - Harrow plays for Queensland and has his early cricketing life on the Sunshine Coast. I’m also a Queenslander so it was enjoyable to read a novel set in my home state, and in my home town; Brisbane. I love the bits where Harrow goes jogging along the river at New Farm. I didn’t however feel I was really inhabiting the world of Harrow as I did Reader’s bat making world. Although, I did enjoy Harrow’s tour with Australia A to Sri Lanka, where Harrow has his breakout innings. Harrow seems an amalgamation of different cricketers with Simpson incorporating antidotes, such as the coffee making antics of Adam Zampa from the recent TV series The Test.
Harrow’s sister, Olivia is also an elite cricketer, and is such a great character I think we should encourage Inga Simpson to write a sequel with Olivia the focus of the story.
If you don’t like cricket don’t read this book, if you don’t like Queenslanders don’t read the book. But if you are a cricketing loving Queenslander you find this book a very comforting summer read.
The story follows the life of bat maker (or podshaver) Allan Reader, and an elite young cricketer Todd Harrow. The bat makers workshop is beautifully portrayed - a place where you would love to spend a morning just watching cricket bats coming to life. The most fascinating part of the story are when Reader visits his willow trees and painstakingly chooses a tree to make a bat - carefully considering who will ultimately use the bat.
The story very much portrays the feel of summer in Australia - cricket on the radio, everyone following the test score, kids at all levels playing cricket fixtures.
Through the character of Harrow, Simpson explores what it means to be an elite cricketer - Harrow plays for Queensland and has his early cricketing life on the Sunshine Coast. I’m also a Queenslander so it was enjoyable to read a novel set in my home state, and in my home town; Brisbane. I love the bits where Harrow goes jogging along the river at New Farm. I didn’t however feel I was really inhabiting the world of Harrow as I did Reader’s bat making world. Although, I did enjoy Harrow’s tour with Australia A to Sri Lanka, where Harrow has his breakout innings. Harrow seems an amalgamation of different cricketers with Simpson incorporating antidotes, such as the coffee making antics of Adam Zampa from the recent TV series The Test.
Harrow’s sister, Olivia is also an elite cricketer, and is such a great character I think we should encourage Inga Simpson to write a sequel with Olivia the focus of the story.
If you don’t like cricket don’t read this book, if you don’t like Queenslanders don’t read the book. But if you are a cricketing loving Queenslander you find this book a very comforting summer read.
December 27, 2022
I found this book quite meditative. It’s one for the cricket fans with its play by play account of games, but there is a peaceful rhythm to the story, like a Test match slowly building tension and anticipation. The story of the willow man, which paralleled the story of the cricket prodigy, reminded me a bit of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for all its deliberation over the making of bats. I liked that the story of women’s cricket was woven into the narrative and honoured for its contribution to the game. I also liked how the women’s game became the story after being a sub plot.
May 19, 2024
Not a cricket fan I am surprised at how engaged I was with this book. It slowly unfolds like yes a game of cricket. The willowman and his daughter are great characters. I would think it is superbly researched since it has been overseen by Malcolm Knox, a highly regarded sports writer and indeed one of my favourite novelists. I love a book that is so well written it takes you into a world you didn’t even want to be in but then you want to stay.
January 25, 2023
This is a wonderful book for cricket lovers. Incredible detail of games played, training, touring and how a special willow bat plays it’s part in a cricketers life and career. I enjoyed the characters portrayed, although not always believable, they carried the story along. A good read.
April 4, 2025
I’m a big fan of Inga Simpson but sadly not a big fan of cricket. Although Willow Man was beautifully written, including some interesting history and information about bat making, for me there was just way too much cricket.
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