Helen Cartwright has moved back to her small home village after living her life overseas. She has lost both her husband and her son and she has come home to mark time until her own death. She stays in her cottage almost all the time, leaving only for absolute necessities and rarely speaks to anyone. Then it happens.
Helen brings in a discarded fish tank only to discover she has also brought in a mouse. At first she is appalled but then slowly decides to let him stay and starts to change her routine to accommodate him. She starts to make friends as she ventures out to find items to feed and challenge him and to keep him healthy. Eventually Sipsworth, as she names him, creates a new life for Helen with interest in other people and in having a pet.
Simon Van Booy spent his early life in North Wales but currently lives in the United States. His books are known for their exploration of relationships and for their gentleness. I loved this book as Helen's boring, quietly desperate life is turned into one of interest and joy. This book is recommended for all readers but especially for those who enjoy literary fiction.
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