Mr Wigg in Aussie Readers

May 28, 2014 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: recommendation-gr-friend, 2013-release, own-read, favourites, aussie-authors, contemporary-fiction

Mr Wigg was living alone now; his wife had passed away almost a year ago, and he missed her daily. He loved his orchard with all his fruit trees that he had cultivated over the years – peaches, nectarines, apricots, oranges, persimmons and more. He tended to them daily; his wife’s beloved rose garden wasn’t looking as lovely as it had when she’d been alive – the rose garden had been his wife’s domain, the orchard his. Now he found he was busy from dawn to dusk as there was always something to do Mr Wigg was living alone now; his wife had passed away almost a year ago, and he missed her daily. He loved his orchard with all his fruit trees that he had cultivated over the years – peaches, nectarines, apricots, oranges, persimmons and more. He tended to them daily; his wife’s beloved rose garden wasn’t looking as lovely as it had when she’d been alive – the rose garden had been his wife’s domain, the orchard his. Now he found he was busy from dawn to dusk as there was always something to do; the chooks (his ladies) kept him in eggs on a daily basis. And while he was working in the house, he listened to the cricket – it was 1971 and the Ashes was playing; Australia V England but Australia wasn’t faring too well.

When Mr Wigg’s grandchildren, Fiona and Lachlan came to visit, the house would come alive. They would cook special apple pies and strawberry tarts together; and Mr Wigg would tell them stories of the Peach King and the Orchard Queen. But Mr Wigg’s son wanted him to move into town; to sell his beloved farm with his orchard – his life was on the farm, but his son thought he was too old to live out there on his own…

As the seasons passed, Mr Wigg kept busy – he was working on a project; it was a challenge but he knew he could do it. He just wished Mrs Wigg was here to see his work…

What an absolutely divine piece of work! Aussie author Inga Simpson has a most amazing talent and a way with words that I don’t think I have ever seen before. There are many sections of this book that made me sigh with delight, but this particular passage caught my eye:

Mr Wigg wandered through his arbour of blossom. The apricots, dressed in white, and the nectarines and peaches in rose pink, reached for each other with fresh generosity. Their foliage was a rich emerald, the air heavy with perfume and the hum of bees. Page 221.

I also think that the cover is perfection! I read Nest earlier this year which is the author’s second novel, and loved it. And I can’t wait for her next release. I have no hesitation in recommending Mr Wigg highly, and thank the many goodreads friends who kept telling me to read it.
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Mar 24, 2014 Michael Livingston rated it liked it

A quiet, simple story about an old man and his orchard. The plot is minimal - some reflections on family - but the writing about gardening, cooking and the outdoors is lovely.

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Jan 12, 2017 Kathryn rated it really liked it

Shelves: australian-authors, reading-list-2017, 4-stars, kathryns-aty-2017, fiction

Set in 1971 and spanning about a year, with the start being rooted in an Ashes cricket series, this is such a gentle story about Mr Wigg, his orchard, and his family. Everything in Mr Wigg’s life revolves around his fruit - he prunes his trees and talks to them (and they talk and sing back to him…!), he harvests them, and makes their fruit into preserves and cakes and tarts and puddings with his little helpers, Lachlan and Fiona.

I’m definitely looking forward to reading Inga Simpson’s other work ...more

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Feb 05, 2014 Robin rated it really liked it

The tagline of this book says it all - 'a novel that celebrates the small things in life.'

It took me a few chapters just to slow down my expectations and get into the rhythm of this book and then it became very seductive - like strolling through a fragrant orchard on a summer day. So much of Mr Wigg's relationships with his family and his philosophy of life are revealed in the small day to day events of his life. The writing is simple and uncluttered, but amply illustrates the fact that there i ...more

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Jun 05, 2014 Louise rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1837-1950ce, 1950ce-onwards, book-club, australiana

A lovely little book that follows a year in the life of old Mr Wigg - with a not-totally-unexpected ending.

Meet Mr Wigg: recently widowed; a reluctant wheat farmer; an enthusiastic fruitgrower; an artistic blacksmith; and an adequate father.

Set in the early 1970's, this is the sort of story that sends you outside to tend your fruit and vegetable gardens, to spend time in the kitchen preserving fruit, making jams and relishes, and enjoying the results.
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