The Wisdom of the Willow

A Writer Shed Review

Author Nancy Chadwick’s novel, The Wisdom of the Willow has two levels of appreciation. It reads like a kind of fable and at the same time leads the reader on an epic family journey. Both a narrative about the shared human condition and about the bonds of family, the novel tells the story of four sisters and their link to a willow tree on the family property. The tree is one their mother sees as the natural world’s way of showing her daughters the many paths in life, how to navigate with a firm and endearing center, and how to carry on.

The prose is gentle and softly leads the reader through a story told by a writer who understands deeply the emotional link between man and nature. The natural world plays a role in this story. as if it is a character itself. That’s part of the novel’s appeal. Through the combination of novel writing and nature writing, Chadwick creates a narrative with a delicate and charming touch.

Sisterhood is also a strong thread in this story, and how in the end for many of us, family and especially sibling bonds are the core of our being. The ups and downs of life are related through the lens of this indelible thread that ties us together. We are individuals, yet the family is our center. That unmistakable bond acts as a kind of narrative fuel in this quiet and perceptive story.

In the end, The Wisdom of the Willow is a story that should be read under a great tree somewhere, in the quiet of a late, lazy afternoon. And as you read, you can look up through the branches to the sky and see the reflection of your own saga and be reminded how linked we all are to family and nature.

Other books by Nancy Chadwick: BOOKS