Netherland - Joseph O'Neill

This book claims (via the blurb) to be about cricket. I happen to think cricket is deadly dull, the only sport (if you can call it that) that's duller is golf. Luckily the cricket is the focus of this novel at all. It's about relationships, between Hans, the main character, his wife Rachel, their son, Jake and between Hans and his strange friend Chuck. Chuck and Hans meet at a cricket match. Hans is Dutch (re-read the title, there's something clever going on there!) and the only white player in the many New York based cricket teams he encounters. Chuck is an umpire. He's also a dreamer, a schemer and the man who wishes to introduce cricket to mainstream America. The game is played mainly by ex-pats and their descendents, from the West Indies, the Indian subcontinent, the Caribbean and South Africa (all cricket mad nations). Chuck wants to change this. As his marriage is falling apart and his wife has returned to England, Hans finds himself drawn into Chuck's many schemes (some quite dangerous), as he remembers his mother, and struggles to come to a decision regarding his relationship with his wife.
It's quite slow in parts (much like cricket), and it meanders along, not requiring a huge mental involvement. People who like cricket will get some of the references, but they're not essential to the plot, so don't worry if you find it all rather boring. It comes to a nice conclusion, and Hans is quite likable in a dry humoured way. His descriptions of the other residents of the Chelsea Hotel where he's living are quite entertaining. Well written and thoughtful.