Three Things About Elsie: A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick 2018
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By Joanna Cannon
avg rating
4 reviews
One of The Reading Agency Books of the Year 2018
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84-year-old Florence has fallen in her flat at Cherry Tree Home for the Elderly.
As she waits to be rescued, she considers the charming new resident who looks exactly like a man she once knew – a man who died sixty years ago.
His arrival has stirred distant memories she and Elsie thought they’d laid to rest.
Lying prone in the front room, Florence wonders if a terrible secret from her past is about to come to light…
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Interesting that so many people loved this book but I found it so dull. I didn’t empathize with any of the characters, found the plot devices too obvious and was just glad to get to the end.The ending did tie up all the loose ends but, goodness me, I had to wade through the other 400 pages to get there and I did finish it for my local library book group. I wasn’t a fan of Richard Osman’s books either, maybe I’m being a bit ageist, but I am in my 60’s so maybe it’s a bit close for comfort.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. A real page turner. Full of emotion and understanding, the story made me smile and yet it contained some very serious messages. Florence became a part of my life whilst I was reading the novel, and it will be a long time before I forget her.
Florence is an elderly lady living in sheltered accommodation. On suffering a fall she begins to recall an episode from her past brought to mind by the appearance of a new and quite frightening resident. After several twists in the plot the reader eventually learns the “three things about Elsie”.
A book I would definitely recommend as it deals sensitively with the subject of aging and dementia as well as having a very intriguing plot.
This book is a total delight from start to finish. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me want to keep on turning the pages. It's very deftly written and with such a light and sensitive touch that I didn't realise until I'd finished just how big some of the issues that come up are. It's set in a sheltered housing establishment for elderly people but it's also a gentle crime thriller with some heartwrenching twists and turns. It's so beautifully written, so easy to read and such a good story that I'd recommend it to anyone. It's the next book for our reading group, Book Swap, Durham, and I'm so looking forward to discussing it with everyone. There's such a lot in there for us to get our teeth into. Hope there'll be Battenburg, too. (Many thanks to Borough Press, Harper Fiction and The Reading Agency for providing the books)
I absolutely loved this book. It's sweet and funny, as well as at times very poignant. You will be rooting for Florence, Elsie and all the characters.
