February book club - Three Things About Elsie

I really enjoyed this book but preferred the build up as I thought the unravelling of the truth was a little rushed at the end.
I found myself hoping for more for Simon and Miss Ambrose and wasn't disappointed.
Yet another GN book that would make a good film.

For me, this book was a delight from start to finish. I love Joanna Cannon’s writing. She has a magical way with words, and weaves the most descriptive phrases, and both humour and pathos, easily and naturally into every chapter. Sometimes her writing reminds me of Alan Bennett and every page has gems such as "Elsie's father left for the war and came back as a telegram on the mantelpiece." Her characterisation is spot on; from the main protagonists to the people who just appear briefly, they are all well-rounded and believable and have their parts to play in the story.

The icing on the cake for me was the holiday in Whitby, which I know very well. Joanna really captured its essence and brought it to life. My question was going to be about her relationship with the town, but I read in her acknowledgements that it’s her very favourite place on earth. It’s mine too, and when she mentioned “wandering around Woolworths”, it took me straight back to my schooldays when I had a Saturday and holiday job there. Lovely memories!

I've read that there are already plans for screen versions of Elsie and of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, and for at least two more books. I can’t wait! And my question would be relating to the next novel - can we have a hint as to what the subject's going to be this time?

Thank you again for a great read.

I was so excited to get my copy of Elsie, but also a little worried that might be disappointed as I so enjoyed ' The trouble with goats and sheep's. However, I need not have worried, because if anything 'Three things about Elsie' is even better. It's the sort of book where you suddenly realise that something you read pages ago has relevance, and you have to jump back and reread that bit. One example of that only occurred to me a couple of hours after finishing the book!(I am being very careful not to mention spoilers)
I found the characters to be most believable, and appreciated the attention paid even to those who only occurred briefly. I would like to ask Joanna if she works out the plot before she starts writing, or just lets it evolve. The clues are so cleverly interwoven that I would expect it to be the former!
Congratulations, Joanna, on another amazing book - I shall look forward to your next novel.

A very moving story but told with a light touch and humour too. I wasn't sure I would enjoy it at first but it became increasingly hard to put down. I must say that didn't guess the third thing about Elsie...oh, and I now really want to visit Whitby!

I am only partway through but enjoying it! and wondering if my theory about the third thing about Elsie will prove to be right.

Enjoyed this book very much, it was nostalgic, sad, humourus, and scary reading in parts, I could feel the loneliness and confusion seeping through the pages, dementia a place no one wishes to visit.... but Whitby, a frequent haunt of mine and lovely to hear it described so lovingly in this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is so well written and deals with the horrors of dementia in a sensitive way. As other posters have said, it has moments of humour and nostalgia too, and I, too, felt all the characters were very believable.
Thank you for this book.
I would like to ask Joanna if she has had personal experience of watching someone struggling with dementia, as she shows a good understanding of it in her writing, dealing with it sensitively and compassionately.

The last book I read which was set in a care home was also courtesy of Gransnet: The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old. As I had found that to be a quite depressing read, I approached Three Things about Elsie with some trepidation. Within a few pages though, I found that I was captivated by the way in which Joanna Cannon brings her characters to life. The author writes in such a gentle way, with deep insight, real understanding and empathy.
This is one of those stories which is difficult to talk about without spoiling so I’ll simply agree here with those previous posters who have enjoyed this book. Above all, it is the quality of the writing which makes this book exceptional. The way the author constructs the dialogues, the vividness of descriptions and the complex storyline speak for themselves. This is a story about friendship and growing old, together with the gradual unravelling of a mystery which goes back years. It provides a poignant and perceptive account of living with early dementia. Florence’s frustration as she attempts to get her point across at times and her inability to convey her thoughts in a coherent manner are so vividly portrayed.
To quote from the book itself:
1.The fine threads of humanity will connect us all forever.
2.There is so very much more to anyone than the worst thing they have ever done.
3.Even the smallest life can leave the loudest echo.

Verdict: A beautiful read.

My question for Joanna: What was the impetus for wanting to write this book?

So eloquently put, GeminiJen. You've expressed what I was trying to say so much better. ?

I enjoyed this book very much and in particular the descriptions and metaphors which were a joy.

"It didn't take them long to undo my life. I had spent eighty years building it, but within weeks, they made it small enough to fit into a manila envelope and take along to meetings. They kidnapped it. They hurried it away from me when I least expected, when I thought I could coat myself in old age and be left to it."

That is so sad and poignant, her life small enough to fit into a manila envelope

It is very thought-provoking too, for those of us who are staring into the unknown of old age.

The storyline was complex and I did not expect some of the pieces of the jigsaw to slot together quite like that at the end, but I will say no more at the moment in case others have not yet read it.

This book has left me with many thoughts and a renewed resolve to visit Whitby!

Thanks, Mapleleaf, that's very kind of you

Joanna, what a great read, I loved it..the secrets, the poignancy, the sadness and also the hope.I loved Florence and I think you handled that subject very sympathetically, as it shows you the person BEHIND the dementia, showing that Florence was alive and vibrant and every now and again you got a glimpse of the woman and girl that she was.
Whitby was an unexpected delight to the story, since it is my favourite place too, and I was thinking that as a lot of Gransnetters have commented that it is their favourite place too, do you have any plans to involve Whitby in any further books?
Well done, it made me think, a lot, and I am still thinking about it a week after finishing it. Thank you.

Thank you for sending me such a riveting read. I could not put it down as I was overcome with so many emotions. An unexpected drawing together of all the threads. Such depth in exploring aging and friendship and much more.

Many thanks for my free copy.
I started reading it straight away.
This book is full of surprises, right to the last few pages when even more are revealed. I read it in a couple of days couldn't put it down. There are parts of it that make you chuckle and agree and other parts that are so sad, but I found I could relate to the entire story. Its brilliant and written with real feeling and so so clever. I am not going to comment on the story as I believe that would spoil it for the reader except to say I really enjoyed reading it...Do try it too.

After reading this book, I was so impressed that I lent it to a friend who reads a great deal. His view was 'hmmm, not sure', to begin with. When he got to the end he said it was brilliant, well written and surprising.

I didn’t get a free copy so bought my own as I loved Joanna’s previous book so much.

I wasn’t sure what I thought of this one at first but as time went in I really fell in love with the characters and wanted to sit down with “Flo” and share a cuppa and a slice of Battenburg . Like, previous poster Pittcity has said I had high hopes for Simon and miss Ambrose and wasn’t disappointed . I agree this would make a lovely film.

I so agree with your friend Hippynan.When I first began reading I could not understand all the enthusiasm on this thread.I thought I would be the only one making a negative comment but by the time I reached the end I could appreciate how skilfully it had been written and how much humour and perception it contained.I cannot praise it highly enough but I would say it is not a book to be read quickly or superficially.There is so much in it and Florence is an absolute delight.I would like to ask Joanna how long it took her to write the book and to say thank you for such a delightful story.

A moving story of age, memory loss and the dignity of trying to preserve identity. Flo tries to understand the past to make sense of the present, but there is a problem. She has gaps in her memory and recollections slide away from her and hide in the recesses of her mind. Her friend Elsie tries to help her remember things.
I love the way that Flo’s memory loss it written about. Memories are difficult to pin down, they drift off and you have to chase them, tether them and bring them back. Memories don’t leave, they are waiting, shouting unheard from the back of your mind, waiting for you to work out how to find them again. A word, a smell, a face, a song – then they flood back as if they have never left.
I like the way that profound thoughts are slipped into the story. e.g. Are care homes to protect the elderly from society or to protect society from the uncomfortable presence of the old?
Part of the story is set in Whitby, where a visit is arranged for the residents of Cherry Tree house. I visit Whitby regularly so could envisage the places mentioned. West cliff with its hotels and drinks kiosk, Bothams Tea shop with the music shop nearby, the windows a riot of instruments. The glass and concrete modern library, the swing bridge, the narrow, cobbled street lined with quaint shops selling jet and holiday souvenirs. I hope the Cherry tree residents were fit enough to face the steep incline between the river and West cliff, that is a real test of age!
Three things about Elsie you should know. One is that Flo has known her since she was a child and she is her best friend. Two is that she always knows what to say to make Flo feel better. Three is hovering there in Flo’s mind but she can’t just pin it down. We realise what the third thing is at the end of the story, and it comes as a totally unexpected twist.

I should also add that as well as being concerned with the problem of memory loss in old age, the book has a murder mystery element threading though. I would like to ask the author how difficult it was to balance the two elements?

I haven't read Joanna's debut novel so came to this book with no pre-set expectations and was drawn in from the very first page. Florence, the main character, is beautifully drawn with details emerging as and when necessary to help the reader see her as a whole. Each of the other characters is so distinctive that there is no problem mixing them up or confusing their importance in Florence's story. The confusion Florence experiences is largely brought out by the way the story switches between past and present but at no time is this a problem for the reader and the flow is never interrupted, a rare talent in writing.
The underlying mystery emerges naturally through the thoughts and flashes of memory that Florence encounters so far from being frustrating for the reader it just helps develop her character more fully. Just when you think you have found the truth of the past that thought is snatched away by another twist in the tale yet the reader never feels cheated by this.
The book is funny, touching, full of emotion and, as Florence learns, we all touch the lives of many others even if only through a single action. In this case Joanna has done just that for her readers.
It is many years since I have visited Whitby yet I could see myself walking though the streets and round the harbour with the residents of Cherry Tree. Given that writers are often advised to write about what they know Joanna has drawn on both her career and her favourite place for this novel. I should love to ask Joanna if she found the plot or the characters came most easily to her and if she plans her novels before embarking on writing.

I think I enjoyed this book! Some aspects made me sad, the prejudices about old people and their thoughts and opinions not being taken seriously, the assumption that they their individuality is all dementia. I wondered whether Florence’s thoughts were all dementia, was Elsie really there, was there a Ronnie? Certainly I was hooked on knowing the ending. So thoughtfully and cleverly written. The phrase “Or have I spent the last eighty-four years just sitting in the audience” was particularly unsettling.

I really enjoyed this story. Funny, sad , poignant and amusing. I also love Whitby and enjoyed the descriptions of it. Thanks Joanna for an excellent book. I would strongly recommend it.

I approached the book with trepidation, wondering why any writer would choose to write a novel on this theme.
Somebody has to, I suppose, and JC has done it very cleverly.
I was hooked from page one and found it to be a real page turner. The language used gives it a light touch and JC has a delightful turn of phrase, which keeps the reader engaged.
I had a very emotional response to the book. I teared up many a time, but I smiled a lot too.
This made me wonder, how does a writer plan/create such a response amongst the readers? Were all of these emotions intentional or ' just happened'?
Quite how much of the book 'just happened'?
The way the plot opened up gradually to reveal the story a little at a time was very cleverly done.
Must have required a lot of planning and thought?
Thank you for a great read, for being thought provoking.
I'm thinking, whilst still there is time, I had better stop being just one of the audience!

I persevered with this book but found it repepitive with little real story.
It was obvious from the beginning that these were the ramblings of a person with dementia and that Elsie was not really there with her.
This book would probably have worked better as a short story in a magazine.

Such a shame you gave part of the story away harrigran as there may be some readers who haven't finished the book yet. You didn't like it, fair enough, but why the spoiler?