February book club - Three Things About Elsie

I keep checking back to see if Joanna has made any replies about our comments !!

How I loved this book. I wanted to get to the end to solve the mystery as quickly as possible but, at the same time, I didn't want it to end but I was enjoying it so much. I can't wait to read more by this author if this is her standard of story writing.

I did guess a couple of important things right at the beginning but it didn't spoilt the story for me as there were still lots of twists and turns in the plot I hadn't anticipated. I'm still not entirely sure about a few aspects of the story as it was difficult at times to separate 'fact' from fiction but can't really mention them as they are spoilers! Sorry my review is a bit late but I'm been recovering from an operation so didn't feel up to reading so much.

How I loved this book. I wanted to get to the end to solve the mystery as quickly as possible but, at the same time, I didn't want it to end but I was enjoying it so much. I can't wait to read more by this author if this is her standard of story writing.

I did guess a couple of important things right at the beginning but it didn't spoilt the story for me as there were still lots of twists and turns in the plot I hadn't anticipated. I'm still not entirely sure about a few aspects of the story as it was difficult at times to separate 'fact' from fiction but can't really mention them as they are spoilers! Sorry my review is a bit late but I'm been recovering from an operation so didn't feel up to reading so much.

well done, harrigran it may have been the end of the month, and you're reviewing the book - but reviewers don't give the ending away. What about people who may want to read the book after the end of February?

Thank you so much for my copy, it was such a pleasure to read, I enjoyed the little nuggets of humor in what was essentially a moving and thoughtful tale. The ending was a surprise not at all what I was expecting.

Sorry Harrigan. You are right, it was the end of February. I'm sorry for being hasty.

I felt justified in relating the story as it is the last day of February and they ask us to submit our reviews by the end of the month.

Harrigran is supposed to be reviewing it ! I think what she has written is fine. One wouldn't read 50 reviews if you didn't want to know what the story is about.

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?

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.

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 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 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 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 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?

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thanks, Mapleleaf, that's very kind of you

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!