The bestselling author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep delivers a suspenseful and emotionally satisfying novel “infused with warmth and humor” (People) about a lifelong friendship, a devastating secret, and the small acts of kindness that bring people together. There are three things you should know about Elsie. The first thing is that she’s my best friend. The second is that she always … The second is that she always knows what to say to make me feel better. And the third thing…might take a bit more explaining.
Eighty-four-year-old Florence has fallen in her flat at Cherry Tree Home for the Elderly. As she waits to be rescued, she thinks about her friend Elsie and wonders if a terrible secret from their past is about to come to light. If the charming new resident is who he claims to be, why does he look exactly like a man who died sixty years ago?
From the acclaimed, bestselling author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, Three Things About Elsie “breathes with suspense, providing along the way piercing, poetic descriptions, countless tiny mysteries, and breathtaking little reveals…a rich portrait of old age and friendship stretched over a fascinating frame” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). This is an “amusing and heartbreaking” (Publishers Weekly) story about forever friends on the twisting path of life who come to understand how the fine threads of humanity connect us all.
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Even though I figured out what was going to happen well in advance, I still enjoyed the story. I found the way Flo dealt with her memory losses realistic and touching.
very sad
Takes place in a British home for old folks. First-person narrator who, with her friends, is trying to solve a mystery from her past. The humor comes from her observations about the residents and residence, and about being old. The author cleverly releases information at a good pace. A fun read!
This was a most unusual interesting read. Sad, funny, a mystery and an ending I didn’t see coming. I’m 75 and really enjoy reading about seniors, and this was an enjoyable page turner.
I really liked this book because it took place in a nursing home, and I have never read a book that had a nursing home as the settiing. It gave a good look at what life was like in a facility, and what aging, and the past, can do to one’s mind. It was also a good mystery.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Hard to put it down. Very thoughtful and surprising ending.
Joanna Cannon is such a unique author. I was a huge fan of The Trouble With Goats And Sheep, her debut, which was told largely from the point of view of children. This time, the author spins her magic around a senior citizen.
On the surface of it, this book may seem almost like a cosy crime, but it is so much more than that. In its own humorous and touching way it is a study of humanity.
The author’s eloquence is unusual, original, and so perfect for the moment she is attempting to capture. She transports – and by that I don’t simply mean the feeling that you are in the story or at the location where it takes place (in themselves no small feat); Joanna Cannon transports you inside the characters, making you feel exactly what they are feeling.
And what characters! Every single person – yes, you truly feel as though they are a person and not a character – is brought to life, complete with idiosyncrasies. There were countless times I laughed at this book. Almost as often, I wiped away tears. Now that I’ve finished, I know they will remain with me for some time.
I recommend Three Things About Elsie wholeheartedly. This book is a joy to read. Just don’t forget to have your hankies nearby as well as your bookmark.
What a phenomenally beautiful story! This was the first book I read this year, and it will stick with me for many years to come, I’m sure. An absolute must-read… and re-read and re-re-read…
The descriptions Ms Cameron uses give us a totally different image of every day feelings and events. Her writing is beautiful. She’s an amazing author.
Her first book, The Trouble With Goats and Sheep, is equally wonderful.
I can’t wait for her next book.
This was a very charming story about the realities of old age. There is humor, as well as warmth and a surprise ending. I enjoyed it very much!