I really enjoyed the beginning and end of this book, but it drifted in the middle. I think it would've benefitted from being shorter, at times I was willing it to move along. It does give a beautiful understanding of being elderly (not that I'm there yet). The plot is almost none existent during the middle chapters. When I read Goats and Sheep, I thought the style of writing was brilliant, but here, after a while it became repetitive; words were so often falling out of mouths or rearranging them selves into sentences. This would have been more effective if not used so many times. If you haven't read Joanna Cannon's first book, please do; I found it so much better than this one.

I loved The Trouble with Goats and Sheep. Joanna Cannons first novel and wondered whether Three Things About Elsie could be as good. Well it certainly is as good. I would even go as far as to say it's even better. I loved Florence and Elsie's story. They made me laugh out loud but I finished the story with a large lump in my throat. I highly recommend this book, it's amazing!

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

How could Joanna Cannon top the suburban slow burn of The Trouble With Goats and Sheep? It was one of my favourite books of the year. Yet, incredibly, she’s bettered it with Elsie. The book is a mystery based on memory, acted out by very real characters in a haunting storyline which asks: what is real? Her turn of phrase is sublime and her descriptions, of skies, of people, places and emotions, feel so familiar, she has the rare skill of making us wholly identify with her characters. Brilliant. Joanna Cannon is such a talent.

I haven't read Joanna Cannon's best-seller The Trouble with Goats and Sheep but I had read the hype around it so I was really looking forward to this book. I picked it up and put it back down on numerous occasions but I couldn’t get into story. I did persevere to the end though. I found it very slow moving and realised early on what made up Elsie's character. Not for me I am afraid.

Just loved this book with it's original descriptions of dementia. The writing style is slightly quirky but excellent. The mixture of characters on both sides of the sheltered housing location were charming. I found it especially interesting as my parents have recently moved in to a close care apartment. Arguably though Cherry Trees has a lot more going on !!!! Must try to read Joanna's first book which, for some reason, I missed.

I would like to thank HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Three Things About Elsie’ by Joanna Cannon in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Florence Claybourne who’s in her eighties has had a fall in her flat at the Cherry Tree Retirement Home and as she lies on the floor she thinks back to the secret she’s kept for many years. Her best friend is Elsie who always knows what to say to make Florence feel better, and Jack who always has good ideas. There’s a new resident at Cherry Tree, Gabriel Price, who looks identical to a man from her past, Ronnie Butler, but he can’t be, can he? Ronnie Butler drowned sixty years ago.
This novel succeeds in what I believe it intends doing by making me feel uneasy as the new resident creeps around Florence’s flat, moving objects, starting a fire with her iron, making Miss Ambrose and Miss Bissell who are in charge believe that Florence is suffering from dementia, threatening her with going to live at Greenhills.
I like the way Joanna Cannon describes elderly people which I think is spot-on. The ending left me open-mouthed with surprise, but sad at the same time. This is a gentle and thought-provoking novel which I enjoyed greatly and which will stay with me for some time.

I absolutely loved Joanna Cannon’s previous novel: The Trouble With Goats and Sheep and her second novel does not disappoint. I dare to say that Three Things About Elsie actually surpasses Goats and Sheep.

Florence lives in sheltered accommodation and in fear of being moved to the dreaded residential care facility at Greenbank. She spends her time in conversation with her friends Elsie and Jack.

The arrival of a new resident who calls himself Gabriel Price greatly disturbs Florence with his uncanny resemblance to a man from her past: Ronnie Butler who supposedly drowned. Florence, Elsie and Jack set about investigating who this man actually is.

The characters in this novel are beautifully drawn and I warmed to all of them. Joanna Cannon has said that one of her major influences is Alan Bennett and that can be seen clearly in Three Things... There is same gentle humour and acute observation. I was reminded of Bennett’s television play – A Cream Cracker under the Settee.

This is a beautifully written novel. It is delicate, very funny, desperately touching, clever and real. It is about memory, secrets and friendship.

I don't normally highlight passages on my Kindle but I've lost count of the number I did within Elsie the prose is so clever.

“Elsie’s father left for the war and returned as a telegram on the mantelpiece.”

“No matter how long or how short a time you are here, the world is ever so slightly different because you existed.”

“Even the smallest life can leave the loudest echo.”

Bravo Joanna Cannon.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

When an old acquaintance arrives at the home where Florence lives, it triggers memories of a painful history that she thought she'd forgotten.
A story of friendship with a twist. Loved this book, especially the unexpected ending. Thank you.

Florence is 84 and lives in sheltered accommodation. Her ability to continue coping there is currently under review by the staff, and the threat of being moved to Greenbank hangs over her head like the sword of Damocles. Daily life is disrupted with the arrival of a new resident- one who bears a remarkable similarity to someone in her past life, and she sets out to investigate the whys and wherefores.
There are times when this novel feels too bleak to bear, and others when Joanna Cannon’s fresh, chunky dialogue and sense of fun compensates. As in The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, the characters here spring to life, although it takes a while, and interestingly, the writer spends as much time developing the apparent under-achievements in the lives of the staff, in the form of Miss Ambrose and Handy Simon, as she does in her study of the residents.
While the conclusions drawn on the mark we leave by the life we live is comforting, this sneak preview of how confusion sets in is troubling. Did I like this? Yes, but not all the time. This is thought provoking for a reader of a certain age, but still manages to be funny, sensitive, unexpected and entertaining.
With thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction

Sometimes you come across a book that you just love. This is one of those books.
I love the way it is written, I love the quirky characters, the humour and the way the plot develops.
It is beautiful and reflective and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
5 stars *****

Enjoyed reading this book, amusing in places and kept in suspense about what happened.
Loved the twist, very unexpected, that there was no Elsie.
Not the ususal book I would read but did enjoy it.

Florence has had a fall in her flat in Cherry Trees sheltered accommodation and while she waits for someone to find her we go back in time and find out how she got here, and the incidents leading to her fall including the arrival of Gabriel Price. But is that his real name? Florence is convinced he's really Ronnie Butler, a man she believed had died in 1953 and needs her friend Elsie's help to work out what is really going on. Time is running out though as Florence's increasingly erratic behaviour has put her on probation with the threat of being moved to Greenbank known amongst the residents as god's waiting room.

I changed my opinion of this book several times whilst reading it. I started off with high hopes having loved Joanna Cannon's first novel and initially found this one to be equally funny and touching. However, mid-way through I felt myself becoming slightly bored and having to make myself keep reading- I was so glad I did. I loved the ending, with all the loose ends coming together beautifully with previously insignificant comments and stories linking together for a really satisfying conclusion.

I enjoyed this book, it's a sweet story and I loved the three main characters Florence, Elsie and Jack. It's set in the Cherry Tree Care home for the elderly and when a new male resident arrives, Florence is convinced he is Ronnie Butler who drowned when she was a young woman. Florence and her friends set out to find out who this man really is.
The mystery of who Ronnie Butler is and why Florence wants to keep her past hidden kept me reading on, although I did find some parts of the book a bit slow. There are some good twists and Elsie's and Jack's characters are amusing as well as a little sad.
Overall a good read.

I rather liked this. It is reminiscent of Elizabeth is Missing, in that an elderly woman with dementia tries to solve a mystery from the past. The characters were very sympathetically drawn and realistic. There is a lot of humour and also pathos. The care home set-up is not quite how it really works!! (I hope). I got a little lost after Whitby - I think I was possibly reading too fast and missed some crucial bits, as I had to re-read some of it to clarify what had or had not actually happened. There are a couple of twists, and a nice gentle coincidence towards the end. I had read Goats and Sheep previously and liked it. This is just as quirky and makes a rather refreshing change from the formulaic run of the mill stuff that is out there.

Another great book from Joanna, she seems to be able to make you feel like you’ve known the characters all your life. A very well thought out book!

I enjoyed "goats and sheep" the author's first novel and absolutely loved this one! The characters were so well written it felt at times the story got in their way and I just wanted to read about their present lives. I was particularly pleased they all went on a trip to Whitby as it is one of my favourite places and great to see it so lovingly described.
I felt that the author managed to be warm, witty and wise with some really beautiful writing. I will definitely be recommending it

Elsie is Florence’s best friend in the sheltered housing complex where we also encounter other eccentric residents and some unforgettable characters such as General Jack, Handy Simon, Fitness Pete, and Not Cheryl, the alternative hairdresser.
(We are told two of the things about Elsie early on in this novel, but the third is not revealed till the end, so don't be tempted to fast forward!)
When some of Florence's possessions mysteriously move or go walkabout, coinciding with the arrival of a suspicious newcomer, Florence and her allies become involved in detection and espionage to solve a serious crime mystery from Florence’s past.
Although Florence is a somewhat unreliable narrator, she is beguilingly entertaining, with her idiosyncratic turns of phrase, and her perceptive sayings about old age are so quotable, it is hard to choose a few, but here is a sample of her observations:

'There has to be a reason though, doesn't there … or have I spent the last 84 years just sitting in the audience?'
And -
'… the only one who would know if my mind had wandered away and left me to my own devices.'

Joanna Cannon’s story telling and characters are obviously influenced, as she admits, by the writings of Alan Bennet (especially the monologues) but there are also traces of Victoria Wood and Deric Longden in her style.
I greatly enjoyed this novel, which I actually prefer to her first (The Trouble With Sheep and Goats) and I found her poignant portrayal of a woman with onset of dementia to be completely inspired in its authenticity.

A wonderfully compelling read beautifully written and very sympathetically told about life in an old peoples home with dealing with dementia and past life. The characters are very easily identified with and slightly whimsical but obviously closely observed from real life. The main character, Florence, has a fall and whilst she waits to be found the story goes through many twists and turns with her remembering and piecing together her, sometimes, forgotten past life. There are many humourous passages giving an insight into seemingly uneventful life of the elderly in a care home. There are many twists and turns on the way and eventually every just slots into place including Flo's constant friend from childhood, Elsie. A thoroughly enjoyable read which makes me want to seek out this author's previous novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The prose is excellent and so descriptive, with many witty twists. The author is obviously an excellent observer and describes characters that we've all met along the way, so that it feels personal.

I laughed out loud at Florence's description of being the owner of large feet (taking size 8s myself!) and have taken her attitude on board.

The book re-raised many questions in my mind about how we care (or not) for our elder generations, whether or not they have dementia. The relationships between the various characters - now and in the past - were very well described, and in some cases, very moving.

All in all, an excellent read. I will seek out more by this author (who hails from my neck of the woods it seems).

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advance copy in return for my honest review.

Easily readable and carefully plotted I found this an exceptional novel and would highly recommend it. Each character has meaning and relevance to the storyline wth clever twists and turns. There is some sadness about illness and dealing with age and care but all dealt with empathetically. The author intertwines the lives of all the characters with insight and skill.

Lying on the floor in her flat waiting for help Flo, the central character, keeps the plot moving along with pace and wit. Sensitively addressing the issues of Alzheimer's, loneliness and growing old the story focuses on Flo's life and some situations she struggles to face up to when a man from the past arrives at the sheltered accommodation.

As the story moves between the present day, where Flo is 84, and her teenage years, the reader meets Elsie who has always been her best friend. A companion, Jack, who also lives in the same accommodation helps with a variety of adventures in the hope of finding the truth about what really happened all of those years ago at the local dance which Elsie and Flo attended.

Nothing is as it seems.