• Three Things About Elsie

  • A Novel
  • By: Joanna Cannon
  • Narrated by: Paula Wilcox
  • Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (248 ratings)

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Three Things About Elsie  By  cover art

Three Things About Elsie

By: Joanna Cannon
Narrated by: Paula Wilcox
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Publisher's summary

The best-selling author of the “remarkable...masterfully constructed, pitch-perfect” (Booklist, starred review) debut The Trouble with Goats and Sheep delivers a suspenseful and emotionally satisfying novel 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 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 60 years ago?

Three Things About Elsie is a story about forever friends on the twisting path of life. As we uncover their buried secrets, we learn how the fine threads of humanity connect us all.

©2018 Joanna Cannon (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about Three Things About Elsie

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great surprise

loved this story, loved the surprise ending. highly recommend this book for surprise and laughter

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

Love this author , her first book was great but this is even better. The story of 2 elderly ladies in an assisted living facility, and a mystery that develops one day with a new resident. It reminds me, in a way, of her first book, as it also has 2 main female characters who are searching for the answer to a mystery also. I won’t give away any more than this, as it’d be hard to review without telling the complete story. It’s very good and the narrator’s voice is terrific.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another Great Novel from Ms. Cannon

A beautiful, captivating story about how lives are intertwined — how one life affects others in ways we cannot realize. Just as in real life, Ms. Cannon’s writing mixes deadly serious matters and laugh-out-loud matters. A delight to read.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Poignant

Joanna Cannon's first book, "The Trouble With Goats and Sheep" was told from the perspective of a child. This book flips the perspective to that of an elderly woman in an assisted care facility. Both books feature a strong friendship between two girls/women; the plot of the both books is secondary to beautifully drawn characterization.
*Spoiler* Quite early in this story, I figured out that Elsie was imaginary, but that didn't detract from the plot. There is a mystery that motivates Florence/Elsie and Jack, another resident in the facility, to "investigate". This investigation uncovers secrets and corrects misunderstandings and misplaced guilt from the past. It was also the weak part of the story for me. There were too many inconsistencies, the most glaring one being *Spoiler* why would Ronnie come after Florence after (60) years ?
As I already mentioned, the characters are wonderful, and the narration is wonderful.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story!

Wonderfully told story with beautiful use of language. I enjoyed the gradual unraveling of the mystery and I’m still pondering the ending a week later.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional performance

Loved this book. The performance was a excptional. Cannot say enough about the performance!! Great story!

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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The narrator!!

Wow!! Great story. To be honest I’m not sure I would’ve enjoyed it that much without this new router though. Hands-down

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Must Read

I rate books based on two things, either it is a good story or the use of language is clever and painterly. This book has both. The story is a seat gripper with continual twists and turns that the reader cannot anticipate. The author uses language, phases and words in noteworthy, never before used ways, to suggest that this writer has an original, natural style.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved everything about this book

Now that I know the ending, I want to re-listen to this wonderful - albeit poignant - story. I am close in age to Elsie - and Flo - but nevertheless did not find this story depressing, as some have suggested, but tender and gentle - with a mystery to boot.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story line, just a little lengthy

I really enjoyed the characters of the book. The narrative was great as well. The only thing I would say is that it seemed to drag on a little in the middle. I think the story line could have been completely covered in less time. I never quit a book, even if I don’t like it, but I reached a point where I was just ready for more progression in the story.

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1 person found this helpful