Reviews with content warning for Dementia - Three Things about Elsie

I can't tell if this was slow to start or if I just wasn't gripped straight away, but I read the first half in a week and the second half in one day, because by the end I could not put it down. It's beautifully written and sets a contemplative tone - with the constant theme of what impact, if any, we as individuals have on the world while we're alive. It's a clever device that also kept me thinking about the central mystery, and its impact on the lives of Florence, Elsie and everyone they encountered.

I loved the narrative structure, which jumps between Florence's story interspersed with chapters for a couple of minor characters, and a separate time where Florence is waiting for help in her apartment. These chapter headings just showed the time, and its progression was quite unnerving as I was desperate for someone to arrive.

Throughout the story the passage of time and our significance in it is a constant theme, with so many allusions to clocks, the position of the sun and the changing weather/seasons. As Florence and Elsie's past was slowly revealed I was increasingly gripped, and the ending absolutely threw me for a loop - leaving me keen to go straight back and re-read the entire book again.

A stunning book with a lot of sadness, but somehow filled with hope and beauty thanks to its wonderful characters.

Content Warnings

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I've had this for years and I thought I knew what to expect from the story but it actually surprised me. That makes sense because I felt the same about The Trouble With Goats and Sheep when I read it a few years ago.
I did find the pace a little slow at times because it's nearly 500 pages long but I was invested enough in Florence's life that I didn't really mind. I guessed a few of her secrets but there were also some revelations which I didn't see coming. It's both sad and heart-warming and I enjoyed its focus on friendship. It reminded me of Elizabeth Is Missing, which I read several years ago and really liked.

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