Sally Page

Read for book club.

Janice, a cleaner who seems to spend more time talking to her clients than actually cleaning their houses, sees herself as a 'keeper of stories'. I thought this concept was a bit pointless really - we all overhear conversations on the bus and we all tell our stories to our friends.

There were some good moments in this - the scene with Mike and his brushes had me fully engaged, and the Janice and Euan romance was sweet - but overall this was rather scattered, and some characters and plot elements just disappeared. What was going on with the mortgage for example? The 'Becky' story was unsavoury and entirely irrelevant to the plot and should have been edited out.

Still, at least I actually finished this month's book...… (more)

Janice cleans houses, and as her clients confide in her, she savors the stories they tell her. Each story is different as each person is different.

"She believes the stories need to be based on real life because they convince her that the unexpected can happen, that there is extraordinary strength and goodness within normal, everyday people and, because of this, there is always hope."

Janice has also listened to her husband, and for the 30 years she’s known him, it seems like there is one part of his story that has become quite repetitive. But it is a client, Mrs. B., who unfolds the truth within Janice’s story connected to her husband's story that changes everything.

I loved the stories within a story, collected by someone who listened to others as she did her work. The stories reflect the lives of the different customers; each person’s life is different, depending on the blending of their age, past and present life experiences, their relationships, and the various factors contributing to their attitude and outlook. It is a story that gives us pause to reflect on how each person we meet contributes to our life journey and becomes a part of our story, sometimes for a short period, sometimes for the remainder of our lives. For me, it is a story of appreciation of each person’s life story and how our life story can be affected by our interactions with others, both as we receive and give to one another.… (more)

When Jo Sorsby swaps the Northern Dales for North London to look after Uncle Wilbur’s stationery and hardware shop while he is in care she hopes to leave painful memories of her ex and trepidation about her friendship with Lucy behind. Determined to resurrect the dying art of letter writing, stock is replenished, tester fountain pens are ready to hand and the noticeboard fills up with customer’s trial jottings. Average Jo finally has the confidence to embrace new friendships.

The descriptions of Ruth (the runaway vicar), Malcom (the grey tax analyst) and Eric (the Viking from next door) are wonderful. I could picture gentle giant Eric in his orange flip flops, Ruth flapping her arms like an over-excited bird and Malcolm slowly emerging from his chrysalis.

This is the perfect book to brighten up a rainy day and devour in one self-indulgent sitting. It is warm and comforting, funny (sweet Jesus!) and moving, endearing and imaginative (talking foxes and gossiping ghosts!).

The writing is beautifully evocative conjuring up vivid images of the Yorkshire moors and Highgate Cemetery, the smells and textures of a bijou, old-fashioned shop and the glowing warmth of a flickering log fire as well as memories of letters from pen pals, playing post offices and buying pencil cases before the leaves begin to fall.

A lovely book about the importance of friendship, new beginnings and becoming the person you’re meant to be.

A place for everything and everything in its place.… (more)