Cover Image: The Woman Who Kept Everything

The Woman Who Kept Everything

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Member Reviews

I quite enjoyed this book, with its cast of quirky characters and their foibles. Overall an uplifting read, though it deals in part with the trials and tribulations of becoming old, neglected, and thinking very little of oneself - a sobering thought for all of us.

I was pleased that our heroine (Gloria) turns a corner and wins the day when she adopts a positive outlook and "you only live once" attitude to life.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.

* It also made me realise that I may need to get a grip of my own "magpie" tendencies before too long...

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Gloria is a 79 year old lady who is a hoarder - her house is filled to the brim with junk she has accumulated over the years. She is unable to wash properly as she can't get to her bathroom. She survives on potato soup as that is all she can manage to cook. It all comes a head one day when she has electricity problems and when social services see how she is living, her son gets involved and she is shipped off to an old peoples home while they decide what is to be done with her. She actually doesn't mind this turn of events too much as she can wash properly again and eat some decent food, but when she moves back in with her son and his wife and they start discussing her future without consulting her, she isn't happy. When her old friend and sometimes lodger Tilsbury, offers her a day out she jumps at the chance and she starts to realise she can live again.
I was a bit worried when I started this...reading about old people in distress is something that really upsets me and the attitude of her family towards her is shocking. She hasn't seen her grandchildren in years and her son is rude and uncaring towards her. But Gloria is a great old lady, and when given the opportunity is keen to start living life again. She has a great time travelling around reconnecting with old friends and making new friends wherever she goes. And her travels give her the strength to stand up to her son and start a new life for herself. It is quite a light hearted story but does touch on both the depression of Gloria and also her son Clegg. A heart-warming story that looks at the struggles of growing old but reminds us that life is still worth living.
Thank you to Avon Books for inviting me on the blog tour of this book which I received through Netgalley.

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This is a book is a good yet it is tinged with a little bit of sadness.
79 year old Gloria who lives alone and she is a bit of a horder
Suddenly Gloria has to move out and is put in temporary stay residential care home and during her stay she is given support about her obsession with collecting.
There is so much more to this wonderful story.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Avon for my eARC of this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

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The Blurb:
79-year-old Gloria Frensham is a hoarder. She lives amongst piles of magazines, squashed cardboard boxes, surplus carpet rolls, heaps of towels and knick-knacks littering the stairs. She hasn’t left her home for years, until a loud bang and a sudden smell of singeing sets in motion Gloria’s unwilling exodus from her home…
That day is the start of a journey that will never return Gloria back to her beloved, hoarded possessions, nor to her son’s house to live. For it is the start of her journey to discover life again – and she’s going to make some good friends and defiant decisions along the way, with just one very small suitcase in tow…

My Thoughts :
The blurb really appealed to me and looked like a fun read.
We meet Gloria Frensham who lives in a messy, disorganised house with no real running water, cooking or washing facilites. She has let herself go after her husband Arthur passed away. Her son Clegg doesnt have much time for her. When her electrics fail she is forced into a nursing home for a respite period whille her house is sorted and cleaned out. She is then going to live with her son and wife for a whille until things are sorted out.
As we progress through Gloria’s life and her coming weeks, we are transended into a fun filled, laugh a minute ride as things take an unexpected turn.
Things havent always been great in her life and she has experienced loss and when things seem to be ending, Gloria’s life is just beginning. You only live once and have to take life by the horns.
I really enjoyed this story and it was hard to put down after getting stuck in to a few chapters. It had a fabulous array of charactors and this is one story that will stay with me for a whille to come. Jane Gilley has made a wonderful charactor out of Gloria and really taken time to perfect this storyline to make sure it grabs the reader.

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Brilliant reading. Gloria is living in squalor, her uncaring son steps in ,puts her in a residential home temporarily, clean up her house and puts it on the market. Once she has moved in with her son and family, Gloria realises his plans for her future and decides to take her life in her own hands. She travels where she wants and realises her life is not over. Funny ,sad, and so realistic, this book is a must read for all those with elderly relatives!

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The Woman Who Kept Everything is one of those books that touches your heart and stays there.  There are many YA coming of age novels and I would describe this was a coming of 'old' age book.  The book is narrated by Gloria who is seventy nine, and when we meet her at the beginning she is a recluse, never leaves the house which is filled top to bottom with stuff; newspapers, rubbish, things accumulated over her life.  She sees no reason to go out, she doesn't see her son or grandchildren who have stopped visiting, her only visitor is lifelong friend Tilsbury.  An electrical fault sees her having to move out and is an epiphany for Gloria, she realises what she has been missing out on.  So at the age seventy nine, Gloria takes charge of her life and goes on an adventure that takes her from her native Norfolk to Skegness, Eastbourne and London and enjoy swimming in the sea, visiting Big Ben and making some new friends whilst reconnecting with old.

Gloria is such a wonderful character and you can't help but love her as she gains confidence  and retakes control of her life.  I liken her to a butterfly, emerging from her chrysalis and turning into a beautiful butterfly ready to spread her wings and go on a journey. Her character opens up many issues that can come with old age, depression, loneliness, lack of money, and family who can't visit as much as they should.  In contrast to Gloria's likability, there is her son Clegg who is a horrible character, he  neglects his mother as he doesn't want to face up to his responsibilities.  He never visited her, denied her access to her grandchildren and just wants the money from the sale of her house.  The other character I took to my heart was Tilsbury, it is obvious he is in love with Gloria, he is always there for her and gives some comical moments to the story.  There is also the sadness that his pension doesn't give him enough money to live on, and finds himself sleeping on friends floors.

Jane Gilley's writing makes this book a pleasure to read.  She shows great empathy to her characters, even to the selfish Clegg, and highlights a lot of issues that surround the elderly and their families.  The balance between these serious issues and the light humour is perfect and the plot flows seamlessly making this a delightful and easy read.

The Woman Who Kept Everything is a charming read, that takes a look at the problems with getting old with a sense of humour.  There is no doubt that the message of this book is to seize the day and make the most out of everyday as it may your last.  Heartwarming, witty, realistic and poignant in its plot and with a wonderful and memorable cast  of characters.  This book is simply delightful and will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, a fabulous read.

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THE WOMAN WHO KEPT EVERYTHING by Jane Gilley is an emotional story that spreads the message that life can be short and to live each day to the max.

Gloria Frensham is 79 years young and is content living in her house surrounded by all of her belongings. She would love for her son to visit her more and she would love to get to know her grandchildren whom she hasn't seen for ten years but she realises that this is unlikely to happen. She has her stuff and her close friend and that is enough.
​But when a small accident leads to her son putting her into a nursing home, it will spark a chain of events that will change Gloria's life forever. For as her son begins to throw away everything that has kept her sane, Gloria knows that there is only one thing she can do - run away. And so begins the adventure of a lifetime.

THE WOMAN WHO KEPT EVERYTHING by Jane Gilley is a compelling and heartwarming story that at times will bring a tear to your eye, but also inspire you to grab a hold of life and take chances. Gloria is a wonderful character and as I got to learn about her past and be there for her present, I felt a real connection to her. In our society, the elderly are often overlooked or dismissed and this story really showed how wrong a judgement that can be.

There are ups and downs, friendship and a fighting spirit all combining together in THE WOMAN WHO KEPT EVERYTHING and I highly recommend it.

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This is a charming and sad book all rolled into one. Gloria hadn’t had the easiest starts in life, always short of this or that so when good fortune had come her way, for her and her husband, she didn’t waste anything. In fact Gloria kept everything because one day she may need it. At 79 and now widowed, Gloria lived in her little house that was bulging at the seams, she was a hoarder until one day something went bang in the kitchen and she was forced to leave her home because it was so unsafe.
This put her only son in a bit of a conundrum. He didn’t really want her to live with him and his family but he also didn’t want to see his inheritance, his mother’s house, being sold and used to pay for her to be looked after in residential care. Gloria had been careful all her life saving for a rainy day, well that time had come and the journey she took herself on would need one mighty umbrella. Ok she wasn’t going to go globe-trotting but I will just say that Skegness, Eastbourne and London knew that she had been! You have got to love the emergency credit card!
This is such a beautifully written book that really reflects modern society, people living longer and busy family units that pay courtesy calls on aged parents, just to be able to say they have visited. Gloria is quite a character that over the years hadn’t realised just what a mess she had got into until she saw it from the other side. I loved her visit to her old friend, so very touching. The story took me through so many emotions as I travelled with Gloria revisiting old friends and making new ones and never forgetting the ones that had always been there for her.
This is a lovely uplifting story, with a ‘you are never to old’ theme. One to bring a tear and make you chuckle too. I wish to thank NetGalley for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly

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So I didn't enjoy this book at all. It's not the worse book I have read but the story was just wasn't for me at all. The story and the way it was written was easy to read and easy understand. I just couldn't get into at all, I tried so hard to continue to read it but I couldn't.

The characters was definitely was created and described well. I didn't like the way the characters conversation with each other. "oh ducks" omg I hated it coming out of my mouth. I don't think I have ever met anyone who calls some ducks...

The book dragged on a lot. There were things I thought was not needed to be mentioned at all, didn't see the point of it at all. I reckon this book would be amazing to someone else but it just wasn't for me at all.

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This is a story of life being too short and seizing opportunities to live it in your own way. It teaches you the value of friendship and believing in yourself, no matter what age you are.

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This was an enjoyable and easy read that follows the story of 79 year old Grace as she leaves behind her life as a hoarder and begins to enjoy life again, despite the best intentions of her son who just seems more interested in pound signs than the welfare of his own mother!

Grace never found the way she lived a problem. Yes she couldn't reach certain parts of rooms as they were covered in clutter, and yes there was a smell, but her home was her safe place, where she led a very simple life since losing her beloved husband. A friend would bring shopping in for her and she made do with what she had. But when disaster strikes she is forced to move into a care home for a couple of weeks, and breaking out of this routine seem to set her off on an amazing journey to meet new friends and have new experiences. Life begins at 79 it seems!

This book does look at the issue of extreme hoarding and depression and it was sensitively portrayed, although I did feel at times it was a little rushed in how quickly it all seemed to get out of her system. She then met others who had the same issue and she was the right person to help them understand how they were living wasn't helping them, and showed a touching and caring side that many who choose to live this way are just lonely and how the presence of friends or family can help them move on and escape this sadness.

I loved Grace and how she took to her new way of living so well! She was out to have a good time, and she did! Her son wasn't a pleasant character at all and just highlighted the sadness of those people in the world that can just give up on elderly relatives - until there is money to be had.

I think the ending fell a little flat for me with so much happening so quickly but I did enjoy this book overall and it was a story that did well in its' portrayal of a woman who had suffered for so long but managed to get her happy ending!

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The Woman Who Kept Everything by Jane Gilley is an uplifting story about aging. The main character is one that goes through a transformation and turns aging into a positive journey. Gloria is an interesting character to read about and her ability to overcome adversity is inspiring.

I have read quite a few books that discuss aging lately and it really does seem to be something that is becoming more prevalent in books as our society ages. The aspect of hoarding is really intriguing to me and is what drew me into wanting to read this novel and know more about the issues surrounding it. While the beginning of the story describes Gloria’s sad state of affairs, it seems to move on from this situation fairly quickly. The Woman Who Kept Everything is actually more about a woman who still has a lot of life to live.

Gloria was living a lonely life amongst her things in a ramshackle house when her son finally intervenes. Things escalate to the point that Gloria’s life became endangered. The intervention opens Gloria’s eyes and she realizes through counselling that her way of living was unhealthy for her. The story comes to life as Gloria decides to enjoy spending time with friends and learn new things in her travels.

There are lots of light-hearted moments that happen throughout the novel. It was especially fun to read about Gloria and her old flame taking a motorbike to the beach. The story really does show that there are so many exciting adventures Gloria has to look forward to.

If you are looking for a feel-good story that looks at the effects of aging on families, this is one book to check out. Hoarding is definitely something that is intriguing to read about. The Woman Who Kept Everything is the story of what happens as the hoarder heals and reclaims her life.

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Rating: 3 stars (Rounded down from 3.5)

I fell in love with Gloria, the main character in Jane Gilley’s “The Woman Who Kept Everything”, but some of the other characters and plotline were a little less believable for me. Hence the 3 star rating.

Gloria Frensham is 79, and living in a falling-down house stuffed to the gills with her hoarded items. The description of the living situation sounds like something out of the ‘Hoarders’ reality television show with rotting food in the kitchen, and tiny pathways throughout the house. A possible electrical short in the house brings her son, and the fire department running. The story of Gloria’s miraculous transformation starts from there.

I really did bond with Gloria. I loved her very British sayings, and her opinion that a cup of tea could help put everything right, ‘Ducks’. She transformed from a hermit living in a smelly cave to something pretty extraordinary given her circumstances. She moved forward one step at a time despite her son Clegg’s animosity and duplicity; and with the help of her friends, Tilsbury and Joyce. Every time Gloria was presented with a chance to get out of her comfort zone, she took it. I loved that about her.

What I had a hard time swallowing was that a severe hoarder like Gloria could change her ways with just a few counseling sessions and a couple of weeks in a nursing home. But if you can get beyond that premise, I think you’ll enjoy following Gloria along on her journey to a new life. She’s spunky, curious and big-hearted. This 79 year-olds even crafted a new life for herself. It’s never too late to make a change, which I think is a good motto for everyone to live by.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Avon Books UK; and the author, Jane Gilley; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I enjoyed this book. Gloria certainly learnt how she wanted to live the rest of her life. There is a lesson for everyone about living life to the full and enjoying life while you can. This is a feel good read about friends, family, love and enjoying life.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

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When reading the bio of this book I really wanted to like it. However I think I ended up wanting to like this book more than I actually did, but that’s not to say that I disliked it, It was okay and an easy read but I would not reread. The story follows Gloria who is a hoarder. A way of life, which seems to have begun when her husband died. What follows is a journey that leads to a new outlook on life, a willingness to become a more adventurous and engaged-in-life woman, and who may have just reclaimed her real self.

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Good to read a book with a main female character who isn’t in her twenties/thirties for once! Gloria is funny, down to earth and definitely a ‘senior citizen with attitude’ but for many years she has been hiding her wonderful personality in the mounds of junk she has hoarded in her home. When things come to a head and she receives some counselling during a temporary stay in a home she decides to do a bit of travelling in order to escape her controlling son.
The story has a lot to say about not writing off the elderly when they still have so much to give and further adventures to have. I loved Gloria and I hope to be just as feisty as her when I get older! Interesting to read about what can trigger hoarding too; heartbreaking, but interesting.

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Gloria lives on her own in a house both full of memories and rubbish. She is a hoarder and would have carried on but one day her electrics blow up. Her son, Clegg, then puts in an appearance and while the house is being cleared and made habitable, she goes into a home. she enjoys being there and being clean and free from rubbish and vows not to return to her old ways. She moves in with her family but soon becomes bored. She calls her friend, Tilsbury and her third age begins!!
We are never to old to change our lives and who knows what is round the corner?

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Can you change at age 79? That's the question for Gloria when she is forced from her home where she's been hoarding for ages. The hoarding has cost her so much and now she's going to make an attempt to reverse course and come into the light. I liked Gloria- I was highly sympathetic to her-but I do think things resolved much more easily than they would in real life. This would have benefited from another edit but it's an easy, enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

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Gloria Frensham is a 79 year old hoarder. She lives amongst piles of magazines, squashed cardboard boxes, surplus carpet rolls, heaps of towels and nick-knacks littering the stairs. She hasn't left her home in years., until a loud bang and the sudden smell of singeing sets in motion Gloria's sudden exodus from her home. She has spent two weeks in a nursing home and put in the annex of her sins family home. She has now had enough and takes herself to Skegness, Eastbourne and London. She is having the time of her life. She is getting back her independence.

This is quite a delightful story. It will make you laugh but at times it's quite sad. It's more light hearted that it is serious. A tale of a woman who finally discovers who she is, helps a fellow hoarder and realising just how unhappy she had been. She finds the things that were missing in her life; happiness, friendship and love. To grab every moment and live life to the full. Gloria is a marvellous character and if there's a lesson to be learned, it's to live each day like it's your last. Enjoy every moment.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and the author Jane Gilley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a great addition to the emerging genre of senior books: stories with main characters who are retired and/or past what is generally considered the prime of their life. In this particular book, Gloria has about killed herself in her house that has become overrun by her hoarding. Spurred on by an overbearing and demeaning son, Gloria takes to the road for what seems to be her final adventure. Luckily for the reader, Gloria finds new life in her late 70s instead. One word of caution, the British slang was a bit too much for even me. It started to detract from my reading instead of adding to it.

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