All about Ella by Meredith Appleyard

Ella has led a supportive life, being wife of a successful builder and mother of three now adult children. She has nursed her husband through a terminal illness enabling him to die at home as was his last wish. Now, at 70 she finds herself exhausted and bereft and unable to clearly articulate her wishes. The children quickly persuade Ella to sell the leafy eastern suburbs family home in Adelaide and move in with son Anthony, wife Kirsten and grandchildren Sophie and Stefan while they build her a granny flat on their property. When the relationship breaks down Ella leaves and drives north, ending up in Cutlers Bay a small seaside town on the Yorke Peninsula near her best friend's property. There she befriends drifter Angie Daniels who has left a failed relationship in Cairns and is making her way towards Perth where her mother lives. She also meets, in the course of his duties, local police sergeant Zach Cooper when Ella’s family reports her missing suggesting she is not in her right mind. Zach too is recently single and is determined to protect his emotions even though he is attracted to Angie. As the relationship with Ella’s family deteriorates further she finds support and friendship in the small country town and begins to rebuild her life and her determination to fight for her rights. After supressing her own wants and desires for so long Ella needs time and space to regain her emotional balance but her family have invoked their Power of Attorney claiming she is mentally incapable of making decisions and thwarting her plans to buy a run-down property in Cutlers Bay.

Ella’s first person narrative is alternated with the third person parallel narratives of Angie and Zach as they each negotiate challenges and gradually build their own relationships with each other, their families and the community. Like domestic violence, elder abuse can occur in the most unlikely of places and this subtle exploration of the importance of self-determination and the right to choose whilst still acknowledging the importance of family and friends is worth reflection. Ella’s relationship with 14 year old grandson Stefan is delightfully written but his mother, Kristen, is a less believable character.

Appleyard has created a well written, entertaining story set in a charming country town about courageous individuals that will appeal especially to older adults.

Themes: Relationships, Ageism, Family.

Sue Speck