The Education of Ellie [Paperback]

Jackie Calhoun (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2007

Returning home to Pine Hill to attend her mother's funeral Ellie sees her childhood friend Helen for the first time in thirty years. A lot has happened in thirty years. Both women are divorced with grown children and careers that satisfy them.

When Ellie stays on in Pine Hill to settle her mother's estate, Helen jumps at a chance to resume their long lost friendship, and Ellie, despite reservations, can't resist.

But with the years come a lot of baggage and the two women struggle with who they are now while fighting the painful memories of their first parting.

Will they be able to move past their history to start again?

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Bella Books (April 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594930929
• ISBN-13: 978-1594930928
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,857,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good story, September 28, 2007

By 

Adventure Girl - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Education of Ellie (Paperback)

I have read most of Calhoun's books and thought the Education of Ellie is her best to date. While one of the themes of the book - dealing with child abuse - is dark and disturbing at times, it is a more realistic reflection of what happens in our society to some unfortunate children, and this book offers a child's and an adult's view of living in or near abuse.

I thought Calhoun captured the differences between the two children and their families quite well - the safety and joy one child felt and the fear and anger the other felt - and the curiousity that each had for what was unknown to them that helped drive their friendship. Calhoun's weaving of past memories and present life gave the characters more depth and interest.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read the book in one day, May 9, 2008

By 

E. B. MULLIGAN "Bronwyn" (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Education of Ellie (Paperback)

This was a surprise for any reader who was expecting a romance. This is more a memorier of a two year period in childhood with immensely emotional events occurring. The reader see the events through the eyes of the children experiencing them.

The story is smooth and readily flows from preent day and back 30 years and more - this author has a talent for writing.

I would have enjoyed a more in depth exploration seeing the events through the eyes of the children (ages 8 through 14) as felt by them as adults (ages 47 & 45).

I found the scenes with and about Ellie's mother especially touching.

I don't want to give any plot away but it's not a story I'll soon forget. I especially liked that none of the loose ends were tied up by the last page - I thought it very true to life.

The author has 19 titles in print.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Abusive Behavior, May 3, 2008

By 

Angie (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Education of Ellie (Paperback)

Writing is gut-wrenching enough without choosing difficult topics like people abuse. But that's just what Jackie Calhoun and her taste for truth has done. In "The Education of Ellie," Ms. Calhoun has shown how the path of abusive behavior ultimately ends at the beginning of a new life or no life at all. She opted for a new life, a decision that highlights Ms. Calhoun's desire to show how lesbian lives have the same satisfying options as anyone else. Ms. Calhoun also cleverly used past and present tense to flow into and out of Ellie's past as a growing teenager, and present as a sexual adult. I'm also happy to report that Ms. Calhoun doesn't dramatize her sex scenes with a lot of excessive imagery that tends to vulgarize sexual encounters. Ms. Calhoun knows when to close the door. Also, except for the occasional confusion that arises when using the word "she" much of the time in identifying who's speaking, Ms. Calhoun's use of dialogue still keeps the story moving. In summary, "The Education of Ellie" seems to keep asking if Ellie and Helen are meant to be together? In seeing each other through a series of terrifying incidences, there's no doubt in my mind that Ellie and Helen have earned the chance to be a couple. Once again, Ms. Calhoun has used her accomplished writing skills to observe and report the truth of her characters' actions, the truth of abusive behavior.