The Keeper of Stories

Everyone has a story to tell. But does Janice have the power to unlock her own?

She can't recall what started her collection. Maybe it was in a fragment of conversation overheard as she cleaned a sink? Before long (as she dusted a sitting room or defrosted a fridge) she noticed people were telling her their stories. Perhaps they had always done so, but now it is different, now the stories are reaching out to her and she gathers them to her ...

Cleaner Janice knows that it is in people's stories that you really get to know them. From recently widowed Fiona and her son Adam to opera-singing Geordie, the quiet bus driver Euan, and the pretentious Mrs. "YeahYeahYeah" and her fox terrier, Decius, Janice has a unique insight into the community around her.

When Janice starts cleaning for Mrs. B--a shrewd and prickly woman in her nineties--she finally meets someone who wants to hear her story. But Janice is clear: she is the keeper of stories, she doesn't have a story to tell. At least, not one she can share.

Mrs. B is no fool and knows there is more to Janice than meets the eye. What is she hiding? After all, doesn't everyone have a story to tell?

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Blackstone Publishing

Book club questions for The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Everyone has a story to tell is one of the main themes of the book. Do you believe this? And what would your story be?

It still amazes her how much he swears. For a fox terrier. What do you think Decius’s role is in the book?

What impression do you have of Janice? How did her experiences as a wife, mother, and house cleaner influence your opinion of her? Did you relate to her in any way?

I figured out long ago, if I listen to the few people who shout at me, I am making them more important than they are. Do you think Euan is right to listen to the quiet voices?

On Janet’s first visit, Mrs. B instructs her to begin by going through a pile of books, because “they will tell you all you need to know about me.” What would you hope your own book collection would tell others about you?

What do you think it was that drew Mrs. B and Janice together?

She would rather sleep under a hedge than stay another moment with this man. Why do you think it took so long for Janice to leave Mike? Should she have gone sooner?

Why do you think Janet’s clients are drawn to her? Why do you think they trust her with their stories?

Throughout the book, Janice collects stories from strangers and the people she cleans for. What is the most surprising story you’ve heard from a stranger?

At the beginning of the book, Janice wonders what would have happened if the National Treasure hadn’t made it as an actor. What do you think would have happened to Janice if she hadn’t met Mrs. B?

Were there any stories in the book that particularly stayed with you, and why do you think that was?

The Keeper of Stories Book Club Questions PDF

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Praise for The Keeper of Stories

“I absolutely loved it! So different, clever, funny, and charming.” – Katie Fforde, Sunday Times (London) bestselling author

“Funny, wise, moving…The characters are endearing and unforgettable.” – Hazel Prior, author of Away with the Penguins

“A treasure of a book. Beautiful, emotional, and heartfelt with a cornucopia of characters you’ll love spending time with.” – Phaedra Patrick, author of The Library of Lost and Found

“This is a deceptively ‘gentle’ story that addresses complex issues with a light touch…I loved Janice…and was rooting for her throughout.” – Jackie Fraser, author of The Bookshop of Second Chances

“Absolutely spellbinding…Warm-hearted, thoughtful, funny, and yet deeply poignant.” – Celia Anderson, author of 59 Memory Lane

“Heartwarming, intricate, and empathetic, Sally Page has given us a treasure of a novel.” – Annie Hartnett, author of Unlikely Animals