Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

I needed to read this book. There was so much wisdom and good thinking in it. Mental illness, alcoholism, depression and loneliness are still heavily stigmatised in this society, and Eleanor Oliphant shines a light for those who lack experience and make poor judgements. We should all know how to love each other. Ultimately, this is a feel-good story, but you have to work a little for it. Excellent concise writing with clear and insightful characterisation. Well observed and poignant without stooping to sentimentality. Great read.

Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, or is she: “It often feels as if I’m not here, that I’m a figment of my own imagination.” Those don’t sound like the words of someone who is completely fine. When you see how Eleanor lives in the present day, living independently and holding down a full-time job, you would indeed think she is fine, but loneliness can be crippling, and Eleanor lives the loneliest life. She makes several references throughout the earlier part of the novel that allude to a dark past; these references have you dying to know Eleanor’s secrets. As you learn more about Eleanor, you cannot help but love her quirky, without trying to be, mannerisms. She’s direct to the point of rudeness, but rather than dislike her, her ways actually endear you to her, because you can see it’s not coming from a place of malice. The humour in this novel, it was fantastic – real ‘laugh out loud’ humour! It was a great way of endearing the reader to Eleanor as often her humour was unintentional, for example, questioning why she needs to give her name in Starbucks when ordering coffee, and when told why, proceeding to give her full name. These simple things that we don’t even think about were entirely alien to Eleanor, and so while it was funny, it also showed how isolated she is because she’s never been to a coffee house with a friend before – and she’s thirty! I highly urge you all to read this wonderful piece of fiction and journey with Eleanor through her bad days and good days. She’ll have you laughing out loud, but there are times when your heart will break for her, literally falls to pieces at her pain. The things we take for granted in life, such as human kindness and human contact, are things Eleanor does not, and so while we laugh at her ways, I loved the way Honeyman took the time to unpick Eleanor’s character and allow us to completely understand her. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is a brilliant read from the first page to the very last, made all the better by some really unexpected ‘reveals.’ I cannot recommend this book enough; truly a heart-warming read, so well-written, a great piece of fiction.

Eleanor’s character had me laughing out loud and at the same time welling up. Very cleverly written! A light read that shouldn’t be because at the heart of the book is Eleanor’s story which is a very powerful story and very dark at times. My favourite word - zetabetical… I just wish there was a sequel!

This book has a good pace, it keeps you hanging at just the right times and it makes you want to come back for more. I found that I t is beautifully written, with an extensive vocabulary and latinisms; I’ve had to research the meaning of some words in the dictionary out of curiosity - and learnt a few new terms. What I liked the most was being in someone else’s head and listening to the “no filter” yet perfectly logical questions that the main character Eleanor asks herself, stuff we often take for granted. It frustrated me to see her struggle to conduct herself ‘normally’ in the world, because she doesn’t know how to relate or react to the most common situations around her, from a waxing appointment or a nails manicure to a birthday party (wait till you read about her presents for a bloke turning 40!) or helping a stranger who is unwell. However Eleanor’s world makes absolute sense to her and it is stable... until small, ordinary events like a colleague’s comment or an email start a slow process of osmosis, and Eleanor starts grasping what she’s been oblivious to for years. . The story - which could well be a true one - gives a great insight into the mind and thought process of someone who may have some mental heath issues, whom the world may consider a weirdo or socially awkward, and it is cleverly designed to read the same situations from a different angle. Also, although the book doesn’t claim to have any medical basis for this, I personally found it a good an eye opener re the impact of trauma, and consequent choices in life, loneliness, lack of friendship, emotional blankness. And a few unexpected turns along the path, some tears, and some laughs. Great read while travelling OZ!

I think some reviewers have been highly unfair in their approach to this book, although, I tend to find that this happens when any book, particularly debut or first novels, receive any sort of acclaim as this one has. Instead of considering whether or not it is a classic, a real piece of literature, on the one hand or critically evaluating its treatment of themes such as loneliness, alcoholism or a traumatic personal history its important to consider whether or not it is simply a good read. It is my opinion that it is a good read. It was recommended to me by a friend who told me it had gripped them that much that they had read it over the course of a single long weekend. I read a lot of books and was reading a number at the time I started this one and I can say I can understand how it had them so gripped. There is no content in this book that I would personally have edited out, which I could not say for many actual classics (or a least highly acclaimed works of genre fiction even) that I have read, there were some points towards the finish that I did think dragged a little for me, although I know that this is because, while the definitely had their place and served the plot progression well, simply did not compare to some of the rest of the content within the story. The book does contain a "big reveal", which I had anticipated some what, but thankfully it is not an attempt by the author to be clever, like the writers equivalent of a magician, employing a "plot twist" like an stage trick. There are a number of sub-plots within the overall narrative which I did like and did not find contrived or unconvincing at all (just sad or tragic but at the same time very much true to life itself). The book contains a short "interview" of sorts with the author and some questions for book/reading groups at the finish. This is something I have seen in a number books, another publisher prominently prints on their cover about their "PS content" and it is pretty typical, like additional content on a DVD or included with a re-release or collectors edition of films or video games. This was interesting, however, I really did not read this book as being about loneliness, nor did I think the themes about alcohol dependency where that pivotal either (which I know is contrary to what the author has said themselves). Instead, I personally read it as being a good depiction of life being a mix of fortune and (often serious life altering) misfortune, not least in the case of the protagonist themselves but also in the case of a number of other characters within the story. Eleanor has significant troubles and its not for no reason that she is as she is at the outset and throughout the novel, however, she is also fortunate to avail of formal/professional and informal/personal support and interventions from others. This could be something that some readers may have mixed experiences of themselves, it is after all fiction, it could read like a disappointingly "happily ever after" feature to some but I did not read it that way. I would recommend it as a read to anyone who is a fan of strong first person narratives. Recommended.

Do you want to read a book that will make you fall in love with a character, stay up late to read ‘just one more chapter’, laugh hysterically one moment and cry the next? You do? Then the sublime Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman is for you. This book has had lots of great press this year, it is shortlisted in the Costa First Novel Award for 2017, WHSmith have recently named it their Fiction Book of the Year for 2017 and more importantly it is November’s read for the book club I attend and we have really high standards! Whilst I can’t comment on what the general consensus will be as I’m writing this a few days before we meet I can give you my thoughts. There is always a worry with a much-hyped book that it won’t quite live up to expectations (so disappointing when this happens) and I did start reading with some slight trepidation. I needn’t have worried though as I absolutely adored Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine from the very first page. This book reminded me in some ways to A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion as these books also feature a protagonist who is socially awkward but I really think that Gail Honeyman’s novel has so much more depth and compassion. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is a wonderful novel which, through its strong characterisation and powerful storytelling drew me in to Eleanor’s world. We meet her when she is working for a design agency filled with cool, hip people and is the butt of their jokes and subject of their gossip. She works in accounts and whilst she says she is fine, she really, really isn’t. Her life is empty, she drinks two bottles of vodka every weekend, has a weekly phone call with her mummy, eats the same meals every day and her only friend is a plant in her living room. Eleanor has met a man and having decided that he is The One, she sets about making him fall in love with her – the only problem is he has never met her before and has no idea she even exists. Whilst this makes it sound like this book is some kind of rom-com it isn’t – this is an example of Eleanor’s lack of social awareness and I found it totally endearing. Gail Honeyman has created a wonderful character in Eleanor, I fell head over heels in love with her, I loved her quirks, I loved her thought processes and there were moments of complete overwhelming sadness where I wanted to climb into the pages and comfort her. This book is filled with moments of beautiful sweetness, particularly her friendship with Raymond which I thought was honest and believable. It would be easy for these moments to be saccharine and cloying but they’re not at all – his genuine regard for her and compassion was realistic and heart-warming. Gail Honeyman has a deft touch and avoids veering into mawkish territory. Eleanor’s past is hinted at – there are dark shadows lurking at the edge of the page and when the truth unravels it is heart-rending and brutal. This book absolutely destroyed me – I think the last book that affected me so much was A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (if you haven’t read this, please do, it is a masterpiece). I keep thinking about it and I really want to talk about it (I can’t wait to get to book club!) because it is funny, sincere, thought-provoking and utterly, utterly devastating. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine deserves all the plaudits it is getting and I am stunned that this is Gail Honeyman’s debut novel. Accomplished and assured I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her. I’ll be giving this book a 10 at book club – something which doesn’t happen very often.

This debut novel had received rave reviews but I had my misgivings that it was going to be some lightweight chick lit about a single girl on the brink of 30. You know, the kind of made-for-Hollywood romance where a plain Jane finally discovers there’s more to life than lunching alone in the office pantry on her Gregg’s sausage rolls all week and a sad little glass of vodka on a Friday night in her smallish flat when an unassuming new office mate comes into her life for her to fall head over heels in love with. Off comes the glasses and in with the new hair and makeup and newfound confidence, and voila, happy ending all around. Well, truth be told, all those familiar plotlines I mentioned are featured, but amazingly Gail Honeymoon turns them all on their heads to fashion something quite unexpected and thrilling. She reveals Eleanor bit by bit, with subtle scenes that show off her distinctive traits and leaves you with the niggling feeling that all is not quite right, but you’re not quite sure what it is, so you read on to find out. This is the kind of story that I find really hard to review without giving the whole game away, which would spoil the beauty of it. So without giving any spoilers away, it is safe to say that Eleanor is lonely and not as self-sufficient as she thinks herself to be. Her rather awkward social behaviour and attitude draw quite a few laughs along the way and you wonder why she is so inept and yet ironically judgmental about others’ behaviour, especially that of service staff. When her backstory is being teased out, that’s where you begin to look for hints that something much more sinister than its veneer is lurking underneath. I was thoroughly entertained by this story with its tight little cast of characters, and to Honeymoon’s credit, she paints all of them really distinctly, even those who just have walk-on roles. There are some parts which seem a little derived and predictable, especially when it was building up to a climax, but all things considered, the pacing and characterisation was fantastic, and I enjoyed it very much.

I don't routinely give out five star reviews, but this book totally nailed it for me. I must admit I wasn't sure if I was going to like it - I didn't like the title at first, and really I only read it because it was a book club read. But I'm so glad I did. It's so well written, alternately sad, thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny. Eleanor Oliphant is a woman with a tragic past and a troubled present. She appears to be autistic or otherwise neurodivergent - although that is never explicitly stated - finding it difficult to form relationships, though she holds down a job. She also has something of a drink problem, as well as an unhealthy obsession with a musician she's never actually met. However, through a chance encounter with a stranger and a growing friendship with a work colleague who she appears on the surface to have very little in common with, her life begins to change and take off in a surprising new direction. The characters are all well drawn and convincing, as is the dialogue. Eleanor herself could so easily have been annoying or cliched, and yet she jumps off the page as an engaging, fully realised person. I found myself really rooting for her. The ending was really well done, too, including a twist that I for one didn't see coming (perhaps because it hadn't seemed to be the type of book that would have a twist, if you see what I mean, i.e. it's not a thriller, psychological or otherwise. In short, I loved it, and I'd recommend anyone - if they're not sure - to try it. It's one book that completely deserves the hype and success it's achieved.