Summary by Goodreads:
No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine
Meet Eleanor Oliphant: she struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding unnecessary human contact, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.
But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen, the three rescue one another from the lives of isolation that they had been living. Ultimately, it is Raymond’s big heart that will help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one. If she does, she’ll learn that she, too, is capable of finding friendship—and even love—after all.
Smart, warm, uplifting, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes. . .
the only way to survive is to open your heart.
“In every walk of life, I encounter people with underdeveloped social skills with alarming frequency.”
My Thoughts:
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. What a refreshing book to read. It is so different from all of the other books I have read lately, yet Eleanor was a completely relatable character. I mean, she “fell in love” with a famous person she had never even met and stalked his social media, his house, and daydreamed about certain scenarios between herself and this man. If that doesn’t sound like you, then you’re definitely lying, because I know that I’m obsessed with Tom Felton (aka Draco Malfoy) and check his social media daily and have our wedding already planned out! Ha ha!
Eleanor’s humor throughout the novel made me laugh out loud at several occasions. Her humor is very dry and sarcastic, and she’s just a little odd enough that you can’t help but lovingly chuckle at the things she says or thinks: Like her view on people being unable to hold a conversation or their lack of manners or their trouble with grammar.
The book wasn’t just absolutely hilarious though. At first you think you’re getting yourself into a funny, lighthearted novel—until you get completely sucked in by scandal, a slight mystery, and Eleanor’s traumatic past. And then there’s the slight love story intertwined. Let me just say, (I mentioned earlier how this novel was refreshing and this is why) it was so nice to read a novel that wasn’t focused on a love story. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good romance and I enjoy love stories—but Gail Honeyman created such a perfect balance that it was neither overwhelming or underwhelming. It was refreshing to see a woman who didn’t rely on a man to save her, who didn’t obsess herself with finding love—the love story was Eleanor learning to love and to save herself. SO GOOD.
Eleanor is a little quirky, a little awkward, and is completely satisfied with being alone and living a lonely life. However, her past haunts her and there is a part where she is overcome with crippling depression. What I loved about this was that Eleanor picked herself up afterwards, began therapy, cut out all of the negative things in her life, and decided herself that it was time to make a change for the better. Eleanor was strong enough to save herself and to take the necessary steps to healing. How powerful of a story is that?! It inspired me! It truly did! I connect with stories that involve depression and, although Eleanor is fictional, she still inspired me to continue healing and loving myself.
Raymond was an adorable character and also, in my opinion, the perfect man. He inspired Eleanor to be a better version of herself and to love herself. He never took charge and he never told her what to do or gave her the idea that she had to impress him. He was there to be a friend. He was there so each of them could be 100% authentically themselves and support each other no matter the decisions they made. He was a great character in supporting Eleanor’s decision in helping herself.
I can’t recommend this book enough. The story is absolutely powerful, the plot keeps you turning the page, the humor makes you grin, the writing is beyond beautiful, and the subtle love story is inspiring and satisfying.
“I was getting to quite like my own voice, my own thoughts…. They made me feel good, calm even. They made me feel like me.”
I recommend this book to…
…women. Teenage girls. Even men will find joy and humor in this novel. Give this book as a gift this Christmas to your neighbor, to your best girlfriend, to your wife, to your 18 year old daughter. Read it in your gal’s book club. Read this if you need inspiration, if you’re depressed and need a pick me up, if you need to relate to somebody when you feel so alone. The theme is a little mature and might trigger some, so be sure this book is right for you or whoever you’re gifting it to.
Comfort Guide:
About 20 uses of the “F” word. Several uses of other curse words, including British curse words. Some sexual mentions, but nothing graphic or explicit. Several mentions of rape, but nothing graphic or explicit. Theme of depression. Mention of suicide.
Info:
Author – Gail Honeyman
Published – 2017
Page Count – 327
I didn’t know what to think of it first, I was so annoyed at Eleanor that I wanted to put it down. But, I’m so glad I didn’t! I love Eleanor and Raymond (he’s the best!) and this book might very well be my top 10 of 2019!
It climbed quickly into my top 10 as well! I think I immediately loved Eleanor because I’m awkward like her. Lol!