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Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Gail Honeyman

4.34 · Rating details · 185,015 Ratings · 21,777 Reviews

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 social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

But everything changes when E ...more

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Hardcover, 327 pages

Published May 9th 2017 by Viking - Pamela Dorman Books

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Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

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Jun 26, 2017 Susanne Strong rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, 2017-five-star-books, favorites, must-read

5 Stars.
“Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” but after finishing this novel, I am not.

I was completely unprepared for the life of Eleanor Oliphant and that of her ‘Mummy.” To be frank, I was ill-equipped to deal with it, much like Eleanor. And it wrecked me.

At thirty years-old, Eleanor Oliphant is alone in this world. She always has been, actually. In and out of foster care since she was a little girl, she has never been touched by anyone in a loving way and doesn’t even know what that would 5 Stars.
“Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” but after finishing this novel, I am not.

I was completely unprepared for the life of Eleanor Oliphant and that of her ‘Mummy.” To be frank, I was ill-equipped to deal with it, much like Eleanor. And it wrecked me.

At thirty years-old, Eleanor Oliphant is alone in this world. She always has been, actually. In and out of foster care since she was a little girl, she has never been touched by anyone in a loving way and doesn’t even know what that would feel like, but that’s ok. All of her physical needs are met, you see and she has never had any emotional needs.

Seeing as she doesn’t have any friends, Eleanor is quiet and socially awkward. Everyone thinks she is fairly strange, if you must to know. Not that she minds since people’s behavior makes absolutely no sense to her. She is good at being alone and she does not feel sorry for herself. Not even when ‘Mummy’ calls and viciously tells her daughter off and berates her for being being “naughty.” Eleanor, however wears a coat of armor and does her best to let her mother’s words bounce off of her.

Eleanor has no aspirations though she has done accounting at an office for the last 9 years. Every day of her life is the same and she would be nothing without routine. One night, all of that changes rather abruptly. After work, she and a coworker named Raymond whom she just met and who happens to be leaving the office at the same time as her, find themselves in the exact right place at the right time. Both Eleanor and Raymond see a man (named Samuel), go down on the sidewalk and they go have a look see and discover that he needs an ambulance. This incident ends up tying the three together and becomes one of the most significant in Eleanor Oliphant’s life. It forges a bond of friendship between them, which is something Eleanor has never experienced before in all her thirty years.

During this time, Eleanor also ends up finding him. The man she has been waiting for all of her life. The man she is meant to be with. Now she just has to get him to notice her. In trying to do so, Eleanor grows bolder and more confident. She also learns to lean on and open herself up to her new friends.

Throughout the book, Eleanor slowly experiences a metamorphosis, one that often makes you smile, laugh and of course, cry. She is damaged and quirky but oh so special. I loved her dearly. For more reasons than one. I identified with Eleanor Oliphant you see, and for that, I was unprepared. I did say that this book wrecked me right?! I get why Eleanor is Completely Fine. She had no choice. Unfortunately, Eleanor’s ‘Mummy’ is someone I recognized fairly well. When I heard her voice (in a Scottish accent) on the audiobook, and the way she spoke to her daughter, my chest got tight and my throat closed up and I sobbed. Unlike Eleanor's “Mummy” however, mine happens to be British instead of Scottish - though the accents are close, thus I therefore guess that listening to the audiobook had an even more profound effect on me. I’ve had similar conversations, in case it wasn’t obvious and I felt Eleanor’s pain more deeply as it related to her ‘Mummy’, for at certain times in my life, it mirrored my own. All that aside however, Eleanor does not go quietly into the dark goodnight (and neither did I, for what it’s worth).

Though it affected me greatly, “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” is without a doubt one of the most incredible, profound, and beautifully well written novels I have absorbed in ages. It wrecked me in the best and worst ways possible. In case it’s not obvious, it will stay with me for a long time. I think I came across it on purpose as both Eleanor Oliphant and I needed something from it and I think we were both lucky enough to receive it.

Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 6.26.17. ...more

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Jul 15, 2017 Emily May rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, 2017, favourites

Eleanor Oliphant is completely 100% fine. She goes to her office job five days a week and then treats herself to a frozen pizza and a bottle of vodka on a weekend. She lives alone and doesn't have any friends, but that's okay. She's doing real well, thank you very much.

Except maybe she isn't.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine caught me completely unawares. I'll be honest - I picked it up because it got some buzz and the author is British, but it actually turned out to be one of those perfectl ...more

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May 10, 2017 Deanna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: giveaways, highly-recommended, my-favorites

My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...

ALL THE STARS !!!

I won an advanced copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!

To be honest, I'm not sure if this book would have been on my radar if I hadn't won it. Although the great reviews may have pulled me in. At any rate, I am so happy I read it.

I LOVED THIS BOOK !!

Just like it says in the title of the book, Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine....well she thinks she is. She is honestly not worried that ...more

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May 14, 2017 Julie rated it it was ok

Shelves: 100-pages-too-long, don-t-believe-the-hype, nobody-talks-like-this

No. No. No. No. No. No.

All apologies to my lovely Goodreads friends who have liked (or loved) this book, but it's not for me.

And it's sad. . . because I wanted it, I waited for it, and I was finally able to start it. It's Mother's Day, and my family handed me bath salts and my new book and told me to go for it. They know I'm just crazy enough to read an entire book in one bath, and I was ready to do it.

And I prepared my bath, and I began reading, and I was (very quickly) almost in physical pain No. No. No. No. No. No.

All apologies to my lovely Goodreads friends who have liked (or loved) this book, but it's not for me.

And it's sad. . . because I wanted it, I waited for it, and I was finally able to start it. It's Mother's Day, and my family handed me bath salts and my new book and told me to go for it. They know I'm just crazy enough to read an entire book in one bath, and I was ready to do it.

And I prepared my bath, and I began reading, and I was (very quickly) almost in physical pain. I don't mean to be rude to the author; I know how hard it is to write a novel and get it published, but this would not have made it past my eyes, if she had handed it to me.

Again, ALL APOLOGIES, but this is Mother's Day, and you have one annoyed mother on your hands. You have ruined my bath, and in doing so, you have released the Kraken!!

MUST the reader be invited in to experience every one of Eleanor's bowel movements and meals? MUST we suffer through every not-interesting-in-the-least observation on life?

And, how must we EVER believe that a woman this bizarre would be able to function in the world and/or experience a friendship or a romance?

According to Eleanor, she has "white contours of scar tissue that slither across my right cheek." Here's where I just about threw the book. Explain. No, seriously. Explain how scar tissue slithers across a face. Do you mean as you are speaking or making funny faces? Did you attend Hogwarts? Are you a Slytherin? Help, please!

Also. . . somehow. . . Eleanor hangs up phones quietly. But, it's 2017, and we all just use that little button now. There's no loud, there's no quiet, there's just that one button. Explain.

Oh, and when she hangs up the phone with her Mummy (choke and gag), "It was only when the air went dead that I noticed I'd been crying."

How does the air go dead? No, I'm not kidding. Please, explain what that sounds like, what it looks like. How does the air go dead?

If you want to read about a WAY more adorable person with Asperger's. . . go find Don Tillman. If you want to read about a WAY more delightful curmudgeon, go find Olive Kitteridge.

I saved myself from drowning by stopping at page 50. ...more

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Apr 15, 2018 Charlotte May rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alcoholism-drugs, contemporary-recent, crime-mystery-thriller, favourites, illness-mental-terminal, tear-jerker

4.5! What an incredible story!

“These days, loneliness is the new cancer - a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted.”

Eleanor’s story hit me so much harder than I expected it to. She is thirty years old, has worked at the same job since she left university, speaks on the phone to mummy once a week ...more

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Mar 05, 2018 j e w e l s [Books Bejeweled] rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

5 STARS

Thank you, Eleanor Oliphant. Thank you for picking me up out of my reading slump. Thank you for being so funny, so sad, so smart, so blunt. Thank you for being a literary character that will live forever in the hearts of (most) anyone that reads you.

Oh, and a big thank you for enriching my own personal vocab. My Kindle dictionary has never had such a workout. What a nice perk!! Effortless writing that flows naturally fast, even though Eleanor O prefers to use crossword type clues as actu ...more

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Jun 24, 2017 Larry H rated it really liked it

I'd rate this 4.5 stars.

I'll admit, when I started reading Gail Honeyman's debut novel, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine , I thought about issuing a moratorium on quirky characters who can't seem to pick up social cues or are oblivious to how people usually behave when interacting with peers, coworkers, those who provide service, and others. Obviously these are colorful characters to write about—it seems as if the literary world is full of them.

But the more time I spent with Eleanor Oliphant ...more

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Jun 04, 2017 Pouting Always rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Eleanor Oliphant lives a fairly secluded life due to her lack of social graces and crippling self esteem and anxiety issues. She works at a graphic design firm in the finance department and spends the rest of her time at home, usually drinking. Her social life consists of a phone call with her mummy every week. Then one day she goes to a concert, for which she won tickets in a raffle, and falls in love at first sight with a musician. Eleanor decides to make some changes to herself as part of a p ...more

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May 13, 2017 Diane S ☔ rated it it was amazing

What an absolutely fantastic character Eleanor is, a character that grew on me the more I read. She has had a scarred childhood, though we don't learn exactly what happened until later in the story, she wears the evidence on her face. She remembers little from that time only knows she was burned in a fire. Raised in a series of group homes, given an apartment by social services who still check on her though she is now thirty. She has few social skills, is very matter of fact, has no friends, few ...more

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Nov 04, 2017 Justin rated it really liked it

What an emotional roller coaster, this book! I laughed. I thought about crying. I was angry. I was delighted. I was empathetic. I was completely fine, sometimes.

What started out as a book that could have easily been called A Woman Called Eleanor ended up being far superior to that Ove stuff. There were legit moments that made me laugh, and the book turned in directions that were hard to get through, assuming you have a heart inside your chest that beats about 65bpm as mine does. A heart that fe What an emotional roller coaster, this book! I laughed. I thought about crying. I was angry. I was delighted. I was empathetic. I was completely fine, sometimes.

What started out as a book that could have easily been called A Woman Called Eleanor ended up being far superior to that Ove stuff. There were legit moments that made me laugh, and the book turned in directions that were hard to get through, assuming you have a heart inside your chest that beats about 65bpm as mine does. A heart that feels emotion and pumps blood at the same time. Have you one of those? Are you human?

This could have easily been just a three-star, that was nice, thanks, see ya later kind of book. It wasn’t. It was a cut above that because it had memorable characters and situations and relationships and conditions and events and circumstances that made it a more powerful book than I anticipated. The last third of the book was heavy.

This thing took me all over the place emotionally... and physically. I mean I guess I physically took this book all over the place since I read it on my phone and also listened to the audiobook. Whatever. I didn’t read the synopsis. I just liked the cover and people I like liked the book so I just went for it. I’m glad I did. I should go for more things in life. Take more risks. That’s what life is all about. Taking risks and reading books without knowing too much about them.

Life is also about other things, too. Some of those other life things can be found in the pages of this book. Others can’t be found in any book because they just have to be experienced in, you know, real life. Experiences are good.

So here’s another book for me to recommend. If I recommend anything, it’s worth your time. I don’t recommend anything unless I’m 100% sure everyone in the entire world will agree with me. So here I am, confidently recommending this book to you all because I know you will thoroughly enjoy it much the same way I did, and perhaps even more, but definitely not less. If that’s the case, don’t blame me. It’s not my fault. ...more

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Apr 30, 2017 Angela M rated it it was amazing

At first it’s easy to think that Eleanor is just a quirky social misfit with no friends and no social life and she is, but I soon found out that there is so much more to Eleanor and so much more to learn about her. It’s a lonely life she leads and she says everything is fine but we learn eventually that it isn’t, and that life hasn’t ever been fine. While hints of what happened to her are slowly divulged, we never really find out everything until the end . It’s heartbreaking to learn why she dro ...more

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Jun 26, 2017 Debbie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: debuts, funny, omg-twists, 2017-best-reads, almost-all-time-faves, quirky

I dare you not to think Elephant when you hear this title. This writer is so clever! We've got the first part of elephant at the beginning of her first name, and the rest of the elephant in the last name. No, of course this book is not about elephants, but the writer sometimes plays with words--and that alone is a selling point for me. Maybe it's sort of like subliminal advertising, except the author isn't trying to sell us elephants. Eleanor Oliphant. Elephant elephant elephant!

I can get all an I dare you not to think Elephant when you hear this title. This writer is so clever! We've got the first part of elephant at the beginning of her first name, and the rest of the elephant in the last name. No, of course this book is not about elephants, but the writer sometimes plays with words--and that alone is a selling point for me. Maybe it's sort of like subliminal advertising, except the author isn't trying to sell us elephants. Eleanor Oliphant. Elephant elephant elephant!

I can get all analytical and talk about how Eleanor--the fact that half of her face is badly scarred and that no one knows (or dares to ask) how she got that way—is the elephant in the room. (In fact, the author makes a pun once, referring to an Oliphant in the room.) And like an elephant, Eleanor Oliphant indeed fills the room, even though she would prefer that no one see her, that everyone leave her alone. The world is too scary to her and she is the poster child for anti-social behavior. In one venture she is completely delusional--she thinks her crush on a famous person will lead to marriage. She is a riot, but she has no idea she is. It's also true that she's sad and feels isolated and unlovable. Formal, literal, awkward, and very very funny in her skewed world view, are also part of her package. Routines, crossword puzzles, and vodka are her mainstays. I usually like oddball characters; Eleanor is definitely one of my favorites. Her character is so well-drawn, I'll remember her I'm sure.

This book sure isn't all laughs and all light by any means. This is also a dark book. Something awful happened to Eleanor when she was a kid, and throughout the book we get hints about what it is. The ending had a very clever surprise that made me shake my head in wonder. I loved it.

The middle of the book dragged a little for me, which made me call it a 4-star read at first. (I just had to change my rating to 5 stars, though--the book is just too damn good and I can't get Eleanor out of my head.) Eleanor has a hilarious adventure in a salon early on (one I just have to reread), and there's a lot of other funny energy. Absurd situations described in language that hopped, gave me the feeling that I was on an amusement ride. The author seemed “on”, jazzed up, and I couldn’t get off the ride even if I wanted to. Of course, I wanted the book to keep up that level of hilarity, and it didn't. Still, Eleanor was relentlessly fascinating, both her public, regular side (that’s a poor choice of words because there is nothing regular about Eleanor) and her private, dark side.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly. I'm shocked that this is a debut--it's so well-written, and the lovable, weird heroine is so so vivid. I'll be in line for the author's next book, although this book will be a hard act to follow. ...more

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Apr 24, 2017 Fran rated it it was amazing

Eleanor Oliphant is a thirty year old accounts receivable clerk who has a humdrum existence. She calls herself a self contained entity, eating lunch alone while doing crossword puzzles and spending every weekend alone with bottles of vodka. She feels freakish and ugly since she has scar tissue across her right cheek, a result of third degree burns suffered during childhood. She speaks to Mummy by phone every Wednesday. Eleanor lives with the only item to have survived her childhood, her parrot p ...more

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Mar 23, 2017 Elyse rated it it was amazing

Update.....I found a copy in my notes from last year ---

Here is the review I wrote right after I read it. I realize - almost a year later I can still remember so much about this story: ELEANOR is a terrific character ... and this book is great!!! Even GROWS on you!!!

Eleanor Oliphant, almost 30 years old, is one of those odd characters we think we may have seen before in our books --- lonely - awkward - lacking social skills. She doesn't have filters when it comes to saying what she's thinking. Y ...more

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May 13, 2018 Jaline rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018-completed, x-favourites

Eleanor Oliphant is one of the heroines of literature that I am sure I will remember always. She is brilliant, yet socially awkward. At the age of 10 she experienced a trauma that she never received any help with to sort through it. So, she repressed her memories and more importantly, she repressed her emotions. By the age of 30, she was so good at repression that it completely froze parts of her being and the underlying, unacknowledged fear of any of her repressions getting out were the root ca Eleanor Oliphant is one of the heroines of literature that I am sure I will remember always. She is brilliant, yet socially awkward. At the age of 10 she experienced a trauma that she never received any help with to sort through it. So, she repressed her memories and more importantly, she repressed her emotions. By the age of 30, she was so good at repression that it completely froze parts of her being and the underlying, unacknowledged fear of any of her repressions getting out were the root cause of her lack of social skills.

When dealing with intellectual matters, she is formidable; her vocabulary and the facts at her fingertips are beyond many people’s comprehension. Yet even as she grew and matured, some parts of her remained in the stunted, closed-in world of her 10-year-old self.

Despite everything she had experienced, with both physical scars and those on her psyche, not once does Eleanor feel self-pity or get caught up in, “I am a victim”. She simply does not see herself that way and it is one of the reasons I admire her as a character to be honoured and respected.

At her workplace, she meets the new IT guy Raymond, and her critique of him is definitely offhand and dismissive. Although they do eventually become friends, Eleanor has her sights set on someone else – far more glamourous, exciting, and sophisticated.

When her world takes a nose dive, she is wise enough to know it is because of her own poor decisions based on influences from her past, and she takes brave measures to turn her life around with help from her friend Raymond. Her long and slow recovery is a testament to the human soul’s willingness to strive and thrive against all odds.

I found this book to be a compelling read, funny in places, deadly serious in other places, but always, always buoyed by Eleanor’s determination and resilience. It was rewarding to watch her friendship with Raymond grow, and his support of her is inspiring.

I loved this book; it is yet another amazing debut novel by an author I hope to read more of in the future. This one is going straight to my Favourites shelf, and I know that if ever I need inspiration, all I need do is think about Eleanor Oliphant! ...more

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Oct 04, 2017 Mary Beth *Traveling Sister* rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

4.5 stars!

I just loved Eleanor! She is a loner and avoids social interactions and lives in isolation. She speaks out without thinking, to whatever pops in her mind. She has never received hugs, or held hands and has never felt loved, she never received anything when she was sad to cheer her up. Never received balloons and received a balloon from Raymond with Sponge Bob on it and it was so special to her. She never heard of Sponge Bob.

She had an awful childhood with a scar on her face and bruise 4.5 stars!

I just loved Eleanor! She is a loner and avoids social interactions and lives in isolation. She speaks out without thinking, to whatever pops in her mind. She has never received hugs, or held hands and has never felt loved, she never received anything when she was sad to cheer her up. Never received balloons and received a balloon from Raymond with Sponge Bob on it and it was so special to her. She never heard of Sponge Bob.

She had an awful childhood with a scar on her face and bruises would show up all over her body. She had an emotional traumatic past. She was bought up in foster homes and then gets herself her own apartment from a social worker.

Eleanor is now thirty years old and works in a office. She drinks a lot of vodka and spends time on the weekends talking to her Mummy on the telephone. She drinks her vodka so she can forget her traumatic past, all what she remembers is a fire. She then goes through counseling and things come together and she remembers everything that
happened in her traumatic past

She then meets Raymond and things start to change for her, she finally meets a friend. She is in love with a famous musician. That is how quirky she is, she actually wants a relationship with him. Her relationship with Raymond builds and it works for her. She then goes through counseling and things come together and she remembers everything that happened in her traumatic past. She is changing and turns out being very brave. She is so humorous. I just loved Eleanor.

My Thoughts

This book really made me feel so many emotions!! I laughed, I cried, tears running down my face. I cheered for Eleanor near the end. I loved this book. It really made me feel! I just loved Eleanor.

It was a slow burn but the book started building suspense when I read about her scar on her face and had to find out why. Then it got me turning the pages to find out what happened. I was so surprised when I found out what happened. It was so sad and heartbreaking what she went through. While I was reading this I thought it was a whole different genre in what I usually read, it wasn't a thriller but it was the mystery of what happened that turned this into a page turner. Once all the pieces came together, I fell in love with this book. I can understand why it was a little slow, you needed to really get to know Eleanor. Once I started loving Eleanor that is when it started getting really good. I then couldn't put it down. Eleanor will make you laugh, she will make you cry, and she will have you cheering her on. If you love a book that will make you feel, this is the one for you!! I loved it.

This book was an awesome character driven novel. I just loved Eleanor's character. ...more

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Apr 25, 2017 Cheri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, arc, first-to-read, scotland, debut-novel, british-authors

!! NOW AVAILABLE !!

4.5 Stars

Eleanor Oliphant is lacking the social awareness that would have her filter her comments, or even consider for a moment that she needs to do so. She’s a unique individual with a unique view on the world and how it works – especially as it relates to people.

”Animals, birds and insects can provide such useful insights. If I’m ever unsure as to the correct course of action, I’ll think, ‘What would a ferret do?’ or ‘How would a salamander respond to this situation?’ Inva ...more

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Aug 04, 2017 ❄️Nani❄️ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'm starting to get a little concerned here because so far, 2018 has bestowed upon me nothing but amazing books and I fear I'm going to have to pay for this streak of good luck at a later date.
But for now, I'm going to revel in it until it comes to an end. Here's to hoping that never happens.🥂

My heart, without a doubt, has been hijacked by Eleanor and is nowhere to be found.
But you know what, Eleanor, take it. Take whatever’s left of it. It’s all yours because you've given me a blissful (and ...more

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Oct 29, 2017 Svetlana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: literary-fiction

When I first picked this book up, I was battling with some mental health issues of my very own. I only quite recently realised I had any when a friend pointed it out; and all the years of struggling - my thoughts, emotions and behaviour started to make sense. Funny thing is, I had decided to read this one thinking it was going to be a fun, light read and it will cheer me up. Little did I know how deep and relatable it was going to turn out.

Initially, I could only manage a couple of pages at a t When I first picked this book up, I was battling with some mental health issues of my very own. I only quite recently realised I had any when a friend pointed it out; and all the years of struggling - my thoughts, emotions and behaviour started to make sense. Funny thing is, I had decided to read this one thinking it was going to be a fun, light read and it will cheer me up. Little did I know how deep and relatable it was going to turn out.

Initially, I could only manage a couple of pages at a time because it's all my brain could take; and I didn't want to overwork myself. But the more I read, the more I wanted to know about Eleanor. Though she took me a while to warm up to, I really got to know her and like her as a person. And now I just adore her! She was a wonderful character and seemed so incredibly REAL to me that at times I forgot I was reading a work of fiction. It felt like I was literally inside her head with her thoughts and emotions. She was funny, quirky, so odd at times and yet SO relatable. I identified and connected with Eleanor on a personal level because I too, know what the darkness feels like; the hollowness and loneliness. I know it all too well.

I felt angry and hurt for Eleanor and for what she went through. Her mother was an incredibly vile woman. But I got to see her grow and blossom beautifully; and it was so heartwarming to be a part of it all. I found myself thinking of Eleanor when I wasn't reading, and then would want to pick it up just so that I could be a part of her thoughts and her day.

Reading for me in some ways is an escape from my issues because it makes me feel better. I started this book in a state where I felt at my lowest, but finished it in a better one. Partly because I really enjoyed the book and mainly because I finally decided to confide in my friend. Just like Eleanor, I bottled things up. But I think it's very important to let someone know about how you feel. And I'm glad I picked this one up because it made me smile and laugh and I had a wonderful time reading it. I didn't realise this until now but I'm actually going to miss Eleanor Oliphant. And she most definitely, and completely, is fine.

4.5 stars ...more

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Jul 03, 2018 Candi rated it really liked it

Shelves: women-s-fiction, contemporary-literary

"These days, loneliness is the new cancer – a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted, or that it might tempt fate into visiting a similar horror upon them."

I couldn’t help but think that the above presumption somehow rings quite true in this day and age. If we look around and see so many interacti "These days, loneliness is the new cancer – a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted, or that it might tempt fate into visiting a similar horror upon them."

I couldn’t help but think that the above presumption somehow rings quite true in this day and age. If we look around and see so many interacting personally with their cell phones rather than one another, and think about the hordes of people sitting at home in front of the television watching mindless shows or playing video games, and those of us… ahem, sitting at our computers alone but attempting to engage with others online – I am nearly convinced that loneliness could very well be a disease of this technologically advanced century.

Eleanor Oliphant certainly knows something about loneliness. In fact, it was this issue that really stood out for me the most in this novel. I mean, yes, there are a number of other problems to reflect on here as well – alcoholism, mental abuse, and physical abuse for starters. And then it seems we could also touch on Asperger’s. In fact, I think you could open up a copy of a DSM-5 if you had one handy (I didn’t) and slap quite a few official diagnoses under Eleanor’s name. However, I really don’t mean to make light of any of Eleanor’s problems because even just one of these would be enough to make me feel for this quirky and solitary soul. Initially, Eleanor is a bit unlikeable… judgmental, aloof, and not always very nice – she just might tell you exactly what she thinks. She is also quite funny… not purposefully, of course, but I dare you not to laugh about some of her observations! In the very least, you may nod your head. "I do feel that tube tops are best suited to the under twenty-fives, if, indeed, they are suited to anyone." And then she little by little grows on you as you learn her story and you not only sympathize with her, you might actually find yourself caring for her and cheering her on.

There are a number of excellent reviews out there so I won’t dwell more on Eleanor’s personal history or the plot here. The balance seems to be overwhelmingly tipped in favor of this book, but there are some fantastic reviews that also sit on the other side of the scale and are well worth their weight. There were some things that bugged me while reading this - a number of inconsistencies in Eleanor’s character, for example. She would say one thing and then act in an opposing manner. An unbelievable love interest comes to mind immediately. And what about the vodka binge drinking? "Vodka is, for me, merely a household necessity, like a loaf of bread or a packet of tea." Does one quit this without a recovery process? Are there no withdrawal symptoms? Okay, enough said about that.

However, despite several of these inconsistencies, I could not help being entirely charmed by this novel! I seriously adored Raymond! I like to think that there really is that nice guy (or gal) out there that will make a difference in someone’s life – a person who doesn’t necessarily shine when you first glance at him or her, but one with that unassuming presence whose friendship is truly priceless. My personal enjoyment of the book as well as the importance of bringing the issue of loneliness into the forefront are what tipped the scale in the right direction for me.

"There’s no shame, you know, no shame at all in being… depressed, or having a mental illness or whatever..." ...more

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Oct 11, 2017 Crumb rated it really liked it

Shelves: women-s-fiction

Oh, Eleanor! How delightfully quirky you are! This book..well..let's just say was one of the most unusual and gratifying journeys that I have ever been taken on in the literary world. Thank you, Gail Honeyman for creating such a wonderfully, unique character that is Ms. Eleanor Oliphant. And that name? I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E.

I'm not going to attempt a summary of this book because that would seem slightly gratuitous. Therefore, I will simply say, that this novel is a character study of a woman, that ...more

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May 31, 2017 Tucker rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-favorites

I’ve heard a lot of good things about “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, “ but I must admit I was somewhat reluctant to read it. I’ve recently read several novels about social misfits like Eleanor and felt like I needed a break from that type of character. Also, Gail Honeyman is a debut author whose work was only discovered through a writing competition. (How good could she be?) I decided to give Eleanor half an hour, but after only ten minutes of reading I was totally hooked and my reluctanc ...more

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Jun 22, 2017 Annet rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dark, fun-sad-at-the-same-time, heartbreaking

Eleanor Oliphant has learned how to survive - but not how to live...
Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything...

This is a sad and at the same time, strangely enough a fun story. I read a quote on the cover "A story about the very worst and very best that humans are capable of... Funny, brave and utterly devastating". That about sums it up. It's a pretty tragic story about Eleanor Oliphant, a lonely peculiar lady with a severel ...more

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Jul 11, 2017 Lindsay - Traveling Sister rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

4.5 stars! Oh Eleanor, I desperately wanted to reach into this story and hug you (even though a hug would be extremely awkward for you) and welcome your quirky self into my life!

Eleanor’s journey took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Eleanor is obliviously socially awkward. She had me laughing out loud on one page and then holding back tears while breaking my heart on the next. Eleanor Oliphant is one of the most remarkable characters I have ever ‘met’! Eleanor’s inner thoughts (and ofte ...more

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Aug 10, 2017 . rated it it was amazing

4.5 for the writing 5 for the intense, emotive, evocative results.

a few months back i purchased a bag of cripsy puff veggie sticks, i believe they were tomato basil flavoured. they caught my eye so i thought i'd give them a go. i remember during the first few bites i felt like they tasted off, i wasn't expecting them to taste like they had. at the same time i felt i had swung and missed at a new snack, i felt the need to grab another small handful. as i began acclimating to their taste i realise ...more

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Aug 27, 2017 Luffy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My typical review is 3 paragraphs, and if the book is overly long, there's a lot that I don't report in my review. So, when I come across the title 'Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine', I wonder how much of this statement is true, and how much of the evidence for or against this statement I'll notice in one single reading.

Eleanor is odd, and nobody is completely fine in this world, cruelty oblige. Eleanor doesn't notice everything in her life. This is crucial and tragic at the same time. Eleano ...more

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Mar 19, 2018 Christine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, new-authors, british

4.5 stars (rounded to 5 stars)

I passed on this book when it first came out, but after seeing all the 4 and 5 star ratings from my Goodreads friends I decided to give it a go.

It took a while for me to connect with the story. The first 80-100 pages were slow, and I wasn’t sure if I was loving the rather off-putting protagonist enough to enjoy her tale. Eleanor is a young woman living in Glasgow who suffered a horrifically traumatic event at age 10 and spent the rest of her childhood in one foster 4.5 stars (rounded to 5 stars)

I passed on this book when it first came out, but after seeing all the 4 and 5 star ratings from my Goodreads friends I decided to give it a go.

It took a while for me to connect with the story. The first 80-100 pages were slow, and I wasn’t sure if I was loving the rather off-putting protagonist enough to enjoy her tale. Eleanor is a young woman living in Glasgow who suffered a horrifically traumatic event at age 10 and spent the rest of her childhood in one foster home after another and finally in an orphanage. She makes the best of things and decides she is completely fine as a scar-faced independent person with an OK job and her weekend bottles of vodka. Who needs friends and family when you are completely fine without them, right?

Then she unexpectedly finds herself in a situation where she thinks she might like to impress somebody. As practice for this “project” she begins to expand her horizons just a bit and surprises herself by enjoying these new experiences. And when a normal work colleague doggedly coaxes her into a friendship, it is nothing like she has ever experienced before. That is when the book started reeling me in. After that point, I was totally hooked and read the vast majority of the book in 2 days. Unheard of for me.

Wow, Ms. Honeyman constructed a jewel with this debut effort. Her writing style is beautiful and most appealing. She also drops an interesting new (to me) word every 3 pages or so. I was reading a hardback so kept my online dictionary nearby at all times in order to see exactly what these cool words meant. I love learning new words. She also knew when to inject a dose of humor into this emotive story.

Watching Eleanor learn about all the wonderful human-y things she has been missing in life is profoundly moving. She is like a chrysalis, just waiting to bloom. I appreciated the author not going over the top with Eleanor’s journey; the characters and the story are portrayed very realistically, adding to the brilliance of the book.

I must throw in that I thought the scenes of Eleanor with Maria Temple were particularly well done.

This story is many things. It is both wrenching and full of heart. It is deeply touching. It is dark, yet inspiring. Most of all, it is one of those few books one reads that is truly unforgettable. I highly recommend Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine to all.
...more

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Jun 01, 2017 Karen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5.
Oh, Eleanor Oliphant is quite the character! Eleanor is 30, single, and troubled by her abusive past, her way of speaking is very blunt. Eleanor lives a solitary life..she likes crossword puzzles and vodka!
You can't help but fall for her and root for her to find happiness. I can't say much more, I don't want to give anything away about the story.
I definitely recommend this book!

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Jul 22, 2018 Paul Bryant rated it liked it

Shelves: novels

Here is a novel at the exact room temperature everyone likes, not too cold, not to hot, just right, it’s like Goldilocks finding the right bed, everybody jumps in and goes right off to sleep, no one has a bad word to say, the Guardian loved it, the Irish Times said it “hits the accessible literary sweet spot”, Costa Book Prize, Reece Witherspoon to star in the movie, five stars rain down upon Eleanor Oliphant on Goodreads until she can no longer be seen, buried beneath tons of billowy love. If T ...more

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Jun 29, 2017 Carol rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, cultural-scotland, ebook, favorites, published-2017, read-2017

Wish-It-Wasn't-Over!

ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE...YEP!...and this FINE DEBUT is going on my favorites shelf for 2017!

There are many...many laughs to be had here...but there is also evil doing.. As you come to know Eleanor and her tedious, but entertaining routines of the day, you will methodically find out about her haunted past, love for vodka AND her forthright personality....to tell it like it is....no matter what the situation!

Without giving anything away, I'll just say that Eleano

...more

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About Gail Honeyman

Gail Honeyman

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Gail Honeyman wrote her debut novel, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, while working a full-time job, and it was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize as a work in progress. She has also been awarded the Scottish Book Trust's Next Chapter Award 2014, was longlisted for BBC Radio 4's Opening Lines, and was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize. She lives in Glasgow.

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