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Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

by Gail Honeyman

4.33 · Rating details · 32,075 Ratings · 5,001 Reviews

Meet Eleanor Oliphant. She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully time-tabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

Then everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy ...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

Release date: May 09, 2017

Enter for a chance to win one of 10 copies of ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE, which is soon to be a movie produced by Reese Witherspoon!

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Jul 15, 2017 Emily May rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, 2017

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: highly-recommended, my-favorites, giveaways

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

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

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

Shelves: debut-novel, scotland, arc, first-to-read, 2017, 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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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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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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Oct 04, 2017 Mary Beth 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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Jul 11, 2017 Lindsay rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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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Jun 26, 2017 Debbie rated it it was amazing

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

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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Jul 04, 2017 Brenda rated it it was amazing

When I saw the title Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine it intrigued me right away and had me asking myself is she really fine. I have learned when people say they are fine they usually are not. So when I found this one on the fast read shelf at the library I grabbed it and started reading it right away to find out why Eleanor Oliphant was not completely fine.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a brilliant, witty, uplifting and hopefull story that explores the deep unspoken sadness caused b ...more

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May 14, 2017 Julie rated it it was ok

Shelves: 100-pages-too-long, don-t-believe-the-hype

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

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

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

Shelves: ebook, favorites, fiction, cultural-scotland, 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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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 12, 2017 Dem rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, audible, 5-star

I think this book's title should be changed to
Eleanor Oliphant is a hard act to follow.
Because I for one am having a difficult time parting company with Eleanor.

I loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and her quirky ways, humorous, sometimes dark and heartbreaking but an all round wonderful page turner that I did not want to end. I loved the authors use of empathy and humor. Something about this book reminded me of Me Before You another wonderful novel which I would have passed by witho I think this book's title should be changed to
Eleanor Oliphant is a hard act to follow.
Because I for one am having a difficult time parting company with Eleanor.

I loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and her quirky ways, humorous, sometimes dark and heartbreaking but an all round wonderful page turner that I did not want to end. I loved the authors use of empathy and humor. Something about this book reminded me of Me Before You another wonderful novel which I would have passed by without the encouragement of friends.

I wasn't going to read this novel as neither the blurb or the cover appealed to me but as it was nominated on a couple of book group monthly reads I decided I would give it a try and see what the fuss is about. I completely fell in love with Eleanor and her quirky ways and yet there is so much more to this book than wit and charm and I think many book clubs will find lots to discuss here.

There is a dark and serious side to this novel and while I enjoyed the witty lines the theme of loneliness really struck a cord with me as I remember a man who retired from work some time ago and I was congratulating him on his retirement and how his days were now going to be his own and he welled up with tears and told me being single, living alone on his own farm that was remote, he never relied on work for money but for social interaction as otherwise he would lead a very lonely life and was unable to push himself to socialize outside of work Life can surly be very lonely for many many people and Eleanor certainly gives food for thought.

Anyhow this book is refreshing, well written and laugh out loud funny and I found myself giggling and having to replay parts of the audio just to so I could enjoy the lines again.
This is the type of novel I have no problem recommending to friends who enjoy humor and don't take life too seriously. An easy read and a feel good book while just enough dark side to keep it interesting and while I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending and had contemplated giving this a 4.5 Star rating but the more I thought about it the more I felt I was perhaps being a wee bit picky .

I listened to this one on audible and the narrator was excellent and added to the experience. ...more

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Aug 06, 2017 Margitte rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, humor-comedy-satire, reviewed, favorites, british-novels, relationships, suspense, british-author, curmudgeon-charm, 2017-releases, 2017-read, friendship

There was a big green poof, a giant beanie frog on the floor since time immemorial. A charity furniture donation when she moved in. She drew a Musca domestica on his tongue with a pilfered Sharpie. Hungry. Froggie was always hungry...

Froggie and two pints of Vodka every Friday after work, were her only flatmates. Polly, the Australian parrot-plant her only friend since forever. All through the good, bad and better days, Froggie knew it all. Eleanor did not. She could not remember. The scars were ...more

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Jul 19, 2017 Phrynne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 4000-books

At first I was not sure about this book. Eleanor was so odd and so abrasive and I could not imagine where it was going to lead. The author however could imagine and she did it so well. As the novel progressed I grew to understand and to like Eleanor more and more and eventually I wanted to invite her round to my house for some biscuits and tea.
Due to her terrible child hood Eleanor lacks social skills and an understanding of popular culture. She is aware she is different from the norm and withdr ...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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Jun 02, 2017 Shelby *trains flying monkeys* rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalleyhatesme, read-2017

Eleanor Oliphant..I love you.

Eleanor lives a pretty solitary life. She really doesn't understand people. She spends most of her time alone in her apartment, reading interesting books and having her Wednesday afternoon phone calls with "Mummy."

She is fine with that. Along with her little treat.
Vodka is, for me, merely a household necessity, like a loaf of bread or a packet of tea.

One day she sees the man that is going to change her life and starts changing things in order to be ready when he re ...more

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Jul 06, 2017 Linda rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites

"Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine," and so is this wonderfully written debut novel by author Gail Honeyman.

Off and on, while reading this book, my mind would go back to my younger years and hear the lyrics from The Beatles famous song "Eleanor Rigby":

"All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?"

Eleanor doesn't dwell on being lonely, however. I don't think she realizes she has a reason to be lonely. She finds comfort in her everyday routine. ...more

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Aug 18, 2017 Liz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Eleanor makes a great pretense of being fine. She manages her days with the help of vodka and by not engaging with others. Then, a chance event with a co-worker helping a man that has fallen in the street leads to the beginning of social engagement. At the same time, she thinks she has found the love of her life; a good looking rock musician that she doesn't actually know.

This books reads like a mystery. I kept turning pages to see how things would evolve. And to find out what about her past ha ...more

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May 16, 2017 Diane Barnes rated it really liked it

I began this book and thought, Great, another quirky, smart, funny heroine.
A few chapters later I'm realizing there's more to it than that.
Another few chapters I can see that Eleanor has been horribly damaged by a difficult childhood.
By the end of the novel, Eleanor Oliphant has become one of the bravest women I've ever met between the pages of a book.

Her story is revealed slowly, and is accompanied by a sense of horror on the part of the reader, when you realize what she has endured and how she ...more

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Aug 03, 2017 Norma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by GAIL HONEYMAN is an absolutely brilliant, witty, inspiring, charming, unforgettable, and an impressive debut novel that was an uplifting listen which was performed brilliantly by Cathleen McCarron. I was totally engrossed and savouring every moment while I was listening to this book. I didn’t want this story to end!

I absolutely loved Eleanor and her quirky character! She had me laughing out loud at times and feeling for her so much at others. I wanted to ...more

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Aug 10, 2017 paulie 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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May 07, 2017 Carolyn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: society, debut, humour, favourite-books, netgalley, 2017

This is an absolutely delightful book to read. Very accomplished for a debut novel with such a charming main character. Eleanor Oliphant is an unusual character, lonely and isolated due to a loveless upbringing. Taken from her sociopathic mother after a traumatic event and placed in foster homes and then an orphanage, Eleanor has never learnt how to interact and relate to others. With ugly scarring on her face she has always felt the need to hide herself and not be seen. At 21 she landed a job i ...more

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Sep 15, 2017 Carol (Bookaria) rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, favorites, 2017

This book is wonderful.

The main character is Eleanor Oliphant, a woman with a very particular character who has limited social skills and a very structured personality. She has a lot of sharp insights about her coworkers and is very efficient at her job.

One day Eleanor and her coworker Raymond run into a man who had passed away on the street. Although Eleanor prefers to ignore this situation and continue on her way, Raymond insists they both help the man. And this is the start of Eleanor's jour ...more

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Mar 29, 2017 DeB MaRtEnS rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: psychology-medical, feeling-it, quirky-fiction, inspirational, first-reads-giveaways, outstanding-bests, british-author, british-isles

FIVE STARS. I had the great fortune to win this novel in a Goodreads Giveaway. Publication date is May 9, 2017. You will want to read it! Eleanor Oliphant is unusual. Upon meeting her, one realizes that something is genuinely out of whack with this overly regimented, solitary thirty year old woman who has apparently been content living an invisible life in Scottish social housing, working at a poor paying accounting job for eight years.

"Mummy has always told me that I am ugly, freakish, vile. S ...more

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About Gail Honeyman

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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“A philosophical question: if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? And if a woman who's wholly alone occasionally talks to a pot plant, is she certifiable? I think that it is perfectly normal to talk to oneself occasionally. It's not as though I'm expecting a reply. I'm fully aware that Polly is a houseplant.” — 50 likes

“I simply didn't know how to make things better. I could not solve the puzzle of me.” — 39 likes

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