From the Bookshelf of Diversity in All Forms!…

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Gail Honeyman

Start date: February 1, 2019

Finish date: January 28, 2019

Discussion: Monthly Group Reads

Why we're reading this: Our diversity topic should we cover in February is Mental Health.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by G…more
[close] Our diversity topic should we cover in February is Mental Health.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

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What Members Thought

Jul 03, 2017 JanB rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club, audiobook

4.5 stars
What an amazing book for a debut! The first pages had me laughing out loud. Eleanor is an odd duck who is socially inept, and frumpy in appearance. She’s very blunt and literal in interpreting conversations, which creates issues with those around her. I was thinking she was a little bit like Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory, maybe on the Asperger’s spectrum.

But, then, we realize Eleanor is actually a sad woman in pain who presents a “everything is fine” facade to the world. In reality sh 4.5 stars
What an amazing book for a debut! The first pages had me laughing out loud. Eleanor is an odd duck who is socially inept, and frumpy in appearance. She’s very blunt and literal in interpreting conversations, which creates issues with those around her. I was thinking she was a little bit like Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory, maybe on the Asperger’s spectrum.

But, then, we realize Eleanor is actually a sad woman in pain who presents a “everything is fine” facade to the world. In reality she is damaged by childhood trauma (which I won’t go into so I don’t spoil it for anyone). She spends her weekends alone with the TV and vodka for company. She goes days without speaking to anyone, but has weekly conversations with her mother, a person who is mean and vindictive.

At this point I began to feel bad about chuckling at Eleanor’s odd behavior. It’s funny, but also heartbreaking. Her traumatic past is slowly revealed throughout the novel and the ending has a twist I didn’t see coming.

Eleanor has unrealistic fantasies about a musician, who she decides is the love of her life, and she sets about making herself over. Along the way several people enter her life and this opens a window for real change. The changes may be too neat and tidy but I’m not looking for too much realism here, so I just went with it. Her literal interpretation and her ignorance of cultural norms seemed a little off to me for someone who is well-educated and well-read, and watches so much TV, but again, I suspended disbelief because the story was so charming.

Ultimately, I came to love Eleanor and the story is sad, yet, uplifting. Seeing Eleanor blossom was a joy. I think a major theme is kindness. How just a little bit of kindness can make such a difference in a person’s life. Who of us hasn’t known (or know) someone like Eleanor? We don’t know what lies behind the “weirdness”, what demons they may be carrying. And we should all, first and foremost, be kind.

A quote: “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 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.”

Highly recommended. The narrator of the audio version was perfect! ...more

119 likes · Like · see review

Apr 25, 2018 Wendy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5000-books, this-is-why-i-read, may-18, 5000-2021

This has to be my favourite book of they year so far! I loved Eleanor Oliphant!!!!
And having listened to the audiobook I'm sure made it even better :)

Currently re-reading for book club :) ...more

53 likes · Like · see review

Sep 22, 2017 Kristy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, from-the-library, a-real-book-wow, read-in-2017, viking, favorites

Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple, albeit lonely, life. Up in the morning, head to work, and heads down at the office (with a solo break for lunch and the crossword). She spends her evenings and weekends alone--typically with a book, the TV, and a lot vodka. Every Wednesday evening, she speaks on the phone with her mother (Mummy)-- always a painful conversation as her mother is judgemental and exacting. Then one day, Eleanor and Raymond, the slightly oafish IT guy from her office, save the elderly Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple, albeit lonely, life. Up in the morning, head to work, and heads down at the office (with a solo break for lunch and the crossword). She spends her evenings and weekends alone--typically with a book, the TV, and a lot vodka. Every Wednesday evening, she speaks on the phone with her mother (Mummy)-- always a painful conversation as her mother is judgemental and exacting. Then one day, Eleanor and Raymond, the slightly oafish IT guy from her office, save the elderly Sammy, who has fallen on the sidewalk. The act turns out to change Eleanor's life--bringing her into Sammy's life and that of his boisterous family--and involving her more with Raymond, as well. Suddenly, it's almost as if Eleanor and Raymond are friends and Eleanor isn't completely lonely anymore. But can her friendship with Raymond erase the sadness in her life?

This book, oh this book. Wow, what a journey. I'm so very glad I finally picked it up. Where do I even begin? First of all, Honeyman captures the voice of Eleanor perfectly. I was honestly a bit surprised when I started this one. I'd been expecting a slightly quirky character (a la the lead in THE ROSIE PROJECT), but there's far more depth and darkness to Eleanor (and her tale) than I imagined. It took me a little longer to get into the story, but once I was: wow. You can visualize Eleanor and her supporting cast so clearly. Raymond comes across effortlessly too. The plot is striking-- an amazing combination of heartbreaking and tender. My heart truly broke for dear Eleanor at times.

I was intrigued by the fact that there's no real huge story, per se, to this novel--it's just Eleanor finding her way in the world. As mentioned, Eleanor and Raymond assist Sammy, and this jolts Eleanor out of her life built around routine and sameness. Forced to come out of her shell, she suddenly sees some things in a new light--her appearance, her job, her friendships (or lack thereof), her apartment, and more. The way Honeyman presents the world--through Eleanor's eyes--is uncanny. I cannot describe how well she captures her diction and how aghast Eleanor is sometimes by the world around her (dirty books from the library, people who waste her time with conversation, the food people eat and how they eat, etc.).

At the same time, you realize how much Eleanor is formed by her childhood, or lack thereof, and it's just... striking. How Honeyman gets this all across in words is amazing. The unexpected darkness and sadness that comes across in the novel and the added layer of suspense she casts as we ponder Eleanor's tragic childhood: it's chilling. The entire book is mesmerizing and beautiful.

That's not to say the book isn't funny or enjoyable, too. Eleanor is her own person, and she's witty and true to her self, for sure. You will find yourself rooting for her personality quirks (of which there are many) and all. If Eleanor's attempts to understand the world don't tug at your heartstrings, I'm not sure anything will (and I'm pretty tough nut to crack when reading, mind you). I was worried that perhaps the moral would be that Eleanor would have to change herself to find happiness, but no, I don't think that was Honeyman's ultimate intent, even if Eleanor does make some "improvements" along the way. (I won't say more for risk of spoilers.) Also, I loved Raymond, as well; his mother; Glen (!!!!); and so many other parts of the story that made me smile. Seriously, even with its sad parts, this book just makes you happy.

Ultimately, this is a lovely book, with beautiful, well-written characters. The tale of Eleanor Oliphant will stay with me for a long time, and I'm so glad I finally decided to read this book. Honeyman is an excellent writer, her depiction of Eleanor is gorgeous and heart-rendering and the few flaws I found with this were so minor, as I was left just awed by the end. One of my favorites so far this year. 4.5 stars.

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39 likes · Like · see review

Sep 25, 2018 J. Schlenker rated it it was amazing

This book captured me from the start. I now have my husband reading it. Every time he laughs out loud, I ask what part are you reading, now?

20 likes · Like · see review

Dec 04, 2017 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction

4.5 stars. If you like quirky characters with real depth, you'll enjoy "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine." Titular character Eleanor lives a very quiet life filled with routine. After surviving a pretty terrible childhood, Eleanor is seemingly content with a life lived the same way day in and day out. She finally has a chance to break out of her shell after she becomes friends of sorts with Raymond, her co-worker. Together, they help Sammy, an old man, and through this experience, Eleanor rea ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Mar 05, 2017 Melissa Rochelle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, read-2017

I love Eleanor Oliphant. She is a heartbreaking creation. As a reader, you go on a journey of self-discovery with Eleanor and it's a rewarding experience. I was reminded of some of my favorite "broken boyman" stories like The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving and The Silver Linings Playbook, but this is a wonderful early 30s woman who is still learning to navigate life and all the confusing bits that come with it while also learning to love herself and embrace her past and just BE in this life. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

May 22, 2019 Kris rated it it was amazing

Shelves: five-star-books

Eleanor is strong and awkward and funny and smart and so very, very lonely. I love her. She is broken but resilient. Raymond is real and kind and good. Their friendship and Sammy and the cat and Eleanor’s boss - it all makes for an amazing story that the reader feels to their core.

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 11, 2020 Amy rated it really liked it

I don't usually read books like this, but the narrator for the audio book was fantastic and brought the characters to life in their own ways. We get to go through Eleanor's journey processing what happened to her. Also the UK has a better health care work relationship than the US, she wouldn't have been "completely fine" if she was... ...more

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Jan 15, 2022 Carly rated it really liked it

I thoroughly enjoyed this book more than l expected to.plus,I learned a bunch of new words!
Seriously though,the writing is great.
No spoilers here. If you haven't read it yet,do so. It's totally worth your time! ...more

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