Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine in Books and Jams Readalong

Sep 03, 2017 MsAprilVincent rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Eleanor Oliphant is the exact opposite of fine. Eleanor Oliphant is enif.
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Lonely by choice, Eleanor's renaissance begins when she gets a crush on a local musician and begins to mold herself into the person she thinks he would want. She's never met or talked to the guy, but she's sure they'll have a happy ending.
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Eleanor is an emotionally and socially stunted grown woman, if you haven't guessed.
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When Eleanor and a coworker she's just met (and doesn't much like--but then, she didn't much like anyo
Eleanor Oliphant is the exact opposite of fine. Eleanor Oliphant is enif.
〰
Lonely by choice, Eleanor's renaissance begins when she gets a crush on a local musician and begins to mold herself into the person she thinks he would want. She's never met or talked to the guy, but she's sure they'll have a happy ending.
〰
Eleanor is an emotionally and socially stunted grown woman, if you haven't guessed.
〰
When Eleanor and a coworker she's just met (and doesn't much like--but then, she didn't much like anyone) rescue a man who's had a medical attack of some kind, their lives become entwined due to the shared experience and because Raymond (the coworker) and Sammy (the sick man) genuinely like people and, for some reason, like Eleanor too.
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The problem is that Eleanor had some major scars, both physical and emotional, from childhood events that she's buried for almost 20 years. When she allows herself to become invested in Raymond and Sammy's lives, it also opens up some of the stuff she's blocked, and it does not go well.
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For the first half of the book, I found it hard to like Eleanor. She's not nice but thinks she is. She's judgmental. Even though I knew she'd been a victim somewhere in her past, I still didn't feel any sympathy for her, and that made me feel bad about myself, that I couldn't dredge up any kind feelings about this woman.
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Also--and I wish more authors would realize this--if you're trying to telegraph that a character speaks emotionlessly, you can totally do that without making her speak in dictionary definitions! Lack of affect doesn't have to equal robotic!
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I laughed aloud when Eleanor got a cat, because she described that situation perfectly.
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While I was frustrated with Eleanor many times, I warmed up to her as she warmed up to Raymond and Sammy, and eventually a widening circle of friends. She doesn't have a perfect progression, which I like, because it's real that there are steps both forward and back. I was pleased with her progress and that her future is going to be much happier and human-er.
...more

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Mar 04, 2018 Jan rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio-book, library, 2018-vt-reading-challenge

3.5 Stars
VT 2018 Reading Challenge - #24 s book that won a prize (Costa First Novel Award)

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Nov 16, 2017 Lia rated it liked it

Shelves: female-authors, available-cnl

I liked this.
Sweet, yet at times a touch saccharin for my taste.

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 23, 2018 Lisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobooks, adult, fiction, 5-stars, 2018

The hype is real! This book is fantastic. I listened to the audiobook it made me laugh out loud in public places and it made me cry. I was charmed by this book and so invested in Eleanor’s life. This is a must read. So good!!

1 like · Like · see review