Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - November 2017

[Ipshita]

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 from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living--and it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

Share your thoughts on this book!

[Nida]

Amazing, this book! At first I had no idea where the author is going with this character. She's unlike anyone. It was sort of sad with a hint of satire. Great story!

[Carmen]

Nida wrote: "Amazing, this book! At first I had no idea where the author is going with this character. She's unlike anyone. It was sort of sad with a hint of satire.

Yeah!! I absolutely agree. It was one of my favourite Summer readings. Eleanor is great. At the beginning you don't know where you are headed but then everything falls into place. Eleanor is an unforgettable character :)

[Alison]

I listened to this on audio and absolutely loved it. Definitely one of my favourite books of the year.

Eleanor is such a brilliant character. She's just so socially awkward it's hilarious at times but also really sad.

[Melissa]

I could definitely relate a lot to Eleanor, and her social anxiety. Overall I liked the book but I found it very bittersweet! I did appreciate Eleanor's independence though. She's kind of clueless at times but she tries hard not to rely on people - even though you do get the sense that in her case, alone-ness kinds of equals loneliness.

I've always been introverted, but only recently accepted myself as an introvert. I like that Eleanor is an introverted unusual female character. She has layers to her, of course, (like anyone) but she doesn't need or want your pity. She's completely fine. :)

[Alison]

I was really shocked by just how much I could relate to Eleanor too. So many of her opinions and reactions to things are just wrong but I found myself agreeing with them surprisingly often.

I'm a bit of an introvert too and I could definitely see myself doing some of the things that she does. It was in some ways an exaggerated version of me.

What surprised me though was just how protective I felt of her by the end. She's actually incredibly naive and vulnerable in a lot of ways. Her lack of experience means others could very easily take advantage of her. I found myself wanting her to be happy, to make some friends and move on with her life.

I thought Raymond was a great character too. I am still a little bit confused by why he made such an effort with her but I suppose he was just a really nice and genuine guy.

[Veronika]

I loved this book. It made me feel so many emotions. I just wanted to hug Eleanor really tight and never let her go.

I was really surprised by the "Mummy reveal", but when I think about it now, it makes a lot of sense. We can see there is a long way to go for Eleanor, but I think now, when she has a support system, she will get herself better.

I really liked Raymond and I am so glad the writer didn't make this a love story. But I think there is a hope for Reymond and Eleanor romance in the future, and it makes me immensely happy.