Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - Restarting February 2nd 2020

[Rachmi]

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.

Everyone is welcome to join Abby and I reading this book on January 13!

[M Ahmad]

Consider me in...!

[Rachmi]

Hi Abby and Ahmad, I just want to tell you that I will be a little bit late reading this book. My copy hasn't arrived yet. I think I will get it by Monday or Tuesday, next week.

But if you guys want to read it as the schedule, please go ahead. I will join you as soon as I can.

[Abby]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[Hmm... wonder why Eleanor needs a social worker. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[Wow, what a mother. "You're a pointless waste of human tissue." Can't believe she said that! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 26: (view spoiler)[Poor thing. Eleanor definitely needs help. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[So... Mummy was dead this whole time?
Super weird ending for a book that's not a thriller. (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

Starting this.

[Rachmi]

I finally got my copy yesterday but will start it in a few days, as I have another BR now.

[Rachmi]

chapter 3 (view spoiler)[Does it mean that Eleanor's mother was raped by her father? (hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 10th of July 2018

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[✨Skye✨]

Up to chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ This is very readable, and I'm enjoying it. I did want to put it down very quickly because Eleanor is insufferably rude, just the kind of person I detest in real life. I have to admit, I had a flick through to the end to see if it got better (an awful habit, but in this case it worked for the best!) and I can see the story becomes very deep, and even now continuing on, I can already see that Eleanor's behaviour seems to be from some trauma or from her not knowing what the norm is rather than a pure superior nasty attitude. It is enraging to read from her perspective, though. (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

Up to chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ All of a sudden, I'm really into this. The more I read, the more depth I perceive in this book. Things definitely aren't as they seem. It was very sad that Eleanor had never even considered she has control over her life, or that someone would be kind to her just for the sake of being kind. (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

Up to chapter 30 (view spoiler)[ That was so upsetting when she spoke about people wanting to stick with you through hard times just because you like them. Her delusion was odd but understandable, and he really was an arse. I really liked reading about the people in her life who cared who you wouldn't expect-her boss, the shopkeeper. In real life, things are the same. I was so upset about Sammy! (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

Done (view spoiler)[ This book was so touching! I never expected that her mother had died at the same time. When I flicked forward, I never read that part although as I read on, it did seem like the conversations become more surreal. I liked that open ending, with Eleanor and Raymond's relationship being a prospect. (hide spoiler)]

[Fernando]

✨Skye✨ wrote: "Up to chapter 10 "

(view spoiler)[ Well, I'm glad to hear it gets better. I didn't mind so much her being rude and socially inept (perhaps because the latter one feels more relatable) and I'm not one to hate on books becuase they depict someone or something that is unlike me, but the part that I'm having a bit of trouble with is that certain things, seem a bit hard to believe for me? But of course that could take form and make more sense later on. I hope it does.

And it is very readable! (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

Fernando wrote: "✨Skye✨ wrote: "Up to chapter 10 "

Well, I'm glad to hear it gets better. I didn't mind so much her being rude and socially inept (perhaps because the latter one feels more relatable) and I'm not ..."

I do think it all begins to make sense as you read on. I think my initial issues with Eleanor were because I didn't yet realise she had social issues-at first, she just seemed to look down on others for little reason. I am glad this isn't the case though!

[Fernando]

✨Skye✨ wrote: "Fernando wrote: "✨Skye✨ wrote: "Up to chapter 10 "

Well, I'm glad to hear it gets better. I didn't mind so much her being rude and socially inept (perhaps because the latter one feels more relata..."

I see, well, I did seem to realise it earlier on, and in fact it was a bit of a disappointment because this has been heavily marketized as a book about loneliness - which it certainly is, but it seems like it's just a part of another yet bigger subject? - and I was hoping it would depict the loneliness of a more 'ordinary' human being, rather than one under more special circumstances.

Anyway. the kinds of things I was mentioning that I was finding kind of hard to believe is that often times, Eleanor behaves and thinks as she had been born yesterday, and it is a bit hard to believe given that she is a 30 year old independent woman, who has been independent for quite some time, I believe.

[Jayme]

Chapters 1-3:
(view spoiler)[Firstly, I love that Eleanor works at a Graphic Design company and that she describes the graphic designers as "desperate to be seen as freethinkers with unique ideas." As a graphic design major, I can confirm this is an accurate representation 😂
This novel is actually a bit more dark than I was expecting. In chapter 3, we find out that Eleanor's mummy is verbally abusive and that her father raped her mother. I'm also wondering how Eleanor got her scars and why she had a black eye when she showed up for her job interview.
I'm intrigued by these first few chapters: by what's going to happen with Eleanor's rockstar love, by what's going on with Eleanor's past, and by how Raymond will affect Eleanor.
Also, that waxing scene. Ouch! Why did she not wear underwear?!? I was cringing so hard thinking about the chafing 😬 (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Chapters 1-3:
(view spoiler)[I actually didn't even know what this book is about and to be honest, I thought this was about a teenager. So this was the first surprise when I picked this book up. Eleanor is really a weird character. I wonder if I ever read about a character who is so peculiar. She seems somehow naive and excessive with her crush to that singer. I'm curious how things will go from here. (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Jayme wrote: "Chapters 1-3:


(view spoiler)[I didn't even realize that Eleanor's mom is verbally abusive. (I was pretty tired when I read the third chapter yesterday evening) What did she say exactly?
I'm also wondering about the scars and the black eye. I was thinking about an abusive boyfriend at the time, but it doesn't seem like Eleanor ever had a boyfriend considering how naively she crushed on that singer!
(hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Chapters 4-6:
(view spoiler)[
Oh no, it's ending on the worst cliff hanger ever! But I bet she won't go into why the report is all lies anyway. At least not in the next chapter. I guess we'll just have to find out one thing after another.
I can't believe Eleanor called out Raymond for smoking while being an alcoholic herself! It was completely ridiculous!
We also found out that Eleanor's mom is in prison and that she's known as "the beautiful evil" (or something like that) which I'm very interested in.
(hide spoiler)]

I already regret that we agreed on only 3 chapters a day, but I know I won't be able to get more done during the week, so it's fine. I'll just have to be patient and we'll eventually find out what the hell is going on 😂

[Jayme]

GridGirl wrote: "Jayme wrote: "Chapters 1-3"

(view spoiler)[I went into the book knowing little about it also, and was also really surprised to find out it was about a 31 year old! I actually think I like that better.
I assumed her mother was verbally abusive from this line: " Mummy has always told me that I am ugly, freakish, vile. She's done so from my earliest years, even before I acquired my scars." That doesn't sound too healthy, coming from a mother :/ (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

Chapters 4-6:
(view spoiler)[ I'm so curious about what happened in Eleanor's past!! I think she might have had a sister that maybe her mother killed? Obviously her mother did something really bad to have been called "evil with a pretty face" and locked in an institution. I think Eleanor's social ineptitude comes from her trauma, and probably her upbringing from her mother.
I also hope the old man makes it. I wonder what happened to him :( (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

GridGirl wrote: "Chapters 4-6:"

(view spoiler)[That's so true about Eleanor calling out Raymond while also being an alcoholic herself! I've noticed a couple times where she seems to contradict herself without even realizing it.
I was actually thinking the same about the reading pace 😂 I'm so intrigued! I really wasn't expecting this to be so compelling of a read. I expected cute and heartwarming, but I wasn't expecting mystery and trauma. I'm really liking it so far though!! (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Jayme wrote: "GridGirl wrote: "Jayme wrote: "Chapters 1-3"


Oh yes, of course! I must have totally missed that passage!

[GridGirl]

Jayme wrote: "Chapters 4-6:


Jayme wrote: "GridGirl wrote: "Chapters 4-6:"


(view spoiler)[I wonder if the old man had a heart attack? But I think the paramedics would have been more alarmed in this case... I also think the scene where Eleanor talked to the old man while Raymond called the ambulance was hilarious, but also ridiculous at the same time! Eleanor is really a weird character. (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Chapters 7-9:

(view spoiler)[So Eleanor actually had a violent boyfriend... :/
I wonder how it came that she got so fancy food during her childhood. It doesn't fit into my picture of her mother. Overall her mother is the most mysterious character in this book... I hope well find out more about her soon!
Also, I'm not sure how I feel about what's developing between Raymond and Eleanor... I mean, she doesn't fancy him at all, but I'm still sure they're going to end up together...
(hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

Jayme wrote: "GridGirl wrote: "Chapters 4-6:""

(view spoiler)[That was hilarious! Eleanor really is such a weird character, but I really love her character too! (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

Chapters 7-9:
(view spoiler)[Oh my gosh, I can't believe Eleanor bought the old man a Playboy magazine!! She is so hilarious!
So we find out that there was a fire and that is probably how Eleanor got her scars. I'm wondering if her mother started the fire. Poor Eleanor also had an abusive boyfriend. She really has had some bad luck in her life :(
I'm also wondering what she meant by "the things I've done cannot be undone."
Eleanor is really in over her head trying to become Johnny's girlfriend. She's practically stalking him, and I just know it's not going to end well for her :/ (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

GridGirl wrote: "Chapters 7-9:"

(view spoiler)[Mysterious is the perfect word for Eleanor's mother! None of the things that Eleanor says about her seem to match up or make any sense. Sometimes Eleanor makes her sound like a really great mother and other times she makes her sound like a terrible mother.
I hope her and Raymond turn out to just be really great friends. I like their dynamic together, but I don't really see how it could turn romantic. At least I hope it doesn't turn romantic, I'm kinda getting tired of forced romances :/ I did find it really funny though when Eleanor brought up finding her true love and Raymond thought she was talking about him :) (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

Chapters 10-12:
(view spoiler)[The scene of Eleanor going over to Raymond's mother's house was so cute! I love the scenes of Eleanor interacting with kind people! All she needs is a little warmth and kindness from others. I can't believe how mean her coworkers are to her! And her mother is just so terrible.
I'm so worried about what's going to happen when Eleanor approaches the musician. I can't imagine things will go the way Eleanor thinks they will... (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Chapters 10-12:
(view spoiler)[ I liked how Eleanor spent her birthday with Raymond and his mom and how happy she felt around the oder people :)
And the fact that she rebelled afainst her mother! Her mother seems like a really horrible person :(
(hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

GridGirl wrote: "Chapters 10-12:"
(view spoiler)[Oh yeah, I forgot it was her birthday! That was really sweet that she was able to do something nice on her birthday. She probably doesn't normally do much for her birthday.
Yeah, her mother is really an awful person! I wish that Eleanor would stop calling her :( (hide spoiler)]
Oops, I just realized I accidentally wrote chapters 10-13 when I meant 10-12!

[Jayme]

Chapters 13-15:
(view spoiler)[Whew! I really thought she was going to meet the singer in this section, but I'm glad she didn't! I'm really dreading what will happen. Hopefully she'll have spent all this time gathering confidence for him then realize that she doesn't actually need him :)
Eleanor's joke about spilling coffee over herself was so unexpected and so hilarious! I didn't even think she knew what sarcasm was! I love her more and more with each chapter haha :) (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

Chapters 16-18:
(view spoiler)[So I'm pretty sure now that Eleanor and Raymond are going to end up together. I actually don't mind them together, I just wish it hadn't been so obvious.
Aw! I'm so glad Eleanor is putting herself out there more and trying new things! It was sweet how she happy-cried after getting her hair done and called herself "shiny". I just want to give Eleanor a big hug! But maybe an air hug, since she doesn't really like to be touched :) (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Sorry, I'm the worst at keeping up during the week.... 🙈

Chapters 13-18:

(view spoiler)[I'm pretty sure the musician isn't what Eleanor wants him to be... I think the guy at the Club was talking about him even if Eleanor doesn't believe that or chooses to ignore it. I'm surprised Eleanor told Raymond about her ex. But on the other hand it seems like a naive thing she would do. I wonder how things between them are ging to go. (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Chapters 19-21:

(view spoiler)[Eleanor's mother is horrible! She really doesn't deserve this... I also think you were right about her having a younger sibling that her mother killed. That scene in the café with the baby sounded a lot like it....
I love that Eleanor had so much fun dancing at that party! I'm the kind of girl who can dance all night long if the right music is playing, so I totally understand how much she liked it :D
(hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Chapters 22-24:

(view spoiler)[
I'm so sad about Sammy :( He was such a nice old man...
I actually don't think anymore that Raymond and Eleanor will end up together... She was not jealous in the slightest when she saw Laura and Raymond together. Usually that's the point in novels where the main character realizes that she actually has feelings for the guy she's been friends with all that time.
I'm looking forward to Eleanor going to that concert. I really want to know what's going to happen between her and the singer!
(hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Chapters 25-27:

(view spoiler)[
Wow, I didn't think Eleanor would fall into such a deep hole.... I guess I should have known how bad her "bad days" would be by how "average" her "good days" were... Raymond is such a good friend! I don't understand why he didn't call the police or the ambulance, though. You can't treat an alcohol poisoning with some soup! That wasn't super realistic in my opinion. I wonder if Eleanor is now going to tell Raymond more about her mother and what happened when she was a child.
(hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

GridGirl wrote: "Sorry, I'm the worst at keeping up during the week.... 🙈

Chapters 13-18:"

Don't worry about it! I have a little catching up to do myself haha

(view spoiler)[I think you're right. She seems to be projecting what she wants onto the musician. And about her mentioning her ex, I thought it was interesting how she distanced herself from the situation and almost didn't realize how terrible it was. (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

Chapters 19-21:
(view spoiler)[Eleanor for sure has feelings for Raymond! She got so jealous when he danced with what's her name. Also, I love that Eleanor just learned how to dance! And I'm so glad that nobody made fun of her!
I was a little confused about what Keith thought about Eleanor's present. What she got him was hilarious, but I would have been a little weirded out at getting a half-drunk bottle of whiskey and a few cheese slices. But then afterward, he asked her to dance and then decided not to? I'm not sure what all of that was about.
Ugh, Eleanor deserves so much better than her mother. I get now why she was called "evil with a pretty face." (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

GridGirl wrote: "Chapters 19-21:"

(view spoiler)[That scene was so cute! I loved how she described the dance moves too :) I'm so glad she's learning how to find herself and have some fun!
I wish I was like that! I love dancing too, but I'm so shy when it comes to dancing around other people :p (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Jayme wrote: "Chapters 19-21:


(view spoiler)[I'm not sure Eleanor was jealous of Laura, I think she was just doing the negative self talk that she's not special enough for people's attention... (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Chapters 28-30:

(view spoiler)[I'm glad Eleanor is getting treatment now! I hope she will reveal everything soon!
I'm very thankful that Bob is okay with the whole situation. I feel like there are too few people who actually understand that mental disorders are just as bad as a pneumonia and sometimes even harder to treat...
(hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

Chapters 22-24:
(view spoiler)[Aw :( I wasn't expecting Sammy to die so soon in the book. I wish we had gotten more scenes with him!
I also think that Eleanor and Raymond won't end up together after all. I like that the author didn't go for something obvious, and that she's been keeping us on our toes :) Eleanor and Raymond are sooo cute as friends though!
Also, apparently I'm the worst at keeping up during the weekend :/ I'm going to try to get caught up tomorrow :) (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

GridGirl wrote: "Jayme wrote: "Chapters 19-21:"

(view spoiler)[That actually makes a lot more sense! Especially after reading chapter 23. (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Chapters 31-33:

(view spoiler)[
I love that Eleanor has pet now! Glen seems like the perfect companion for her. I also liked that we saw Raymond's mom again. She's a real sweetheart. And I love how Eleanor cleaned her apartment and wanted a fresh start!
Also, I guess you were completely right about Eleanor having a sister! I guess she died in the fire and that's the reason why their mom is in prison...
(hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

Chapters 25-27:
(view spoiler)[Wow, poor Eleanor :( I knew that things with the musician wouldn't go the way she planned, but I didn't think she'd have that strong of a reaction to it. That part was written really well; I could really feel Eleanor's despair. I hope she talks to Raymond some more, because I think it will really help her. Plus then Raymond can tell her how terrible her mother is and hopefully help her cut ties with her. (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

GridGirl wrote: "Chapters 25-27:"

(view spoiler)[That's so true! He really should have called the hospital. His heart was in the right place, but still... Maybe he was exaggerating when he said she had alcohol poisoning? I doubt it though; she really had a lot to drink.
I hope so! I want her to tell someone and I also really want to know myself! (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Chapters 34-36:

(view spoiler)[I love that Eleanor got Sammy's sweater! She also seems like a much happier person now that she's been in therapy for a while. She might not realize it herself yet, but she's becoming herself more and more! (hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Jayme wrote: "GridGirl wrote: "Chapters 25-27:"

(view spoiler)[I'm sure her condition was pretty fatal. I wouldn't have even been surprised if that cashier had called the police!
Be patient, you'll learn more soon ;)
(hide spoiler)]

[Jayme]

Chapters 28-30:
(view spoiler)[I'm so glad Eleanor is actually going to and (sort of) talking to a therapist. She desperately needed one! I just wish she would reveal more, since that would help the therapist help her better, but I understand how difficult it is to open up and make yourself vulnerable. I hope Eleanor continues with the therapy... (hide spoiler)]