Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: Reese's Book Club: A Novel

Gail Honeyman’s charming, quirky, and resilient Eleanor Oliphant might just be one of my favorite characters I’ve met in a long time. Eleanor’s transformation from the woman she was in the beginning to the stronger, improved version of herself in the end was incredibly sad to read but also uplifting and inspiring at the same time. “I do exist, don’t I? It often feels as if I’m not here, that I’m a figment of my own imagination. There are days when I feel so lightly connected to the earth that the threads that tether me to the planet are gossamer thin, spun sugar. A strong gust of wind could dislodge me completely, and I’d lift off and blow away, like one of those seeds in a dandelion clock.” Eleanor Oliphant is painfully socially inept and completely not attuned to social decencies, an outcome of her horrendous childhood. She spends her weekdays working in the finance department of a graphic design company and avoiding her judgmental co-workers and her weekends drinking the liter or two of vodka she purchases from her local convenience store. Her life is regimented, structured, and very, very boring. The monotony of her life interrupted when she and the new IT guy, Raymond, help an elderly man who passed out on the sidewalk after work. These chain of events and a little bit of fate take Eleanor on an emotional journey she wasn’t planning on taking but one she has needed for a very long time. “My phone doesn’t ring often–it makes me jump when it does–and it’s usually people asking if I’ve been missold Payment Protection Insurance. I whisper I know where you live to them, and hang up the phone very, very gentle. When I started this book, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Eleanor. She is blunt and judgmental. What comes out of her mouth is often unintentionally funny because she is just so emotionally and socially stunted. I laughed out loud quite a bit even though Eleanor wasn’t making jokes. Like, the time she went to get a bikini wax and the esthetician asked her if she wanted a Tiffani, Brazilian, or a Hollywood wax. Eleanor said, “Holly would, and so would Eleanor.” There is a naïveté and innocence to her character that is completely endearing and charming, though there were moments Honeyman was asking the reader to suspend disbelief a little too far. When I finished the novel, I realized that I came to love Eleanor along the way, all the crooked and unique parts of her character. 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. This book reminded me so much of an off-the-wall indie movie, complete with quirky characters and a great friendship storyline. I reach a point about a third of the way where I just loved where Honeyman was taking the story. The cast of characters in this novel was what made it that much more enjoyable. We meet Raymond, the new guy at work, who Eleanor describes as an unattractive overweight man who smokes and walks on the balls of his feet. What he lacks in conventional beauty, he makes up for in heart. He’s such a good guy who loves his mom and over time, comes to really care about Eleanor. Sammy, the older gentleman Eleanor and Raymond help, is vivacious, sprite, and so great! “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.” But the highlight of the novel was seeing Eleanor blossom and start to deal with her own pain. Despite the title, Eleanor Oliphant wasn’t completely fine but she will be. Uplifting and hopeful, this novel is one I will come back to, just so I can spend time with Eleanor just a little bit longer. Audiobook Comments: After reading this book, I picked it right back up again on audiobook. The audiobook is really great and I really loved the narrator’s Eleanor. Her dry, deadpan delivery was absolutely perfect! Highly recommended! * Thanks to the Penguin First Reads program and Penguin Random House Audio for providing me a review copy for review!

Eleanor is a fascinating character. She socially awkward, opinionated, judgmental and lonely. Meeting Raymond and Sammy opens her eyes a bit to the world around her and the possibility that life can be pleasant if given a chance. Seeing Johnnie and creating her future with him in her mind gives her a focus. This leads to trying new things, stepping out of her comfort zone as well as the very bad days. But she isn’t so lonely anymore, she has a friend and it’s that friend I truly believe saved her. I won’t spoil anything but I really do see a bright future for Eleanor with her mental health, friends and maybe even someone special.

This book was so great. It was tragic and humorous, and engaging. The writer is awesome because I couldn't put it down and there were never any real cliff hangers.

Wow! This book was so amazing! Eleanor is quirky, socially awkward, and judgmental, but by the end of the book, she became my favorite heroine. It delves into her mundane life, her weekly horrific calls with Mummy, and her obsession with vodka to get through the weekends. But then, a new coworker walks with her to the busstop after work, they see an old man fall over and hit his head and lay unconscious. Eleanor wants to leave him be, but Raymond won't let her. He has her hold him while he calls the emergency number, then gets her to go with him to the hospital a few times to see the man--Sammy--once he recovers. This is all out of Eleanor's comfort zone, but it begins a slow inner change. It's a great story, with ups and downs and plot twists I didn't see coming. I really loved the characters in this one, and the theme of mental illness, getting past one's past, and how when we say we're "fine"...most of us really aren't! Phenomenal storytelling!

The journey of an impressively witty, awkward, intelligent, and imperfect young woman as she blossoms for her quiet shell into a world of new beginnings/possibilities. ~ Realistic, inspiring, beautiful written

A beautiful story about trauma, self discovery, and love.

It's a wonderful, funny read! It brings out the best and the worst in humans. I enjoyed every page.

Não é fácil definir resenhar este livro. Antes de começar a ler, esperava que ele fosse completamente diferente, que fosse mais leve, mais engraçado, menos pesado. A verdade é que ele é muito triste desde o começo. Essa é a melhor palavra para ele, triste. Até mesmo quando parece que a protagonista não percebe o quanto sua situação é triste, o leitor percebe. Antes mesmo de saber tudo que aconteceu, isso já fica claro. A solidão de Eleanor é palpável e dolorosa. Apesar de não ser um livro alegre, tem algumas partes divertidas, sim. Ver o atrito que o jeito literal e de falar tudo que pensa da Eleanor causa em situações que, para a gente, são bastante simples e comuns é engraçado! Tem partes fofas também, personagens amáveis, como o Sammy, o Raymond e a mãe dele, mas também tem aquelas ainda mais tristes que vão te fazer chorar. Passei o livro todo com vontade de abraçar Eleanor e nunca mais soltar. Ela é preciosa demais para sofrer tanto sem ao menos perceber. A narrativa é bem dentro de sua cabeça, e acho válido mencionar isso, porque tem bastante gente que se incomoda quando o livro não tem tantos diálogos e é mais um monólogo. Eu, particularmente, achei perfeito. A autora é muito boa, deu as informações na medida e parece entender tão, mas tão bem a cabeça da Eleanor, que é até um pouco assustador. E a Eleanor é tão real e única, que é difícil não acreditar que ela existe de verdade. Ela é única mesmo, com sua mentalidade literal, seu jeito direto de falar tudo que vem à cabeça e sua falta de tato em situações sociais, a ponto de beirar o autismo. Mas ela é tão maravilhosa também, não merecia nunca ter que passar pelo que passou, e eu só queria poder protegê-la do mundo. Eleanor Oliphant é definitivamente uma personagem marcante! Fico bem feliz de que a autora não tenha transformado esse livro em um romance, porque ele é sobre Eleanor e sua solidão, suas causas, consequências e solução, e transformar um romance em solução milagrosa tiraria toda a credibilidade e o valor da luta dela. Mas confesso que amo o Raymond e, na minha cabeça, eles ficam juntos no final. Também achei ótimo a autora não ter "curado" Eleanor magicamente, primeiro, porque não seria muito realista, mas principalmente porque o jeito dela não era o problema. Ela definitivamente não precisava mudar de personalidade ou fingir ser como os outros. Ela é o suficiente exatamente como é. E foi só agora, enquanto escrevia sobre este livro que percebi que ele já faz parte da minha lista de favoritos. Ele é marcante, doloroso e emocionante. Se você não se sentir tocado pela história da Eleanor, precisa de um pouco mais de compaixão na sua vida. Eleanor Oliphant marcou a minha, e eu vou fazer questão de dar este livro de presente para muita gente, porque ela precisa marcar a vida de todo mundo!

First 50 pages was hard to convince me to keep going, but after that, I loved it! It suddenly picks up and becomes a great read.

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 she may be missing out on anything. She is content with her life. Eleanor is a little bit....odd. She's very intelligent and well-spoken with impeccable grammar (thanks to Mummy) but she lacks the ability to filter what she says and therefore she will tell you exactly what she's thinking. This can lead to very awkward situations. Eleanor is comfortable with her routines. She's worked at the same job for nine years. She starts work at 8:30, at lunch she buys a newspaper which she reads from cover to cover and then does the crossword. She finishes out her day, leaving work at 5:30. Eleanor listens to the Archers as she makes a simple dinner (usually pasta and salad - one pan one plate), watches TV or reads for a little while then off to bed at ten. Her weekday routine only changes on Wednesday when she talks with "Mummy" for ten minutes. Weekends are a bit different. After work Friday she picks up pizza, wine and two big bottles of Vodka for the weekend. She drinks the vodka over the weekend.....in a state where she's neither drunk nor sober, waiting for Monday to come. No one comes over and she doesn't go anywhere to visit. She sometimes wonders if she's a figment of her own imagination. But she's fine with it. She's fine. There's nothing missing, she doesn't need anyone else. Well that was what she told herself. But then it happens... "He was light and heat. He blazed. Everything he came into contact with would be changed. I sat forward on my seat, edged closer. At last. I found him" Now Eleanor is on a mission. First she decides a make-over is in order....and where she starts is both shocking and hilarious. I really want to write about what happened but I think I would spoil a very funny moment for many readers. Things don't go exactly as planned. When her computer at work stops working she meets Raymond from IT. An easy-going guy, Raymond is intrigued by Eleanor, but she's just not interested. She's busy trying to re-create herself for the man of her dreams. But after work one day Eleanor and Raymond come across a man who has fallen on the sidewalk. Together they help the man, Sammy and so begins a friendship along with the start of many changes in Eleanor's life. The story is told from Eleanor's point of view. We go along for the ride as she navigates her way through her life, learning to stand up for herself. But it won't be easy. Secrets and memories that have been tucked away for many years can be painful to remember. When you have trouble with social skills I can see how it would be easier to refrain from situations where things could go wrong so fast..... It would be easier being alone. As I mentioned there are many funny moments throughout the book. I really like how the author wrote these parts. I never felt like I was laughing AT Eleanor but at the things she said or the situations she ended up in. However, there are also many sad and painful moments. Times where I felt terrible for Eleanor. Some of the funniest parts came out of nowhere - the phone doesn't ring often but if telemarketers call Eleanor whispers "I know where you live" and hangs up. Often it was what she would be saying to herself that was funny. An incredible read that had me bouncing from one emotion to the next. The author did a tremendous job bringing these wonderfully unique characters to life. It's hard to believe this is the author's debut novel. There are so many words that can be used to describe this novel - hilarious , unique, heartwarming, heartbreaking, charming, hopeful, inspiring, and COMPLETELY unforgettable.