Reviews

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

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viridis's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Well, this was something. I've been avoiding this book for a long time, I suppose because I'd heard a couple of bad reviews and now I see I've made a mistake. This is a very good book, it's really readable and it does tackle an important topic of loneliness. What I want to say tho is that it doesn't really... Tackle loneliness. The story turns into more of a tragic backstory reveal and things in real life don't really work this way. If noone talks to you for 10 years, they're really unlikely to just start being all friendly and happy for you. I don't know. I still liked the book, it's extremely easy to read, the pages just flew by. But it's not very... Realistic, even though that's what it wants to be.

Eleanor is a extremely annoying character in the beginning so you just have to trust the process and get through it. I did like Raymond, he was made to be likeable I think. A sort of a.. Gentle giant? Or rather gentle regular guy.

I would recommend at least trying out this book, but not taking it very seriously..

kryslynnreads's review against another edition

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hopeful sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

madiskend's review against another edition

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4.0

Ugh. Dislike to Like

I really did not enjoy the beginning of the book. The narrator was not an enjoyable person and I was struggling to move past that. I knew the book would be her changing so I powered through but the first third felt displeased. I did enjoy the writing style when I slowed down to enjoy it. I will admit by the end of the book I did like it but at the beginning I was really determined I wouldn’t.

margaret33's review against another edition

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5.0

Best book I’ve read this year!

ahalsnad's review against another edition

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4.0

It is a beautifully written story about mental illness that pulls at your heartstrings from time to time along the journey.

Eleanor Oliphant is a no-nonsense, upfront person with a modicum of class in her language and living. She is a good-natured person who at first feels like a socially inept person. But as the story progresses, we get glimpses of the ups and downs of her life.

I enjoyed how the topic of depression, trauma, and abuse was introduced and handled in the book; smooth, unrushed, and supportive. But more importantly, the lightness in the storytelling while addressing this topic without trivializing or missing the crux was admirable.