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max63815's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There was a lot of fatphobia and body shaming which is eventually addressed but still quite excessive.
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
edgwareviabank's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Most of my issues were with the first third, which I found an absolutely miserable slog. The plot takes its time to get going, and while it later becomes clear that there's a good reason for it (it is important for readers to dive deep into how Eleanor's mind works first), there are so many hints at various tragic and sad events in Eleanor's life, I often wondered whether the author might be piling too much trauma onto one single character, for the backstory to sound entirely realistic. Yes, I get that not all fiction is, or has to be, entirely realistic. But, as a reader, that's what I tend to enjoy the most. The one bleak element of Eleanor's life that stood out as the most believable is how she's a vulnerable person who has been failed by various systems and people, at all points in her life. I appreciated reading a story that paints that sort of picture of a human life, because it's something way too many people have to endure without the rest of the world thinking twice.
The remaining two thirds of the book got a lot better and smoother to read, and within a few days, I could no longer put it down. The plot speeds up a little, and the uncertainty about where it's ultimately going becomes pleasant, because its meanderings provide plenty of opportunities to warm up to the people Eleanor begins to get close to in the same way as she's learning to warm up to them herself. If there's one thing this book has going for it, that would be quite a few lovely people helping Eleanor see the possibility of a life she never imagined. Glimmers of hope begin to appear, and as a character arc, Eleanor's is quite rewarding to follow in the end. I think that's the main point of the novel; a surprise unveiling of Eleanor's traumatic past definitely wasn't it for me, as the hints the author drops fairly often make it easy to piece together, and don't feel nearly as mysterious as her intention might have been.
To sum up, I'm glad I read on. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine won't get unconditional praise from me, and it won't make it on to any of my "favourites" lists (not even "favourite books I read in 2022"), but if you're on the fence, I say go for it. It may subvert some of your expectations, as it did for me, and I like when that happens.
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Child death, and Body shaming
chris_reads's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse and Suicide attempt
Minor: Body shaming and Vomit
sunny_not's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
checkmate's review
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
dorilyss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Vomit, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
leoni_plu's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Child death, Fatphobia, Grief, Physical abuse, and Rape
ginadapooh's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Self harm, Stalking, Child death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Ableism, and Bullying
the_escapist's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Body shaming, Vomit, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Addiction, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Child death, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape
cadybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Violence, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Pedophilia, Death of parent, Rape, and Domestic abuse