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melli29_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
didn't expect to enjoy this book so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child death, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Vomit, Alcohol, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Cancer
bree_of_the_woods's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child death, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual assault and Physical abuse
Minor: Vomit
chelsea_shelves's review against another edition
This was initially too silly for me and then much too dark especially when the blurb describes it as “smart, warm and uplifting.” I found it bleak, traumatic and flat. I looked up the content warnings about 40% through and realized it was only spiraling to harrowing. Thought I could do it, but after reading the synopsis I am so glad I put it down. This book was not for me at this point in my life. I also didn’t find the writing beautiful enough to balance out the darkness. I think the subplot of pursuing the singer and having a makeover were supposed to add levity but I found it disjointed and ridiculous. The new friendships would have been enough instead. Overall though it was all a bit dull and uncomfortable and I found it a chore to read that always left me sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape
sandro_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
5.0
Eleanor Oliphant, as the title wrongly states, is most certainly not fine. But, her journey to getting fine is captivating.
When Eleanor and her coworker, Raymond, help an elderly man, Sammy, who collapsed, the three form a bond that propels Eleanor to examine her life and the childhood trauma she experienced.
Eleanor is downright funny at times, extremely touching at others and can also be quite difficult but, it beautifully illustrates how small acts of kindness can cause huge ripple effects in someone’s life.
When Eleanor and her coworker, Raymond, help an elderly man, Sammy, who collapsed, the three form a bond that propels Eleanor to examine her life and the childhood trauma she experienced.
Eleanor is downright funny at times, extremely touching at others and can also be quite difficult but, it beautifully illustrates how small acts of kindness can cause huge ripple effects in someone’s life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Child death and Domestic abuse
mjenae's review
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
The title makes this book seem a little like comedy—touching, but lighthearted.
It's… quite heavy. If you want an easy read, this isn't for you. But if you want a spectacular survival story with anguish enough to empty you out and bravery enough to fill you to the top, you've come to the right place.
Something the potential reader needs to understand: Eleanor has gone through intense, repeated trauma—physical and emotional abuse, the latter of which is still happening throughout the book. And that's just part of it. I thought at first she might have autism—and I don't know, maybe she does—because of her inability to pick up on social cues or read humor. But now I think at least some of that was due to her chaotic and unhealthy upbringing. To be fair, I haven't read a lot of books dealing with trauma so upfront and firsthand like this, but this seemed very heavy on the sorrow.
There's healing, too, though. There has to be. Go travel down that path with Eleanor. She's a fascinating character, and she meets a lot of interesting people on the way, people who pop out of the page and shove new perspectives into your hands. I hope you come away with something you didn't have before—hope, at the very least. I have.
I'd give it more stars if I could. Possibly the best book I've read so far this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Child death, and Physical abuse
carlar's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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
3.75
Very well-paced. You learn about Eleanor without having to hear every detail of everything she thinks or does. Ending was a bit weak for me but I didn’t mind because the character development was solid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Child abuse, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Rape, Cancer, Murder, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Grief, and Death
almaprincess66's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think this is what contemporary fiction is and I don't know how I feel about it. Ordenary people with ordenary things is my genre but I need some pizzaz that this book didn't have.
Overall it was fine. It had moments that made me smile but I didn't feel connected enough to her trauma. It wasn't too well established, which I get because that was the whole mistery of the plot. The ending plot twists felt a bit out of place tho. I did't get them.
Bonus points because Eleanor is so autistic coded. She is not which is a shame, but I'll pretend she was. Would explain a lot.
Extra bonus points for showing that a man and a woman can have a friendship without being in love with each other. Also that you can have friends even after your 20s. That was an important message.
Overall it was fine. It had moments that made me smile but I didn't feel connected enough to her trauma. It wasn't too well established, which I get because that was the whole mistery of the plot. The ending plot twists felt a bit out of place tho. I did't get them.
Bonus points because Eleanor is so autistic coded. She is not which is a shame, but I'll pretend she was. Would explain a lot.
Extra bonus points for showing that a man and a woman can have a friendship without being in love with each other. Also that you can have friends even after your 20s. That was an important message.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, Ableism, Death, and Cancer
Minor: Fatphobia
atcarp17's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
3.0
Surprising reveal at the very end. Totally shocked me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Child abuse
willowbiblio's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
"I suppose one of the reasons we're all able to continue to exist for our allotted span in this green and blue vale of tears is that there is always, however remote it might seem, the possibility of change."
----------------
This book kind of felt like two distinct halves. The beginning felt almost unreal because of Eleanor's complete lack of awareness of the impact of her words and actions on others. It was also confusing because it sort of felt like the author was ascribing these challenges exclusively to childhood trauma.
The second half felt so strong, and gave me the sense that the author has been intimately familiar with substance abuse, PTSD, and depression. The way that she wrote about loneliness was so apt, like it's this thing we are ashamed of in this age of ultimate connectedness. Yet so many of us really are alone and isolated.
I think I was also confused by the interactions with Eleanor's coworkers and the way they bullied her. This added to the unreal quality of the first half, but I may also just be lucky to have never been in a work environment with that kind of overt bullying.
I loved the friendship with Roy and how, bit by bit, Eleanor learned to trust and care for someone else. The way that so many women gave her unconditional acceptance, assistance, and support was truly beautiful. I also loved how Eleanor was so devoted to her cat, because I've had those moments of feeling responsible to care for myself so I can care for my cats. I was definitely surprised a bit by the plot twist with Mummy at the end!
----------------
This book kind of felt like two distinct halves. The beginning felt almost unreal because of Eleanor's complete lack of awareness of the impact of her words and actions on others. It was also confusing because it sort of felt like the author was ascribing these challenges exclusively to childhood trauma.
The second half felt so strong, and gave me the sense that the author has been intimately familiar with substance abuse, PTSD, and depression. The way that she wrote about loneliness was so apt, like it's this thing we are ashamed of in this age of ultimate connectedness. Yet so many of us really are alone and isolated.
I think I was also confused by the interactions with Eleanor's coworkers and the way they bullied her. This added to the unreal quality of the first half, but I may also just be lucky to have never been in a work environment with that kind of overt bullying.
I loved the friendship with Roy and how, bit by bit, Eleanor learned to trust and care for someone else. The way that so many women gave her unconditional acceptance, assistance, and support was truly beautiful. I also loved how Eleanor was so devoted to her cat, because I've had those moments of feeling responsible to care for myself so I can care for my cats. I was definitely surprised a bit by the plot twist with Mummy at the end!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
sgrunwald96's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-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
4.5
Expected this to be lightweight and a bit throwaway but it really caught me off guard. Much more emotional and gut wrenching than I was ready for. Also, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, every depressed person should be issued a pet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Rape, and Death