Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

49 reviews

potassiumk's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

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

3.25

The only reason I finished this book was because I had to read it for school. It was so boring until a little more than half way. Then I finally started to care about Eleanor. Before that she was annoying for no reason. Atleast now she has a reason to be. 

Another thing is that somehow this woman knows nothing about modern society. Even the most tech deprived people I know, have phones and know what pop culture references are. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, and Murder

Moderate: Stalking

Minor: Sexual assault and Terminal illness

natnurdock's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Vomit and Child death

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

elle_arr_gee's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, and Mental illness

ar0deth's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit

bookishcookiemonster's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Heartbreaking, but leaves on a good note of hope. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Murder

Minor: Confinement and Death of parent

thestorydoer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is an interesting and in depth character study which deals with themes of trauma and abuse (watch out for those content warnings).  I feel like this book requires a re-read for me to properly formulate my thoughts on this book but here are a few brief thoughts~~~

Narratively, this book is fantastic. Each plot point flows from one beat to the next with a steady pace throughout the novel which is an impressive feat. Each character with an ebb and flow of introduction is introduced at the exact right time. It has excellent climactic reveals and the dialogue is good. 

The character of Oliphant herself is utterly fantastic. An interesting character whose real world often intersects with her trauma in fascinating ways. There is an excellent emphasis on her social skills which walks the line on 'unsociable' people and how they can form a charisma in their own right. 

This is about as far as I can talk about this book without spoiling so here we go: 

The inclusion of Sammy is nothing short of excellent. When Eleanor is introduced to his family, it is also excellent in what this means to her. However, once Sammy dies, I couldn't help but feel the connection to that family was lost, especially once Eleanor's best friend Raymond loses interest in Laura. This is a shame, especially as Sammy as a character was also short lived, only included in four scenes I believe. I also don't understand the reason for Raymond losing interest in Laura, and I felt Sammy's family could've had a larger role to play in the novel. 

The idea to make Eleanor's mother a figment of her subconscious was also an interesting narrative choice but one I grew to accept. However, the idea of Eleanor having a sister is predictable. Roughly 200 pages predictable. However, this thought would need a reread because I can't distinguish whether this was intentional or not. That being said, the dialogue with the social worker is a masterclass in writing with missing information and had me fooled the first time around. 

There is also the classic issue with mental health. Her overcoming of her mental health issues leans slightly toward triumphant more than progressive. This, of course, begins to raise questions about the realism of the portrayal of her mental health issues which I feel I am not experienced enough to discuss.

I need to read this again so take this summary with a grain of salt.
Overall, an interesting and loveable character study which suffers from a couple pitfalls which hinder this book from greatness. 4/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Rape

tomnoor's review against another edition

5.0

So funny, so sweet, all while tackling extremely difficult topics. Not a light read but the characters kept me afloat. Will be looking to read more from this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Rape, Death, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Body shaming

sharebear431's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Child abuse, Vomit, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders

lucimolri's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Típico libro que tenía apuntado en TBR pero que no sabía ni de que iba. Lo empecé sin saber qué me iba a encontrar y que viaje, pese a que me costó pillarle el punto a la protagonista, se le termina cogiendo mucho cariño. 
Risas, indignación, momentos entrañables y también tristes. Por desgracia en las partes más dolorosas yo no estaba en muy buen estado de ánimo por lo que me afectó muchísimo, por suerte mejora (y yo también btw) y aunque se puedan predecir muchas de las incógnitas sigue siendo una lectura muy amena con final satisfactorio.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Self harm

Minor: Rape

milenasbooknook's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Grief, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, and Death

Minor: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, and Domestic abuse