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kananineko's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
timmytunter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” was a most enjoyable read. Once started, I could scarcely put it down until I reached the end. The narrative is told in a first person voice, as Honeyman inhabits the fictional Eleanor, a social misfit with a traumatic past. As our narrator, Eleanor is characterised by a number of traits which could be indicative of autism and/or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, though notably a label is never applied within the narrative. Regardless of a label (or lack thereof), I found Eleanor’s thought patterns rather relatable, albeit I remained generally cognisant of her cognitive errors and the resultant social blunders. I found Eleanor to be a captivating character: quirky and charming, brutally honest and empathetically unaware yet sharp and witty, socially stunted yet undeniably likeable.
The book deals with some potent issues: alcohol dependence, child abuse, social isolation and loneliness, suicidal ideation, and rape, to name a few. However, it is not gratuitous. Rather, it gives us a glimpse into the world of a lonely young woman who does not know how much of life she is missing out on, and slowly peels back our protagonist’s history of trauma, providing the necessary context. As a result, in Eleanor we have a well-written, complex and enchanting character, whose oddities contribute to a narrative that is poised between light and dark, funny and serious. One critique I have for the book, however, is the inconsistent portrayal of Eleanor: the Eleanor at the end of the novel appears to have lost some of her Eleanorness, that which made her unique. I’m not saying she should not heal and grow, but I do think that some of her notable characteristics would realistically remain, even with therapeutic intervention.
Here are some of my favourite quotes from the book:
“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 l'd lift off and blow away, like one of those seeds in a dandelion clock.”
“I feel sorry for beautiful people. Beauty, from the moment you possess it, is already slipping away, ephemeral. That must be difficult.”
“The cat squirmed in my arms and landed on the carpet with a heavy thump. She strolled over to the litter tray, squatted down and urinated loudly, maintaining extremely assertive eye contact with me throughout. After the deluge, she lazily kicked over the traces with her back legs, scattering litter all over my freshly cleaned floor.
A woman who knew her own mind and scorned the conventions of polite society. We were going to get along just fine.”
I totally resonate with Eleanor’s train of thought in the following quote, as she sat on a seat of a bus while other commuters were filtering in and looking for where to sit:
“I stared at the floor, my mind racing. Did I... did I look like the kind of person who ought to be avoided in a game of bus seat selection? I could only conclude, in the face of the evidence, that I did. But why?
I would have to reason my way to the answer. I wasn't over-weight. I didn't smell - I showered daily, and I laundered my clothes regularly. That left madness, then. Was I mad? No. No, I wasn't. I was suffering from clinical depression, but that was an illness. It wasn't madness. Did I look mad, then? Act mad? I didn't think so. But then, how would I know? Was it my scar? My eczema? My jerkin? Was it a sign of madness even to think you might be mad? I rested my elbows on my knees and placed my head in my hands. Oh God oh God oh God.”
This sort of reasoning is highly reflective of the process that my mind often goes through as I overthink social interactions.
I cannot review this novel without acknowledging and paying due credence the character of Raymond. I am undoubtedly fond of this lovely man. He is not portrayed as being perfect, but despite his flaws he is certainly respectful, kind, gentle, perceptive, patient, generous, and perhaps most significantly, present. By his empathy, he is able to intuit when to address something that Eleanor has said or done or when to leave it lie, and seems to be precisely what Eleanor needed in her life. His presence enables Eleanor to confront her past, defeat her demons, and heal. His example is one more men should follow in our world, and is a breath of fresh air in the crowded assembly of modern literature.
Throughout the novel, Honeyman, through the receptacle of Eleanor, communicates in a charmingly eccentric manner. Her use of language is captivating and beguiling.
The following quote highlights Eleanor’s delightful phrasing, and is emblematic of the way our narrator communicates the story to us throughout the novel:
“A cockerel's dawn crowing had woken me from my slumbers. This glorious morning sound was powered by an AA battery and delivered through a tinny speaker, and was brought about by my setting my alarm clock the previous evening, rather than, as is the case in our avian friends, raised levels of testosterone and sunlight.“
“Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” is a charming novel that will live long in my memory and likely stand as one of my favorite reads of the year. Honeyman masterfully blends humour and heartbreak, leaving the reader with a story that is touching, tender, thought-provoking, yet hilarious. Eleanor’s journey reminds us of the importance of human connection and serves as a poignant exploration of what it truly means to be “fine.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
a_nandi's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcoholism and Child abuse
thegrossgirl'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
firuz's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol
milktxa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.25
I just think this book was a really nice little book to read. It started off just as a light about Eleanor, her mundane life and the moment everything changed (her crush). It handled issues so delicately and so gently and nothing felt like it was done just for the sensationalism of it. Eleanor is so quirky, but that makes her really loveable and really easy to feel for.
Honestly I don’t know how I didn’t see the plot twist at the end coming, but it did hit really hard and was really amazingly done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicidal thoughts
letiross's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Vomit
_rosa_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine was recommended to me by a friend as one of her favorite books which is why it pains me to give it a two-star rating. Most of it was because it was a little slower than what I am used to reading, not to mention the content of the book. My biggest issue was my inability to connect with the main character/narrator. I could not get over her rudeness and inability to see her insensitivity towards other people; however, I realized towards the end how that was important to her character and a result of her upbringing/ coping mechanism. Still, I enjoyed the last quarter more than the rest of the book. My favorite parts were the interactions with Sammy, and Raymond. Was it a good book? I think so. Just maybe not my cup of tea. I would still recommend it depending on the circumstance and criteria.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Stalking
dragonlilly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This book was astounding and a huge surprise for me. It is also a huge shock that this is Gail Honeyman's first novel, because this is such a finely written work. It took me a while to focus on reading this book because I was also juggling other books that had to be read and returned to the library, but once I had time, I really delved into this book. This was such a fast reading experience, and I was fully enthralled by the story and characters. Eleanor is a fascinating character dealing with immense loneliness, until the small kindness of others finally allows for change in the routine of her life that masks the pain of her past. This was a really beautiful book that made me both smile and tear up all throughout the book. I wasn't expecting to be so affected by this book but it truly left an welcome impression on me. There is grief, trauma, loneliness, and depression, but there is also a lot of fun, hope, and kindness in here too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
tamjane_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit