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A review by loveforwords
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
Three things I loved:
- the protagonist isn't self-pitying
- the characters are allowed to heal and no rainbow-and-sunshine ending is forced onto them (it's a good ending, but it's not an unrealistic unicorn dream)
- the book takes you through a journey that makes you feel all the emotions in a poignant way (you can literally feel the weight on your chest, and then feel it lifting)
Three things I liked:
- Eleanor's different (she's not autistic, but has developed protective behaviours after trauma, as specified by the author), and supportive characters don't try to "fix" her in this way
- the pointing out and recognition of small actions that communicate affection
- Eleanor ends up calling herself out on her own judgment and prejudice
Three things you need to know:
- you have to be in the right space to read it
- check the trigger warnings (disclaimer: the TWs contain spoilers) because it deals with heavy stuff
- you have to want to understand and not judge
- the protagonist isn't self-pitying
- the characters are allowed to heal and no rainbow-and-sunshine ending is forced onto them (it's a good ending, but it's not an unrealistic unicorn dream)
- the book takes you through a journey that makes you feel all the emotions in a poignant way (you can literally feel the weight on your chest, and then feel it lifting)
Three things I liked:
- Eleanor's different (she's not autistic, but has developed protective behaviours after trauma, as specified by the author), and supportive characters don't try to "fix" her in this way
- the pointing out and recognition of small actions that communicate affection
- Eleanor ends up calling herself out on her own judgment and prejudice
Three things you need to know:
- you have to be in the right space to read it
- check the trigger warnings (disclaimer: the TWs contain spoilers) because it deals with heavy stuff
- you have to want to understand and not judge