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A review by a_phoenix_bookcorner
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.5
4.5 stars! “There are scars on my heart, just as thick, as disfiguring as those on my face. I know they’re there. I hope some undamaged tissue remains, a patch through which love can come in and flow out. I hope.”
Are you ok? How are you doing? What’s going on? What’s up? How are you? These are all questions you probably get asked in some capacity at least once a day. We… Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine. Just like me. Just like you. We are all fine. At least that’s what we are supposed to say, to hide the grief and trauma and other negative but basic human emotions that make others uncomfortable. Two lighters both work just fine. Soak one lighter in childhood trauma and grief, the spark goes out. All is lost. But all it takes is for the second lighter to offer some help, and slowly, the spark will reignite. Eleanor must learn how to open her mind, open her eyes, open her heart to see and feel the wonderful things this world has to offer as all she had ever known was its cruelties.
This novel was very compelling. Eleanor is extremely quirky and over time you learn how she gained this persona. Touching on loneliness, grief, trauma and social norms, and mental health stigmas all in one, well put together, thought provoking novel, Gail Honeyman has an immersive way of telling a story. I felt like I was right there with Eleanor through all of her experiences as she hits rock bottom and discovers she cannot ignore her grief and trauma and she cannot move forward without some help. A tale of realism. I loved almost everything about this book.
This book is slow-paced and I wasn’t sure what the point was until about half way through. For that reason- I feel as thought this may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I would recommend reading when you are in a good mental health space as there are some triggers.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys literary fiction and who can connect quirky and broken characters. Cause aren’t we all just a little bit quirky and broken?
Are you ok? How are you doing? What’s going on? What’s up? How are you? These are all questions you probably get asked in some capacity at least once a day. We… Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine. Just like me. Just like you. We are all fine. At least that’s what we are supposed to say, to hide the grief and trauma and other negative but basic human emotions that make others uncomfortable. Two lighters both work just fine. Soak one lighter in childhood trauma and grief, the spark goes out. All is lost. But all it takes is for the second lighter to offer some help, and slowly, the spark will reignite. Eleanor must learn how to open her mind, open her eyes, open her heart to see and feel the wonderful things this world has to offer as all she had ever known was its cruelties.
This novel was very compelling. Eleanor is extremely quirky and over time you learn how she gained this persona. Touching on loneliness, grief, trauma and social norms, and mental health stigmas all in one, well put together, thought provoking novel, Gail Honeyman has an immersive way of telling a story. I felt like I was right there with Eleanor through all of her experiences as she hits rock bottom and discovers she cannot ignore her grief and trauma and she cannot move forward without some help. A tale of realism. I loved almost everything about this book.
This book is slow-paced and I wasn’t sure what the point was until about half way through. For that reason- I feel as thought this may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I would recommend reading when you are in a good mental health space as there are some triggers.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys literary fiction and who can connect quirky and broken characters. Cause aren’t we all just a little bit quirky and broken?