Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
An unexpected treasure; this surprisingly touching story is about Eleanor Oliphant, an odd character with traits reminiscent of eccentric and lovable Don Tillman from The Rosie Project and maybe even oddball Ove from A Man Called Ove. In Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, unknown tragic beginnings have shaped Eleanor’s life of monotony, resulting in her being an outcast. Days have been peppered with bouts of depression and have lead to her acceptance of the most basic existence. Socially anxious and at times delusional, Eleanor’s inner struggle shows itself on the outside with an obvious clue; she has a scar on her face … oftentimes the elephant in the room.
Eleanor develops a casual friendship with Raymond, the slightly offensive IT guy at work, and at the same time she has her mind set on a fairytale future with a musician she has yet to meet. We follow Eleanor as she struggles to understand people and common communication. Intuition does not come naturally, so she is awkward and literal. Eleanor slowly undergoes a transformation; she improves her appearance and begins to communicate more effectively, enjoying her time with Raymond, learning how to participate in life, and ultimately realizing a relationship with the musician is a pipe dream.
Working with a therapist, Eleanor becomes more honest with herself, revealing the horrific tragedy of her youth and its impact on her current life, and opening up doors that have been nailed shut for many years. It will be a long haul to leave all her nightmares behind, but watching Eleanor progress — from a loner living with ghosts of the past to a participatory member of the community with friends and moments of happiness — was a wonderful and emotional journey. I couldn’t help but love Eleanor and root for her healing and happiness.
With a disturbing past, a quirky and intriguing present, and a most hopeful future, the well-written, rich story, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, is one of the literary highlights of my summer! Don’t miss it!
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Gail Honeyman on “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” by Daniel Ford
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