Eleanor Oliphant is an oddball. Quiet, unassuming, socially awkward. She moves through the world alone, but she’s perfectly fine! She he is either unnoticed or mocked, until the office IT man befriends her. Honeyman Eleanor’s lonely world to life with compassion and shows the power of kindness.

What a beautifully written book about Miss Eleanor Oliphant There are lessons here about the people we walk by everyday who are suffering in some fashion. It's easy to pass them off like the voice in Eleanor's head would have her do. She surprises herself and us as well when she not only survives her childhood, but becomes a "just fine" adult. I was sad to say goodbye to her when the book ended.

Rec'd for my public library, and they bought it. It had been popular.

Eleanor Oliphant isn't completely fine as the story unfolds. She is a loner with a deeply unfortunate background but through a friendship with Raymond, an IT employee in her office, she begins to realize what life has to offer.
Though sorrowful in many parts, you will laugh at others. A wonderful read!

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

Author interview/review:
In her debut novel, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman dissects the life of a woman in her thirties whose world is filled with trauma and personal challenges. Honeyman brilliantly adds a dose of quirky humor to a potentially extremely dark narrative. In an email interview, the author speaks of her motivation behind the novel’s unusual main character and the exploration of abandonment.

What writers inspire you?

I love contemporary fiction, but I also read a lot of 19th-century fiction, particularly fiction written by and about women, and I had that in mind when I was writing Eleanor Oliphant — the idea of a strong, independent heroine with a distinct personality and a complicated history.

Where did the idea to tackle such complex topics like we see in this novel come from?

The idea initially came from an article I read about loneliness. It included an interview with a young professional woman in her late twenties who lived alone in a big city and said that she'd often leave work on a Friday night and not speak to anyone again until Monday morning. I was struck by this — when loneliness is discussed, it's usually in the context of older people. Thinking about it more, I realized that there were plenty of potential routes to a younger person finding themselves living that life through no fault of their own, and also how hard it can be, at any age, to create meaningful connections. From this, the story and the character of Eleanor began to emerge.

From the beginning, the reader is set up to, in a way, dismiss Eleanor’s emotional state due to the title of the book, which we soon find is a misnomer. Why is Eleanor in such denial?

Narratively, we encounter the character of Eleanor at a point in her life when things really do have to change. The catalysts are quite small events in the end, but at this stage in her life, having endured some very challenging experiences in her past, the fact that she has not fully addressed or come to terms with them makes the idea of her being able to maintain some kind of status quo seem untenable.

When we first meet Eleanor, she struggles with social and emotional-development skills. Do you feel that this is apt commentary on the millennial generation?

I don't think so, no. I wasn't looking to generalize or draw conclusions about Eleanor's generation — she has had a very specific set of experiences, many of which are traumatic. As a result, she has learned how to survive but not how to live, and this is also reflected in her social and emotional development.

Raymond and Sammy are the first friendships for Eleanor, but initially she resists becoming too close. Is it because of her social anxiety or actual fear?

I think, for Eleanor, it is about self-protection. If she doesn't let people in, they won't be able to hurt her. But, by the same token, they won't be able to help her, either. Opening up, taking that leap, is something that she has to learn to do over the course of the novel. Relationships [and] friendships are a fundamental part of the human experience, and it was important that Eleanor come to realize this.

If you could sit down with Eleanor and tell her anything, what would you say to her?

You matter.

Mental illness is a controversial topic in the United States; people still battle with the stigmas of being “crazy” or “damaged goods.” What are you hoping will stay with readers after they've finished this book?

This is an important and complex issue, but what I wanted to highlight in the book was simply the importance of kindness, to show that we often have no idea of the burdens the people around us are shouldering, and that the smallest acts — tiny, everyday kindnesses — can be completely transformative for the right person at the right time.

How did you find balance between humor and tragedy in the plot?

I was trying to create realistic characters and lives, and so humor and tragedy both had to be present. Even in the most trying times, people will still find things to laugh about (albeit the humor can be very dark sometimes). That said, I didn't ever want the reader to laugh at Eleanor — the first-person narrative means we can see that there's no deliberate intention to offend when she sometimes speaks or behaves in challenging ways. I also tried to ensure that Eleanor was never self-pitying, however distressing the circumstances, so that there was space for the reader to draw their own conclusions about Eleanor and, hopefully, to empathize with her.

Eleanor Oliphant is not completely fine, but she will be.

Many offices have an employee like Eleanor Oliphant. Someone who is socially inept, seems to have a solitary existence, has no friends at work and does not encourage friendship with others. However Eleanor’s life was truly sad. The only thing in her life was her job. She worked 5 days per week as an accounting clerk. On Friday evenings she ate a pizza from a local market and drank a couple bottles of vodka till it was time to return to work on Monday. She had no family or friends and the one relationship she had in college was with a man who abused her.

One afternoon she left work at the same time as Raymond, a new IT person in her building. He knew nothing about her and tried to strike up a conversation on the street. Then they both saw an older man collapse on the street. Raymond called for an ambulance and the old man, Sam, was taken to a hospital. Raymond suggested they both visit Sam at the hospital and soon a friendship of sorts was forged between Raymond and Eleanor.

Then Eleanor, a 31 year old woman, decided that she needed a man to complete her life. She selected a handsome but very unsavory musician. She stalked him online and at his home in an effort to find out what it would take to make him fall in love with her. First she decided to get a bikini wax and then to have her unfashionably long hair cut and styled. She even purchased new trendy clothes and loads of makeup.

When she finally met the musician, it is a disaster and she discovers that he will not be the man to make her “normal”. Since she had invested so much hope in their expected relationship, it was difficult for her to admit defeat. Throughout the story Raymond, someone Eleanor considered an unhealthy slob, proved to be her first and only friend.

This book is the first by Scottish author, Gail Honeyman. It is being developed into a movie by Reece Witherspoon. Honeyman explores what loneliness feels like. Her depiction of a depressed, socially inept person is heartbreaking.

Eleanor Oliphant's journey made me feel so many emotions, but most of all she made me laugh. This book was such a wonderful and original journey. I can't wait to read more by the author!

Wow! This book was truly compelling, with a prickly main character who slowly becomes sympathetic, and plenty of surprises.

Lovely book--funny, sad, sweet, and ultimately one of the most charming books I've read in years. Eleanor is an odd character with many flaws, but from the start, I liked her. The cast of characters is believable and fully formed--rare. I think this is a must read for anyone looking for a funny, touching, well-written book.

This book was like a gift that you don't know what your getting until the last layer is unwrapped. It has a bit of everything - it's funny, sad, has an element of mystery, takes some unexpected turns. Couldn't put it down. Extremely well written. I'll recommend it to all my friends

I loved Eleanor! She's quirky and awkward. She reminds me of a cross between Amy Farrah Fowler and Sheldon Cooper. She's had a tragic past and develops friendships that help her move on and become more confident in social situations.

This was a heartbreaking but also quite fun read. Eleanor's quirks and response to typical and atypical situations were a delight, as was her surprising relationship with Raymond.

This was so strange but so good. I had all the feels for Eleanor--I loved her and was frustrated with her all at the same time. It's a late coming of age story with a super quirky main character.

Smart, warm, uplifting, this novel is about an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey.
Eleanor Oliphant is, of course, completely fine. Because what else is she allowed to be? What other answer do you give to the question: "How are you?" Certainly not the real one. Certainly not when you have lived a life as damaging and fractious as that of Eleanor, and had to find your own way through it.

"The scalp massage at the hairdresser, the flu jab I had last winter – the only time I experience touch is from people whom I am paying, and they are almost always wearing disposable gloves at the time. I'm merely stating the facts. People don't like these facts, but I can't help that. If someone asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that you cried yourself to sleep last night because you hadn't spoken to another person for two consecutive days. FINE, is what you say."

Because she often doesn't recognize social norms, Eleanor Oliphant is told that she is a flawed misfit by the very people who were meant to look after her – her mother, social services, and foster families. She leads a controlled and isolated existence numbed by pizza, vodka, and a plant named Polly. Weekends are just empty spaces that break up the weekdays spent at a job surrounded by colleagues who mostly avoid her. These little routines keep her existing and muddling along.

Even if she is used to being alone, Eleanor recognizes that she's missing something. "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 I'd lift off and blow away, like one of those seeds in a dandelion clock."

With no filters or ideas of social norms, Eleanor struggles to engage with other people. Excluded from water cooler conversations at work and communal gatherings, she has been so used to a solitary existence that she is baffled by the support from her colleague, Raymond. From how to order a drink to what family life can be like, from what to do when invited to a party to the etiquette of funerals, Eleanor learns a lot from Raymond. He brings Eleanor into a web of connections and she starts to slowly, accidentally, build relationships.

It's easy to laugh at Eleanor and how baffling she finds many things, but we might agree with the absurdities of the unspoken protocols of life she indirectly challenges. Through Eleanor's wry observations and uncensored honesty, Honeyman is able to question society. Take her assessment of the wedding gift list, for example. "Of all the compulsory financial contributions, this is the one that irks me most. Two people wander around John Lewis picking out lovely items for themselves, and then they make other people pay for them. It's bare-faced effrontery." The reader is also forced to ponder the dangers of loneliness and our attitudes toward those who seem to be outsiders. Although she sometimes takes pride in describing herself as a "sole survivor…a self-contained entity," isolation hurts, and Eleanor knows this.

Odd Eleanor slowly enters a life that she never thought was for her. She remains quirky and unique, and the reader loves her for it, but her life becomes a little more expansive and contains a bit more opportunity. Gail Honeyman published this novel as she entered her forties, after a lot of rejection. Just like her protagonist, Honeyman's life changed after many trying years. Eleanor may be a social misfit, but she is an incredibly astute one. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is perceptive, wise, funny and utterly readable.

I really enjoyed this one! It reminded me of "A Man Called Ove". Eleanor's story was slowly drawn out and ended up being completely heartbreaking. I loved the growth that Eleanor went through and was so glad that she found a friend. This would be a great title for book clubs to discuss.

Eleanor Oliphant is a unique character. Her practical clothes and no nonsense personality make her the brunt of many jokes around the office, but her efficiency and dedication make her a favorite of the boss. Something is not quite right, though, and Eleanor is becoming more aware of her differences. When she develops a crush on the lead singer of an up-and-coming rock band, she is determined to become "more normal".

I loved this book. Eleanor is a maddening, sometimes laughable character, but SO endearing. I couldn't help falling for her. As her story is gradually revealed, my heart broke. Yet this is ultimately an uplifting story of courage, determination, and resilience. I would recommend this for fans of Fredrik Backman's books (A Man Called Ove and Brit Harte was Here) since it echos the sad, funny, heartwarming stories of people who are a little "different". Wonderful!!

Amazing book! I love Eleanor's quirky personality and her responses to typical situations. Her relationship with Raymond is so endearing and sweet. Best book I've read in years. Highly recommend.

I loved Eleanor Oliphant. This is a heartbreakingly humorous story with a touch of romance - Eleanor has suffered through an abusive childhood that has left her shattered inside and out, she has peculiar habits, but makes a goal to begin a fresh new romance with a handsome rock star that she sees from afar. Little does Eleanor know that love can creep up on you in the strangest places. While she puts herself on course to fulfill her goal, she has to come to terms with what really happened in the past and what the reality of her life is now. I LOVED THIS NOVEL. Great novel on mental issues, being a good friend and living your truth.