Cover Image: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

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Member Reviews

Eleanor is quirky and lovable. Her story unfolds in pieces, and by the end you are rooting for this lovable curmudgeon. The story is original, funny, touching, and Eleanor's path out of her dark past is written with kindness and compassion. This is one to recommend, often!

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The reader is aware from the first page that Eleanor Oliphant is completely not fine; she is a strange duck! But the story is so beautifully told; I looked forward to reading this book to see how Eleanor becomes completely fine.

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4.5 stars!

I received a digital copy of this from NetGalley.

I expected quirky and weird (the good kind), but I didn't expect the sadness and the struggle with mental issues and overcoming one's past. All of these things, plus a decent dose of clever humor and some solid writing, combined to create a moving, memorable title. We never know what others may be struggling with internally, or how our simple gestures and kindness may change not only their day, but the course of their life.

Following Eleanor on her journey felt at times heart-wrenching and at other times uplifting, and it all just worked. I worried it might become smarmy, or gag me with excessive feelings, but Honeyman wove her words together in a way that only served to endear me to all of the characters.

The ending was a bit open-ended, though I'm fine with how things were left. One thing I find important to note is how many additional words this book caused me to add to my Kindle's vocabulary builder. Initially, I was pleased, and then intrigued. When I was still stumbling over a new word every other page a bit further in, I began to feel ignorant, and mildly irritated. Some of the words are, I suspect Scottish colloquialisms, and that's fine. Thankfully the new word barrage leveled out, and I finished feeling pleased and intrigued once again.

Worth a read!

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I loved this book! I was rooting for quirky Eleanor to overcome her past and make a new life.

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What an amazing book. Loved every minute of it. Eleanor learns through an act of kindness that there is more to life than just existing. Read this book!

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Poor Eleanor. I'm glad she's got a good friend now. Like layers of an onion. You know the truth is there somewhere, and trust the author to hand it over when the time is right. I really liked Eleanor's sensibilities. The story was painfully funny. I will consider it for book club next year. There is much for women, especially, to talk about.

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Eleanor Oliphant is not an easy character to get to know-- but, as those around her discover- getting to know her is well worth the effort. Eleanor is hard to like at first- bitter, sarcastic, unfriendly, parsimonious, painfully practical and unenthusiastic about just about everything, except vodka, pizza and books. But we slowly learn why she keeps the whole world at a distance, just as she is learning how to live and to connect with those around her. By the end of the story, I adored Eleanor and Raymond and their small circle of friends. I can't wait to recommend this novel to readers, particularly fans of women's fiction and tragicomic novels.

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Reading this book so soon after reading Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig, the similarities were such that comparisons between the two works were virtually unavoidable. Yet where Ginny Moon was affecting for me in a way that never felt forced or manipulative, Eleanor Oliphant didn't hit those notes quite as skillfully, IMO.

I enjoyed bits and pieces -- some of Eleanor's observations are truly wry and amusing, and I highlighted several little gems as being particularly noteworthy. She has an oddball charm about her that reminded me very much of the character Millie from Freaks and Geeks, who basically served as my mental image (and voice) for Eleanor. I enjoyed following Eleanor's progress from complete ingenue to someone who is more a part of the world, with real friends and meaningful interactions with others. However, the "twist" ending of the book really threw me for a loop, and made me call into question how far Eleanor had actually come -- and how far she might have left to go.

Recommended with some reservations.

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This is one NOT to be missed. Want to read a book about a woman who is beyond quirky? The thing is...Eleanor Oliphant will give you moments of discomfort because she doesn't know how to be social. However, you will root for her. You will admire her strength and courage. You will marvel at her vocabulary! Eleanor Oliphant IS completely fine.

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This is an amazing read! Completely original, funny, and touching.

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A wonderful story about a quirky and sad young woman who is funny and likable. Little by little, the author gives hints about her background. The reader questions why she submits herself to weekly calls from her "Mummy" who belittles her and verbally abuses her. No wonder she drinks so much vodka, In the end, it is a lesson in confronting one's fears and opening one's heart.

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I'll admit, it started off slowly, and I wasn't sure that I'd be able to tolerate the main character...but she grew on me, and the story grew on me, and I ended up very much enjoying it.

Eleanor Oliphant is a damaged young lady, full of odd ideas and a marked lack of social skills. But as she learns why, and as she comes out of her shell, we discover a wonderful, charming (though yes, very strange) woman.

A tale of how we hang on to past hurts and how we need to let them go sometimes in order to fly, this is a well-crafted story.

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Wish I knew what changes might occur in this book before release. There were a number of errors, but I'm guessing those will be caught. Probably more 4.5 stars, but I quibble with the ending. A lovely story of a unique woman with a troubled past finding herself. Not groundbreaking but very well-written, insightful, alternating between heartbreaking and heartwarming with some very funny lines and moments. I don't mind ambiguous endings but it felt maybe too pat, too "man to the rescue," perhaps...It's tough when you love a book and then get to the ending and feel a little let down.

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A touching story that makes the reader laugh and revel in the author's perceptive descriptions while also being completely absorbed in Eleanor Oliphant's past and present life. An involving novel that I found hard to put down. I hope it continues for the reader in a sequel.

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A wonderful, touching book about a young woman who learns that surviving isn't enough...she needs to let herself live. As she slowly learns to let others in, she learns that life is about more than just going through the motions day to day. I loved this heartwarming book and can't wait to recommend it to others.

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Oh boy, so much to say. Eleanor grew up but didn't really have much of a childhood. Her physical needs were attended to, she had a place to live, a bed, clothes, food, and a school, actually many different schools to go to. And many foster homes and families to live with. No one really taught her emotional things, like how she should feel, them towards her, her towards them. No one showed her how she should act at a birthday party, or playdate. She just watched others. Her very smart and logical brain trying to figure out what would come next. She finally graduated from college, got herself a logical job keeping accounts, and lived alone in a sparse apartment. Her social awkwardness a bit amusing to her coworkers.
It takes awhile for us to find out Eleanor's background, an f2f that's okay, because her childhood was painful. But as things happen did she meets the kind, bumbling IT from her office, who just speaks directly to her, ignoring any social crap other people see that he doesn't. (refreshing)
They end up helping an elderly man who had collapsed on the street near their office building. A friendship builds from there, Eleanor's first. Raymond, our IT friend notices Eleanor has good days and bad, and really struggles through the bad. He convinces her to go to therapy. Of course, she wants to forget the pain, not relive it! So hard.
Warning: If you've ever struggled with depression, parts of this book may be difficult to read. There's nothing graphic, just maybe a mood changer. But, so much LIGHT awaits at the end of the tunnel, or Eleanor's therapy. Not perfect unrealistic stuff, but hope.
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine! You will smile!

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book- it was one of those books that you don't want to end! Eleanor was an odd but very likable character and I will definitely be recommending this book to lots of people!

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I really enjoyed this one. It's an interesting mix of funny and sad but when I finished reading it, I felt hope. It gives the reader a great reminder to spend time getting to know people and not to assume or judge. I am amazed that this is Gail Honeyman's debut novel - it is so well done. I was sucked into the story immediately and could hardly put it down.

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Despite Eleanor's horrific personal history, she manages to hold things together - until she can't.

I was immediately drawn into Eleanor's story and her world. Some of Eleanor's interactions with other people (for example, Eleanor at the Bobbi Brown makeup counter) were very funny and kept the story from unrelenting darkness. Overall I found the book heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful. In some ways it reminded me of A Man Called Ove because it highlights the importance of community and personal connections.

A beautifully written and memorable debut. Highly recommend.

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I thought I was going to hate this book- in fact I put it down for a day. Reading the beginning I thought it was going to portray Elenor as a VERY insane person. But I went back to it and boy, am I glad I did. This is a heartworming, humorous story of an injured soul. Ms. honeyman writes a good story, hard to put down and I hope to read more of her writings!

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