Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman

BOOK REVIEW:

Eleanor Oliphant Is
Completely Fine

by Gail Honeyman

(Standalone)

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman

CORINA’S REVIEW

Ever since reading A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman I have been searching for the next unique and quirky character. I’ve seen Eleanor Elephant is Completely Fine on social media, but never managed to pick it up. But after reading the blurb, and seeing it being compared to OVE, I had to read it sooner than later. My library finally had the audiobook available and I went on a wonderful and enjoyable journey.

Eleanor was truly fascinating. And the story on its own was touching, heartbreakingly emotional, genuine, and utterly remarkable.

What got to me again and again was the way Eleanor struggled with day to day events. Dialogues that are just normal and boring to us, gave her such a hard time. Her unique view of everything from going to the grocery store, to dating, even to funerals was as entertaining as it was emotional. I was hanging on her every word. And her no-nonsense demeanor was delightfully entertaining.

Her entire journey was heart-achingly beautiful.

Friends, so easy for most of us, was an enigma for Eleanor. The slow progress, and the wonderful interaction between her and the rest of the supporting cast was a highlight. And tangible proof of her headway in opening up and letting people into her heart. With every step she took, she turned into a more healthier and content person.

There was never a time I pitted her or felt sorry for Eleanor. She had an interesting way of seeing things. And it made certain interactions way simpler and much more interesting because of it.

Eleanor will truly touch everyone’s heart and soul. Her unique personality will stay with you forever.

But what I must mention is that Eleanor is unfortunately not on par with OVE. I missed his dry sarcasm, the LOL moments and the undeniably special person that Ove was. But nevertheless Eleanor was a wonderful read and I’m glad I finally got to meet her. I can only recommend this book to anyone who loves a warm-felt and wonderfully well written story. The audiobook was a true pleasure, and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing Eleanor to live in an unique and distinctly touching way.

BLURB

No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine.

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

Soon to be a major motion picture produced by Reese Witherspoon, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is the smart, warm, and uplifting story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes. . .

The only way to survive is to open your heart.