Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Title: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
By: Gail Honeyman
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Summary:

Eleanor Oliphant is the main character of this story. She is 29 years old, she has had the same job for 9 years, and she is completely alone, but she is fine with that. Eleanor spends a lot of time going through life not really living. When she suddenly realizes that something needs to change. This story is broken into three sections and tells her story of trying to change in order to live. Eleanor starts with her outer appearance and much to her annoyance, the new guy in IT won't leave her alone. Raymond becomes a constant in her life. Eleanor eventually realizes that Raymond is also part of the new life she is missing out on.

My thoughts:

Eleanor has a dry sense of humor that I found myself relating to on so many different levels. She is funny, but no one else sees it. Eleanor finds common social settings difficult to navigate, not knowing what is the right thing to say and when. All of that changes over the course of the book. The character development is remarkable.

The best part of the development is that Eleanor is so bent on changing her life and changing her circumstances that she doesn't realize that her life is already changing and growing and moving forward.

Eleanor is so broken, but she knows that she is supposed to be completely fine. Nothing is supposed to be wrong with a 20-something woman who as a good job and lives well. So, she tells everyone she is fine. No young person is ever supposed to admit that anything is less than fine, is less than happy. This is such a truth that is so hard for so many 20-somethings.

I love the contrast of Raymond and Eleanor's characters. I think they are a great dichotomy. Raymond just won't let up and I find that so heartwarming. Raymond, for all of his disgusting habits, becomes Eleanor's one true friend.

The book was very well paced, although the beginning seemed to move a little more slowly than I was expecting. Once I got through the first 45 pages or so though, I could not put it down. I wanted to know what was next. I wanted to move forward with Eleanor.

Most importantly, the way Gail Honeyman broached the topic of mental illness and the stigmas around all of that was beautiful and meaningful. It wasn't a fleeting topic that some one threw in the story to stir up conversation. Honeyman thought the story out and worked through all the details, it is such a powerful story that is so easy to relate to. Honeyman brought depression into the light and how it can beat you down if you don't feel like you have the support and resources to step up and say you need help. How true is this?

How often do you as a single 20-something, 30-something, 40-something, or working parent, or stay-at-home parent, or single parent struggle and are too ashamed to raise your hand and ask for help? This is a scenario that happens to so many people all over the world and no one wants to talk about it. Well, Honeyman talked about it. Honeyman brought it to life in a way that is real and funny and sad and inspiring and heartbreaking all at the same time. My hat is off to you, Gail.