Eleanor Oliphant is thirty and lives
a regimented and simple, single and solitary life. Every day is the same as the day
before for Eleanor and she prefers it that way. She doesn’t socialize at work
or outside and spends the weekends listening to radio programs or reading books
whose covers have caught her attention at the library, regardless of their
subject matter. The only other person she speaks regularly to is her abusive Mummy.
When Eleanor’s computer goes on the
fritz, she’s forced to contact Raymond, the firm’s new IT employee, who insists
on being chatty and walking her to the bus stop. Unfortunately, elderly Sammy
has taken a tumble on the street. Raymond quickly rushes to his aid and convinces
reluctant Eleanor to help as well. Despite her need to remain anonymous,
Eleanor slowly finds herself drawn to Raymond and his mother, and to Sammy and his
large family.
It’s rare that I can zip through a
book in a day, but when I do, I know it’s because I’m absolutely in love with
it. While there’s some undeniably depressing and tragic subject matter in
Eleanor Oliphant, there are many, MANY truly delightful breaks of sunshine and
happiness.
I adored Gail Honeyman’s writing.
Deadpan, dry, yet highly intelligent humor, to me, is hilarious and there is
definitely tons of it here. It’s not often that I literally laugh aloud while
reading a book (especially in public) but I did several times while reading
this one. Ms. Honeyman’s sense of humor is classic.
The characters are wonderfully
genuine and realistically flawed. My heart ached for Eleanor. I know what it’s like to endure abuse and
how it can destroy your spirit. Yet I also know that you can’t let that pain
consume you, and that it’s okay to trust people again.
This is touching, quirky and
spectacularly splendid reading! I absolutely cannot say enough good
things about Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and I can’t wait for the movie
to come out.
5
of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton
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