Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

139 reviews

hollyg35's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

tamjane_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

andreabey's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

anne_reader's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

courtnetto's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I feel like the start of this book was a bit slow but once I had gotten into it more, I began to enjoy it more! This book is all about Eleanor navigating through her life in her 30s while struggling to deal with her emotions from childhood trauma 20 years ago!! 
This book really gives you a feel of all the different emotions, happiness, sadness, anger, love and much more! In terms of emotions, it has it all. Eleanor develops a close relationship with her new work colleague, Raymond and they begin to meet up for lunch but then going to parties together! They save the life of a man who collapsed and end up becoming good friends with him and his family, so much so that they are then invited to his funeral when he sadly passes away. 
Eleanor finally begins to see a counsellor and talk about her feelings, it’s only when you get towards the end of the book that it is revealed that she has a younger sister! However, it isn’t all happy news as her younger sister and her mother “Mummy” actually died in a house fire which was started by her Mother deliberately after giving both girls sedatives, only Eleanor made it out alive. 
The ending was a bit abrupt and I would have loved to have found out more about Eleanor and Raymond’s relationship but otherwise, we see a happy ending for Eleanor!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, and Alcohol

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Child death and Death

vagrantheather's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An easy 5 stars. I was captivated and couldn't put it down. Eleanor's self talk is so relatable. I know it's often referred to as autism-coded, but I didn't read it that way. It just as easily reads as someone who experienced a super tragic upbringing, opted out of social situations that were too challenging to confront, and has lived in a haze of depression and survival instincts until now. She isn't a very nice person, but she's capable of seeing that and willing to change when confronted with herself. 

I was glad to see where her social relationships ended up. I was afraid they would go one way and felt that would've cheapened it. 

I did struggle a little with the absurdity of a culture that allows a person to take extended medical leave without losing their job or going broke. The US is not ok. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Self harm, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Stalking

klsreads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, often heartbreaking, and very tender. Eleanor felt like a real person to me. I loved seeing her grow in tandem with her relationships. The writing was gorgeous and accessible (minus some Big Words). Heartwarming, excellent, very sweet.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

llipari1022's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

atsellerswhnp's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The evolution of Eleanor is poignant and inspiring. Her quirkiness is emblematic of a child learning who they are. It’s eye opening for any adult looking to unlock how our childhood shapes the adults we become…and how we can continue to grow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Gaslighting

naestolgia_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was an interesting and surprisingly enjoyable read. Eleanor is a complex character with what seems like a simple outlook on life. There are tough chapters to get through though - her past is truly troubling to unfold page after page, but she's a character I was really rooting for. I wish there was more of a "happy" ending but, like life, that's not always the case. You are left with a small nugget of hope for Eleanor, the ending still fell short in my opinion.

Fun note: I really loved having to whip out the dictionary for this read. Lol. Eleanor's love for crosswords makes for very colorful and eloquent language.

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Update: After book club discussion, where most folks did not like Eleanor in the beginning ("weirdo", "mean"), I realized another theme of this book is Eleanor's introduction/indoctrination into society. I personally liked her from the start. She wasn't yet watered down and boxed into what is considered normal by the masses. 

It is fun to think of how each reader relates to Eleanor, good or bad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Rape and Vomit