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A review by momo916
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It’s hard to review this book without giving anything away. I will say, after having listened to this on audio, that you do really need to pay attention to the narration because some of it is quite odd. All in all, it’s a generally feel-good book that takes you to Eleanor’s darkest places so that you can feel hopeful when she pulls herself out of them and towards a brighter future.
My main spoiler-free gripe with this book was that there were so many instances where Eleanor did or thought something absolutely buck wild and then 2 seconds later acted like it had never happened. I understand that part of her journey is her unlearning unhealthy behaviors, but throughout the book it kept feeling like it was happening at the flip of a switch. In general I really love the premise of this book and Eleanor’s characterization as strong and vocal, unbroken by her past, but there were so many times over the course of her healing process where the change felt unnaturally sudden.
My main spoiler-filled gripe is that the social commentary aspects of it were a little too in my face. I am glad there is such a well-written story out there that confronts these things, but it did take me out of the story as it was happening. I realized that "Mummy" was just a voice in Eleanor’s head after about their second interaction, so I spent the rest of the book interpreting everything she was saying as societal messaging towards women in general, intensified exaggerated for narrative effect. Also, as far as tragic backstories go, "product of rape, hated and abused by the mother who didn’t want me" verges on feeling exploitative of and hypercritical towards real women who experience rape and its repercussions. I can only assume that the author is making an argument as to why abortion should be legal, but that doesn’t even feel like a relevant argument given the basis of the pro-choice argument, at least these days.
My main spoiler-free gripe with this book was that there were so many instances where Eleanor did or thought something absolutely buck wild and then 2 seconds later acted like it had never happened. I understand that part of her journey is her unlearning unhealthy behaviors, but throughout the book it kept feeling like it was happening at the flip of a switch. In general I really love the premise of this book and Eleanor’s characterization as strong and vocal, unbroken by her past, but there were so many times over the course of her healing process where the change felt unnaturally sudden.
My main spoiler-filled gripe is that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Fatphobia