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A review by neshasurya
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
4.0
i didn't research this book first. i read it purely because my friend told me it was interesting. i expected it was gonna be heartwrenching or make me 'bengong'. turns out, it was hopeful. so maybe, this is a feel-good book afterall.
i'm still trying to process it tbh. all i can say is that it was an interesting, funny, sad, and relatable story. all at the same time. this is a story about loneliness and social awkwardness. so... it was heavy especially when it comes to the bad days's part.
eleanor oliphant is actually not completely fine and that’s essential the whole point. she's a suicidal alcoholic. so please check the TW before you read it. i personally found her character is incredibly human. the way she talks about death or how she just wants to suppress her worst memories is so relatable (yes, i know i am the problem lol). and the way she talks about herself... omg. i just love the humor.
but it also feels like it was a book about healing. about experiencing and accepting good days and bad days in our life. i also like how this book talks about the power of small kindnesses and the fact that friendship can heal someone (?)
i especially really like the fact that there is no romance in this book, it focuses only on eleanor and eleanor only. maybe this is captures the best kind of love story, a love story to oneself.
i appreciated how the author made eleanor relationship with raymond stay platonic. i was really worried that it would end up being that her relationship with him would "fix" her. the friendship indeed had a massive impact on helping her view herself differently. but i'm glad it stayed platonic. because i know that sometimes, platonic love can be just as powerful -if not more so, sometimes- than romantic love.
i'm still trying to process it tbh. all i can say is that it was an interesting, funny, sad, and relatable story. all at the same time. this is a story about loneliness and social awkwardness. so... it was heavy especially when it comes to the bad days's part.
eleanor oliphant is actually not completely fine and that’s essential the whole point. she's a suicidal alcoholic. so please check the TW before you read it. i personally found her character is incredibly human. the way she talks about death or how she just wants to suppress her worst memories is so relatable (yes, i know i am the problem lol). and the way she talks about herself... omg. i just love the humor.
but it also feels like it was a book about healing. about experiencing and accepting good days and bad days in our life. i also like how this book talks about the power of small kindnesses and the fact that friendship can heal someone (?)
i especially really like the fact that there is no romance in this book, it focuses only on eleanor and eleanor only. maybe this is captures the best kind of love story, a love story to oneself.
i appreciated how the author made eleanor relationship with raymond stay platonic. i was really worried that it would end up being that her relationship with him would "fix" her. the friendship indeed had a massive impact on helping her view herself differently. but i'm glad it stayed platonic. because i know that sometimes, platonic love can be just as powerful -if not more so, sometimes- than romantic love.