Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel, By Gail Honeyman
This was our November book club selection. I felt it started slow and the only thing driving me to continue were the oddities of the MC, Eleanor Oliphant. From the start, you can decipher she is a strange person, with naïve ways, and no social skills. It also becomes apparent her mother plays an important role in her detachment from others. Throughout the book, I began to be more curious about Eleanor and her peculiar ways. The introduction of several other characters helped to catapult the story along; though I wasn’t sure where the author was taking us at times. I suppose uncertainty sparked questions and I wanted to continue reading to figure out why Eleanor acted the way she did. The story picks up speed as we began to understand the tragedy of Eleanor’s life and realize how unhealthy her coping mechanisms are.
I felt the end of the story was a little quicker than I would have liked, it didn’t seem to match the pace of the rest of the book. The ending seemed abrupt but satisfying. Not all of our questions are answered, but the author steers us towards what Eleanor’s future may look like. Overall, I enjoyed the book.
Melisa Peterson Lewis 