Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel (2017)

A very warm book and a very rewarding read. Though lighthearted in tone, it explored some very dark themes: child abuse and the devastating effects it leaves on its victims. This light touch is what I believe diffuses the horror of the basic situation and draws the reader deeper into the story. Basically the narrative focuses more on the 'now' than the 'then' and Eleanor's very quirky perspective on the now of her world is witty and amusing, it's eloquent, often hilarious and occasionally deep. Her take on her world is told convincingly, highlighting some of the foibles and ridiculousness of the modern world. Intelligent, highly articulate verbally but totally inarticulate socially, Eleanor seems unable to sustain any social interaction with her peers. She starts to change after an act of kindness on the part of a new colleague Raymond (helping an old man who collapses on the street) draws her into a series of new encounters and into friendship with R whose support is crucial to her transformation. Now some of these encounters seemed to me a bit sophomoric, but once again that was in keeping with the light approach of the novel to a story of progression from social isolation to connection and of a painful and difficult road to mental health. ( )

Een bijzonder boek over een jonge vrouw die door haar moeder geestelijk en lichamelijk is mishandeld. Bij een brand gaan haar zusje en haar moeder dood. Gedurende bijna het hele boek lijkt het alsof de moeder nog in leven is. Eleanor weet zich langzamerhand, met steun van haar vriend Raymond, aan haar verleden te ontworstelen. Ontroerend en aangrijpend, vooral door de beschrijving van de eenzaamheid van Eleanor. ( )

Written well but it is a lot of the same thing 3/4 of the book. ( )

Eleanor has a terrible past which has tied her up inside herself. She gradually comes out of her shell to join the world with the aid of a fellow employee and medical emergency in the street. ( )

Eleanor Oliphant is a misfit working as a bookkeeper in an office; she seemingly has no family, has no social skills, and is severely scarred on one side of her face. Her weekends are spent watching dull television and drinking vodka. Her life changes, however, when she and a co-worker come across an elderly man who is having a heart attack on the sidewalk. Raymond works in the IT department of the business, is a poor dresser, a constant smoker, and disheveled--all the things that Eleanor dislikes.

Their friendship grows as they both become involved with the elderly man and his family. Slowly, the reader is given hints as to Eleanor's past life which must have been so horrendous that she is unable to speak about it. At least once a week she has what seems to be conversations with her mother who seems to despise her.

The transformation of Eleanor from her antisocial state is basically the subject of the book. There are several incidents which I found hard to believe and the relationship with Raymond seems too easy at times. Not a bad book; not a totally gripping one either. ( )