What readers think of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, plus links to write your own review.

Priceless. Perfect. Phenomenal.

Eleanor Oliphant is one of the most refreshing characters to ever inhabit the pages of a book. She is literal and direct in everything she says, using perfect English at all times. She is confident and quite self-sufficient, thank you very much. But Eleanor has no filter and is totally clueless socially. The result is that much of what she says and observes about every day life is hilarious, absolutely on target and something most of us would never dream to say out loud—even if we silently think it. Eleanor's point of view is unique, mystifying and downright inspirational.

This book made me laugh out loud (literally!) more times than I can count. But it also made me cry so many times I am embarrassed to admit it. How many books do both? So many books are either farcical comedies quickly forgotten or oh-so-sad stories—but not both at the same time. With biting humor and a tender heart, author Gail Honeyman has written a captivating and totally quirky first novel.

Thirty-year-old Eleanor Oliphant is lonely. Very lonely. She lives by herself, has a boring office job and no friends or family. Her only companion is a plant. But two events conspire to slowly and painstakingly bring her out of her shell and into the world: She and a co-worker assist and elderly gentleman who has fallen in the street and she develops a secret crush on a rock singer.

While the backbone of the story, which is set in Glasgow, Scotland, is tragic and heartrending, Eleanor's character quirks make the plot, including one stunning plot twist at the end, psychologically bearable. Woven through it all is the magic of love, friendship, kindness and happiness and the extraordinary things quite ordinary people will do for one another.

This is a must-read and perfect for book clubs.

For the first few pages, I really wasn't sure but I rarely give up on a book (Tolkien books excepted, I think they're terrible). Once I felt more comfortable with how Eleanor thought, I wondered if she has Aspergers or was somewhere on the autistic spectrum. By the middle of the book I was hooked and ended up reading until the end which was not what I had intended. Huge twist at the end which I did not see coming. Very thought provoking. I loved this book.

I loved Eleanor's quirky personality and seeing the world through her lens. Honeyman is able to reveal Eleanor's back story in small slices until a very curious person emerges with unresolved issues. Eleanor learns to trust and grow after meeting a fellow worker Raymond who shows her what it's like to have a true friend.

The unique climax was artfully built with some clues along the way. Thoroughly enjoyed this read!

“These days, loneliness is the new cancer – a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted.”

“If someone asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that you cried yourself to sleep last night …”

At first, Eleanor Oliphant seemed to be similar to The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion in that the story focused on a socially awkward person seeking love. However, it was so much more than that and very definitely worth the read.
This novel focused on the themes of loneliness, particularly in the younger generation, social awkwardness, acceptance from others and of oneself, healing, and taking healthy risks. Prior to the start of the novel, Eleanor Oliphant had a horrific childhood and difficult adolescence. She was still dealing with those implications and fallout when the novel began.

This story is dark, funny, and ultimately endearing. Eleanor is a complex, deep, and well-crafted character. The traumatic events that happened to her, how she internalized them, and people’s reactions to her were dark and difficult to read. However, Eleanor is a plucky character and her actions, opinions, and how she faced the world made me laugh out loud numerous times throughout the story. I can’t imagine finishing this book and not loving Eleanor. She is a very unusual protagonist!

I wish this novel had been a book club read for me, as there is so much fodder for discussion here. I particularly liked how multi-layered the title of this novel was. There are so many ways to interpret it in light of the story. I loved Eleanor’s observations about life, particularly about what it takes to socially fit-in and how that is so different between men and women. The way Eleanor gradually opens up to other people and life itself was also fascinating. I highly recommend this book and was very glad I read it.

A little slow for me at first, but as soon as I had mustered through the first few chapters I knew I was in deep into another novel I would not be able to stop reading until the end. Though dark, Eleanor Oliphant's character surprised me as being insanely and naturally funny. Though notably oblivious to her comical charm, which made it all the better, she has much like her readers some challenging issues to overcome. I am a tough critic but even I fell victim to Gail Honeyman's wonderful novel about the very interesting journey of one special protagonist as her character evolves. A must read in 2018!

Such a fun read although emotional at the same time. It’s written so lightly while touching such a profound subject. It made me laugh and cry.

I read this book in one sitting,,,a beautiful read, captures the feeling of loneliness perfectly, writes beautiful meaning / feelings behind simple gestures like making a cup of tea for someone...I wished so much that Eleanor would find inner peace. Eleanor's character was described so well I felt I knew her and I think I do know people who experience loneliness in the same way as she felt it in the book and develop similar oddities that some of us find entertaining at best and weird at worst. The book had many hilarious elements however there was a continual undercurrent topic of isolation in the book that impacted a young lady that left her flat daily to go to work in a busy office...I found the book hopeful,,,small changes can help you move from A to B and its an adventure that people find fascinating, friendship can be there if we open our eyes and hearts to seen it...a fantastic book...I look forward to Gail Honeymans next book.

While I have to Admit I chose this book out of sheer luck, I am so glad that I did, i can honestly say that it was humorous, desperately sad at times and wonderfully thought provoking. I am ashamed to say that like most people I fall prey to judging others before giving them a chance, whether it be by how they dress, speak or even simply that they are different and not as society sees "normal". To me the story bought to the forefront that I should not be so quick to judge, and that something that I may class as insignificant could be important to others.
I have never had a book impact me in quite away before (I have read thousands) and maybe it won't effect the next person to read it, but what I will take away personally is this, I won't be so quick to judge, I will try to give an act of kindness to somebody everyday whether that is just a smile when they need it or an ear if they just need to talk. Never again will I take for granted the loving family and network of support. Before anybody says I am well aware this is fiction and maybe you think that I am being a tad over zealous with my ramblings and that is probably true but either way it bought home a few home truths about the way we treat each other and maybe just maybe it will encourage us to treat each other a little kinder and a little more accepting.
Sorry for the essay but thanks for the lesson x