Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine
by Gail Honeyman
This is Gail Honeyman’s debut novel and the winner of the 2017 Costa Debut Novel Award.
I probably would not have read this story had our office book club not picked it for the November read. I am very glad they did. Wow! What an emotionally-packed read!
The journey into Eleanor Oliphant is thought-provoking, sad, powerful, touching, uplifting, and at times very humorous. You can’t help but chuckle at Eleanor’s views of the world and her forthright comments to people.
Eleanor is definitely a product of her horrific childhood environment. A physical scar on her face and an emotional scar on her heart, are a lifetime reminder of her traumatic past. She was bought up in foster homes and after attending University, gets an office job and is placed in her own apartment. Her only companion, a plant and her only visits are from social workers and meter readers. She drinks a lot of vodka and spends time on the weekends talking to her “Mummy” (author and story setting are based in Scotland) on the telephone.
From a writer’s view, Gail Honeyman does an excellent job with the voice of Eleanor throughout the novel. You can’t help but cheer Eleanor on.