Review - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a book written by Gale Honeyman in 2017. I was recently gifted it is a birthday present and I immediately became engrossed in the book. I took me all of one day to finish the entire book and I must say I was very happy with myself when I finished. The story has a very neat ending leaving you feeling as if Eleanor is beginning to get her life back on track after the trauma of her past.

Plot Summary -

By the end of the book, you really feel as if you have gone on this journey through mental instability with Eleanor and you feel as if you not only got to know not only the illness but the person behind it. I really enjoy this in a book because not only do you get to know the character on a deeply personal level but you also know all their flaws and kinked edges.

Eleanor goes through three defined stages in the book split up by a title page at each section. The start of the book is what she calls her ‘Good Days’ in these days she isn’t brilliant but she is good. She is fine. She goes to work and even goes out with friends (or friend) and even believes she found the love of her life. Even though she isn’t great and you can tell that something is wrong that we don’t know about. There are hints of trauma as a child but nothing solid to go on as a reader. Eleanor has an emotionally abusive mother that she still talks to on the phone every Wednesday. After talks with her mother, she seems more withdrawn and anxious.

The next part of the book is called ‘Bad Days’. These are days where Eleanor’s life seems to completely collapse. She drops into a deep depressive state after things go wrong trying to meet someone she loves and she feels as though nothing is worth it anymore. Eleanor is later diagnosed with clinical depression.

The final stage of the book is ‘Better Days’. After going to see a therapist to treat her depression she slowly starts to get better. She adopts a cat and cuts off her ties with her mother which is metaphorical of letting the sadness out of her life, telling her daemon to go away. After counselling Eleanor is also able to finally unravel the trauma of her past that her brain had hidden away from her. With this trauma uncovered Eleanor is finally free to continue on with her life. She isn’t perfect, but she’s fine.

”Sometimes you simply needed someone kind to sit with you while you dealt with things.” ‘Eleanor’ - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Elenor Oliphant Is Completely Fine ( I don’t know how many more times I can type that, CTRL+C) is a wholesome book about the different ways that people deal with trauma and finding happiness in little things. Despite the book having a thoroughly depressing concept Ms Honeyman still manages to make it somewhat of a happy book. If she had left us with the unfortunate death of Eleanor or her still going through the worst of her depression I think that I would’ve felt cheated however Ms Honeyman (do you mind if I call you Gail? Yes? Thanks) manages to wrap up the story not so much that you are left with the thought of a perfect world with sunshine, happiness and rainbows but she leaves you feeling that Eleanor is going to get better and Raymond will be there to help.

Thoughts On The Characters -

Overall I felt that Gail did a good job at making the characters and thus the story believable. The characters weren’t perfect; they had their flaws. However, they also had some amazing qualities that made them well-rounded characters. I feel as if Eleanor could be real and I truly wish she was as I think that she would be an amazing person to talk to with her proper way of speaking and all of her quirks.

Eleanor -

Eleanor can be seen as an oddball to people that don’t truly know her. With her odd manner of speaking and the different way she views the world sometimes, it can take a minute for you to figure out what on earth she is talking about! Thankfully Gail lets us take a peek inside her head showing us she thought process making it a lot easier to understand her! (If only Raymond knew!)

Gail writes an almost perfect traumatised character with all of the characteristics that come with that level of deep physiological damage (It’s a package deal, 2 for 1! Not only do you have a traumatic past but it affects your future too! Yay...)(In all seriousness Eleanor does have some really deep issues and if you need help dealing with issues that you have yourself please talk to someone, you’re not alone). She doesn’t talk openly about her experiences, in fact, her brain represses them as they are seen as too traumatic. She also doesn’t immediately get better, it does take time and luckily Eleanor has people in her life willing to help

If I’m ever unsure as to the correct course of action, I’ll think, “What would a ferret do?” Or, “How would a salamander respond to this situation?” Invariably, I find the right answer. ‘Eleanor’ - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Raymond -

Raymond is the IT guy at Eleanor’s office. Originally they meet when Eleanor needs her computer fixed so she calls Raymond (who doesn’t pick up the phone) and heads off to her lunch break to do her daily crossword after waiting two hours for him to arrive! I must mention though that Raymond has the most amazing voicemail -

”Hi, Raymond here, but also not here. Like Schrödinger’s cat. Leave a message after the beep. Cheers” ‘Raymond’ - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

So right off the bat, you get the sense that Raymond is a geek who works in IT. Which personally I think is amazing as a bit of a nerd myself and I do admit to being thoroughly excited when Schrödinger’s cat was mentioned. However, after Eleanor’s computer is fixed they don’t see each other again until the end of the next day when Raymond holds the door open for her as Eleanor is trying to avoid social interaction (classic). After this, they meet a few more times and they become gradually more comfortable with each other with Raymond even inviting Eleanor to his mother’s house for tea.

Raymond is of great help to Eleanor when she goes through depression even suggesting she go see a therapist. Raymond was also the one that found her a cat that was burnt and scarred just like her.

Eleanor’s Mother -

Overall Eleanor’s mother is the villain of the story. She is emotionally abusive towards her daughter constantly telling her that she isn’t worth the air that she breathes and that she has failed her. Even though her mother is abusive Eleanor still holds her in the highest regard. Eventually, Eleanor is able to cut her ties with her mother and near the end realises that she is her own person and doesn’t need her mother to constantly tell her she’s not good enough.

”I’m not lonely, Mummy,” I said protesting. “I’m fine on my own. I’ve always been fine on my own.” ”Well now, you haven’t always been on your own have you?” She said her voice sly, quiet. I felt sweat cling to the back of my neck, dampening my hair. “Still, tell yourself whatever you need to get you through the night, darling,” ‘Mummy’ - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

All in all, I think that Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a brilliant book. It is more of a realistic book without magic and dragons so if you prefer that kind of book this may not be for you, however, I think that almost anyone could pick up Eleanor Oliphant and fall in love. I’d rate this book a 4.5/5. The only reason I didn’t mark it higher is that there’s always a better book somewhere! (Maybe I shouldn’t be chasing perfection... that can’t be a good thing)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my first book review! I’ll be back with more soon, see you later bookaholics!

-S.R.B