Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Book Review + Analysis
I have found a new favorite book. Gail Honeyman pulled me in with her socially awkward protagonist, Eleanor. In this book review + analysis of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, we discover how the leading protagonist overcomes adversity and depression. The greatest takeaway is how grounded this book is while unearthing childhood trauma.
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Book Review + Analysis
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Novel by Gail Honeyman
325 pages | 2017 A Pamela Dorman Book / Viking | An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
Summary:
Eleanor Oliphant says everything she thinks and lives within the confines of her routine; she goes to her nine-to-five office job during the week, schedules weekly phone calls with Mummy, and indulges in flatbreads with vodka on the weekends.
When Eleanor needs IT help, the new guy Raymond comes to the rescue; he's unhygienic, but witty and vibrant. Their lives collide when they rescue Sammy, an elderly man after he falls.
They get pulled into his world; Sammy becomes an anchor for their friendship. Soon Eleanor and Raymond form a stronger bond and begin to see the inner depths of each other. Hidden inside, they find darkness, adoration, and addiction. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman is a story about overcoming yourself and exemplifies human connection impacting the soul and psyche.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Book Review + Analysis
*This book review + analysis reveals spoilers*
Structure
This book was perfectly paced and followed a hero’s journey outline. It was a page-turner for me. What I loved most about Eleanor is Completely Fine was the protagonist’s character arc. I loved how Honeyman showed the decline of Eleanor’s mental health and her alcohol addiction. While reading, I felt the series of events were realistic because they connected with her emotions. We witness Eleanor deal with her flaws and learn how to overcome tragedy that made her believe she was unlovable.
It’s challenging to find a modern book that exemplifies a hero overcoming themselves, and I am all for it!
Theme
Depression
Let’s be frank, Eleanor was highly depressed. She endured major trauma, repressed it, then erased it from her memory. She couldn't fit in socially and believed she was as damaged as the scars she bore on her face.
“I simply didn't know how to make things better. I could not solve the puzzle of me.”
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
As we moved through Eleanor’s life, we witnessed her view herself for the first time when she altered her appearance. She changed her hair, make-up, and clothing to attend social functions, which helped her feel better about herself. Often depression lingers if one lives in frumpy clothes and doesn't attempt to look presentable - or at least use their clothing as an expression of self.
Ultimately, the makeover doesn’t erase the scars she endured, even if it hid them. It’s not until Eleanor has given up on her infatuation with a musician she doesn’t even know, who is a complete phony, that she is left with… herself.
“When the silence and the aloneness press down and around me, crushing me, carving through me like ice, I need to speak aloud sometimes, if only for proof of life.”
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor indulged. The alcohol didn't crawl through her bloodstream quickly enough when Raymond found her half-alive. When she ascended past the dark night, her lifestyle had to change. The protagonist had to face her demons to heal from the inside. Eleanor attended therapy and uncovered the repressed memories that warped her into who she was, finally finding freedom in who she is.
Afterthoughts:
This is my new favorite book. I LOVED everything about Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. The author immersed me in Eleanor's world; I was impressed with how she overcame her inner conflict. This book broke my heart and made me literally laugh out loud. I felt a multitude of emotions, which is ultimately what stories should make us experience. I listened to it on Audible, and the narrator was outstanding, but I fully intend to buy a copy and re-read it!
