I am so excited I decided to pick up Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman. I had no idea where this book would lead me and now that I’m finished, I’m still amazed. At first you think Eleanor is this quirky, strange, germaphobe, that is socially awkward. Her manner is completely cringe worthy and her routine is completely boring. Eleanor grows on you in a way where you wish you had the courage that she seems to have in just being herself. The first time I saw something seriously eccentric in Eleanor was when she walked into a room occupied by her coworkers who were so oblivious to her, they continued to talk and make fun of her and she laughed along. Then parts of Eleanor begin to pop out, and you see that there is a whole world inside her that she has kept hidden. She meets her new coworker Raymond and she starts to break out of her routine and her own mind, with an eye-popping twist at the end. This story is a beautiful nod to trauma victims and mental health awareness. It really shows how important it is to feel emotions, live life, and the simple importance of human contact. Eleanor is a tragically gorgeous character that will empower you. Her search to find herself and fight through her horrible past is stunning. More than anything in today’s growing spotlight on mental illness this book shows you cannot run from it, but it is okay to ask for help. For anyone who has ever survived or has seen mental illness firsthand, this book hits the nail on the head. If by some chance you still don’t understand the importance of mental illness or the effects of trauma, please read this beautiful story and see the realities of it.
Favorite Quotes –
“Human mating rituals are unbelievably tedious to observe. At least in the animal kingdom you are occasionally treated to a flash of bright feathers or a display of spectacular violence.”
“Grief is the price we pay for love, so they say. The price is far too high.”
You can buy the book by clicking on the book title! Happy reading!
Books Upon my Nightstand 