What a marvellous, sharp and witty read!
When someone looks “fine,” it doesn’t mean they are fine.
“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 because you hadn’t spoken to another person for two consecutive days. FINE is what you say.”
Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a heartwarming, deeply poignant novel that explores loneliness, trauma, and the redemptive power of human connection. With its comical prose and profoundly humane narrative, the book strikes a delicate balance between humour and heartbreak, making it quite unique in its genre.
Meet Eleanor Oliphant—our socially awkward and painfully blunt protagonist. Her consistent routines, rigidness, and peculiar quirks make her endearing, while her journey of self-discovery reveals profound layers of vulnerability and resilience. You can’t help but root for Eleanor as she begins confronting her past and slowly accepts the change to enter a brighter future.
The story sheds light on how a trauma, that is not shared at the right time, becomes a festered wound and shapes your entire personality. It also shows how often we overlook the realities of loneliness and its impact on mental health. The author sensitively portrays Eleanor’s struggles, demonstrating how trauma can isolate individuals but also how meaningful connections can foster healing. The book’s raw honesty about Eleanor’s pain is balanced by its hopeful message of growth and recovery.
The sweet, kind-hearted and unassuming Raymond and Eleanor’s coworker, who we first assume is an extra character, is pivotal in her journey. Their unlikely friendship is beautifully developed, highlighting the transformative power of compassion and understanding. The story tells us that small acts of kindness can have a profound impact on you.
“In the end, what matters is this: I survived.”
The novel is both sharp and tender, with moments of laugh-out-loud humour interspersed with deeply emotional scenes. Eleanor’s deadpan observations about modern society add a layer of comedic brilliance, making her an unforgettable narrator. It also co-relates with many of us how generational trauma and a sour relationship with your parent can break you from the inside.
The novel shows how the smallest act of kindness can change someone’s life, as Raymond’s kindness changed Eleanor. The story also encourages us to look beyond superficial beauty and accept the person how they are from inside. We easily body shame others, but we don’t know what anyone feels inside or what kind of battles they are waging daily.
“When you’re struggling hard to manage your own emotions, it becomes unbearable to have to witness other people’s, to have to try and manage theirs too.”
In a world where loneliness is a growing epidemic, Eleanor’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the value of empathy and the power of belonging to someone.
It teaches us to make a call to extend kindness to those who might be “completely fine” on the surface but are yearning for connection beneath.
A must-read!