Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine
‘Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine’ was authored by Gail Honeyman and released by Harper Collins in 2017 (UK). ‘Age is only a number’ is proven true by the British author, who makes his literary debut at the age of 40, and shows that anyone can attain great heights at any age.
She approaches mental health concerns in a novel and original way. The book covers a wide range of topics, including denial about one's mental health and rehabilitation, loneliness, despair, domestic abuse, tiny acts of kindness, compassion and friendship. In her writing, the author persuades the reader that the protagonist might be any one of us. The somber theme of the novel is contrasted and lightened by humor.
The book received the 2017 Costa Debut Novel Award. According to online research, 2.5 million copies of the book have been sold, and the general public has praised it highly.
I eventually decided to read ‘Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine’ in 2020 when everyone was attempting to adjust to the new normal after the world had come to a standstill. I was drawn to the book primarily by its title, which, with its focus on being completely fine, made me wonder why it says "completely" fine. The lead is not at all fine, as the book's title makes very evident, for even if we think someone is fine, there is always a chance that they might not be, but when someone insists that they are fine, something is obviously wrong. The book's idea is interesting, and you can't help but develop a connection with the protagonist since she comes across as really genuine.
Eleanor, the protagonist and the story's narrator is a shy, antisocial young woman who appears unaware of her own demeanor. She commutes by bus, works Monday through Friday, has the same lunch every day, eats pasta with pesto and salad for supper, and her mother calls her every Wednesday. Every Friday, she buys two bottles of vodka for the weekend, going without human contact until Monday morning. She has been doing this for the past nine years. She believes that she is an independent being and takes great pride in running her life alone.
And very early on, the issue becomes apparent, whenever asked how she is, She continues to say, "Everything is fine, I'm fine, work is fine," in response. She is convinced that although she is not outstanding or even decent, she is just FINE.
Eleanor has an awkward and juvenile internet infatuation with a pop singer Johnnie Lomond, completely consuming and meritless in the least. It almost feels like an adolescent liking covered up as "love" because she thinks of him as her soulmate and "husband material." She starts to transform herself, giving up all of her rituals, in an effort to be accepted by this pop sensation. To learn more about the musician, she purchases a computer. She makes a special trip to the salon for personal grooming that includes brand-new attire, a hairstyle and color, and a manicure while organizing chance encounters with the celebrity. The musician is conceited and unworthy of her affection. Readers will readily see that reality, but Eleanor is oblivious to it. In her attempts to have this rock star and her world clash in order to create a fairytale, she instead gets unexpected experiences that end up being the finest ones.
A new bond with Raymond Gibbons, a coworker who is odd in his own right but is a bit less socially uncomfortable, begins to emerge. Eleanor enters into a social connection as a result of these two aiding a stranger, Sammy Thom, and saving his life as a result of a series of circumstances.
The plot twists dramatically when Eleanor hits rock bottom, she retreats into a debilitating three-day drinking binge and several unresolved issues- a wounded childhood, foster homes, and toxic relationships come to the light. Furthermore, the author illustrates the road to recovery in exquisite detail.
Not until the very end will you learn the specific details of what happened in the past, according to the author's creative writing style. Eleanor's character also becomes blatantly obvious once the past is made public. The book is colorful and intriguing. I was uncontrollably emotional as it was a story of severe loneliness. Writing of this caliber is brilliant at its finest.
Gail Honeyman, the author, stated in an interview that she didn't want to victimize the character or feel sorry for herself, which I believe she accomplished.
There were several passages that stuck with me and made me want to reread them. I'll list a handful of them here:
‘The goal, ultimately, was successful camouflage as a human woman.’ -Page 30
She is aware of how terribly typical she is—you wouldn't even notice her if you passed by. She attempts to make a cosmetic transformation in order to pass for a "human lady," fitting in with society.
‘There are scars on my heart, just as thick, as disfiguring as those on my face. I know they’re there. I hope some undamaged tissue remains, a patch through which love can come in and flow out. I hope.’ -Page 85
‘Was this how it worked, then, successful, social integration? Was it that simple? Wear some lipstick, go to the hairdresser’s and alternate the clothes you wear? Someone ought to write a book, or at least an explanatory pamphlet, and pass this information on.’ -Page 206
This is the most depressing fact about modern civilization if you stop and think about it. The inner personality has always lost to outward attractiveness. We all rush to conclusions after giving someone a quick glance. While the musician inspires her physical change, her friendship with Raymond, the office's IT specialist, inspires interior change.
‘Time only blunts the pain of loss. It doesn’t erase it.’ -Page 235
‘Grief is the price we pay for love, so they say. The price is far too high.’ -Page 238
‘What, I wondered was the point of me? I contributed nothing to the world, absolutely nothing, and I took nothing from it either. When I ceased to exist, it would make no material difference to anyone.’ -Page 268
‘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.’ -Page 270
It shattered my heart. People have always found it difficult to seek assistance or simply acknowledge that there is a problem. Being fine all the time is not a solution; every one of us needs at least one confidant who has their best interests in mind. Psychological assistance is derided, which has to change because we're all constantly on the move and the world is changing. Our lives are stressful for no apparent reason. Professional aid is something that we all require from time to time in life.
ELEanor OliPHANT is an intelligent name the author devised for the main character. The meaning of the name is a subject of significant debate. I enjoy it the most when Eleanor herself makes a sneaky comment about it- ‘Yes, I suppose you would have remembered an Oliphant in the room.’ -Page 297
There are several other situations that need noting, but I won't ruin the enjoyment for the readers.
My edition of the book has a yellow backdrop with a burned-out house made of matchsticks (the cover of the copy is available exclusively in the Indian subcontinent). The identical image appears on the UK cover, but with a white backdrop. The story's climax—an awful event that happened to Eleanor as a child—is alluded to on this cover. The US edition's book cover features a headless lady who may be any woman wearing an orange blouse and a brown skirt. Personally, I like the UK version of the cover since it is creative and meaningful.
This tale is dark, humorous, and ultimately heartwarming about isolation, mental health and recovery. This book is a treat for all book lovers, and I heartily recommend it.
The book is available on Amazon in both paperback and hardback forms. Cathleen McCarron narrates the book's audio edition, which can be found on Audible and has an 11-hour 36-minute running time. The rights to a movie have been bought by Reese Witherspoon's production company.