Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Adult Fiction
Reviewed by Kelly from the Winkler Branch
"A philosophical question: if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? And if a woman who's wholly alone occasionally talks to a pot plant, is she certifiable?"
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine...or is she? This book follows Eleanor, a solitary individual who survives on routine, the daily crossword, and vodka. Despite her prim and aloof nature, Eleanor is befriended by Raymond, the scruffy and big-hearted IT guy. He joins Eleanor as she experiences both outward and inward changes, initially prompted by her falling in love with local musician, Johnnie Lomond. Together this unlikely duo discovers the truth of Eleanor's past and this helps her learn how to move forward.
In all honesty, I was surprised at how much I liked this book.
While I believe it is important to discuss and learn about mental health issues, the process can often feel very draining. I enjoyed how this book brought humor to the sensitive subject, while still not making light of it.
I also found this book to be a rather unique reading experience. It is told from the main character's perspective and as a reader, we tend to trust that that perspective is the truth. We forget that it is simply how the character perceives the situation, and that those are not necessarily the same. As this story progresses, it challenges the reader's trust in what is the truth, and gives opportunities for the reader to compare how they would interpret a situation vs. how the character interprets it.
While this is not a book I would usually choose for myself, I'm glad I gave it a chance, and I hope others do too.
**Check online for trigger warnings**
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