Eleanor Oliphant Is Completley Fine

What’s it about? Elanor Oliphant is a thirty year-old office worker living a very small life in Scotland.  She goes to the office each day and avoids any social interaction.  On the weekends she looks forward to a Tesco pizza and a couple bottles of vodka.    People find her odd and they are often disdainful of her- as she is puzzled by them.  This all changes one day when she sees a random man and decides he is the one for her- he will change her life.  This starts her on a path towards making some changes.  At about the same time she is thrown into a relationship with the IT specialist at the office, Raymond.  She and Raymond are walking out of the office together when they happen upon a gentleman in need of medical attention in the road.  Sammy is his name and he is a big-hearted man who is grateful for their help. Eleanor, Raymond and Sammy soon become friends and these friendships will change Eleanor’s life.What did it make me think about? Loneliness. Should I read it? I must admit that I was expecting a funny, light book.  I was mistaken.  Gail Honeyman has written a character in Eleanor Oliphant that makes laugh out loud observations- but this book is so much more.  I loved this book!  This novel tackles some really hard subjects. I would say it is every bit as sad as it is funny.  Somehow, the author has managed a fine balance and given us a novel that makes you both laugh and cry.   I will miss Eleanor and Raymond! Quote- “These days, loneliness is the new cancer- a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way.  A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted, or that it might tempt fate into visiting a similar horror upon them.”