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"I was fine, perfectly fine on my own, but I needed to keep Mummy happy, keep her calm so she would leave me in peace. A boyfriend---a husband?---might just do the trick. It wasn't that I needed anyone. I was, as I previously stated, perfectly fine." -Eleanor, from the novel
An ironic title---Eleanor Oliphant is NOT completely fine! In fact, she is a 29-year-old accountant with very poor self-esteem who is also socially inept. When she discovers a handsome singer at a distance, she develops a crush---maybe more like an obsession---and plans a relationship with him even though they have never met. This does not end well.
The beginning of the novel reminded me of Bridget Jones's Diary and although it was definitely humorous, I didn't like the stream of consciousness and was hoping for some dialogue. That would happen when Eleanor met the new office tech guy, Raymond. She has a bad first impression of Raymond but when the two of them helped an elderly gentleman who had fallen, a bond was formed that would eventually rescue Eleanor emotionally.
Raymond, I felt, was a jewel. His support of Eleanor reminded me of the Diana Ross song "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" and also this past Sunday's sermon about standing with others in need and sharing their burdens.
Eleanor's story was also reminiscent of A Man Called Ove. Although I wasn't thrilled with the book in the beginning pages, I came to love it, rating it a 5. This British author has an amazing vocabulary and turns a phrase brilliantly!
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August 4, 2022 Postponed July meeting of Page Turners
During our meeting a couple of questions came up about the novel and we wondered if there could be an interview with the author which would answer them. Here are two YouTube videos I found, one with the author talking about her inspiration and intention in the book. The other is a brief Q and A with the author---not nearly long enough, I thought.
Our group really liked Eleanor Oliphant.... and rated it 4.3. We had some 19 questions to discuss from two different sources. Some folks knew the literary term "unreliable narrator" and had recognized Eleanor as one right off the bat. Others of us were introduced to that point of view technique. We agreed that the references to British culture were charming as was Eleanor's humorous take on things. Some thought the ending was rather abrupt. The novel provided a rousing discussion.
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