Review of "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman

Overview

• Eleanor Oliphant is a 30-year-old woman living in Glasgow, works in an office, has minimal social interaction, and drinks vodka frequently.
• Estranged from family and friends, skeptical of human connections.
• Trauma hinted throughout the book, involving her abusive mother.
• Two key incidents: infatuation with a rock star and helping an elderly man with co-worker Raymond, leading to friendship.

Positives

Characterization of Eleanor

• Eleanor is genuinely unlikable in many ways, making her character more realistic and relatable.
• Her blunt and rude thoughts/actions reflect her social challenges realistically.
• Her relationship with Raymond showcases the value of friendship and platonic support.

Humor and Bluntness

• Humor is subtle but effective, particularly through Eleanor's bluntness and moments involving a cat.
• Noted funny moments: rejecting a man's offer to buy her a drink and the character's pithy one-liners.

Portrayal of Trauma

• Trauma presented in a balanced manner, not overshadowing the narrative but impacting Eleanor's behavior.
• Comparison made to "A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara.
• Suggests trauma doesn't need to dominate the narrative to be impactful.

Criticisms

Eleanor's Character Design

• Character traits are repeated rigidly, making Eleanor feel mechanical rather than dynamic.
• Examples include her large vocabulary, judgmental nature, and confusion in social situations.
• Scenes like her confusion over TGI Fridays felt unbelievable given her life experiences.

Author's Manipulation and Heavy-Handedness

• Author's presence felt strongly, affecting the authenticity of Eleanor’s voice.
• Emotional scenes felt forced or melodramatic, undermining the character's integrity.
• Example: Eleanor’s over-elaborated loneliness and desire for love.

Overarching Issues

Over-Controlled Reader's Reactions

• Narrative appears to signpost reader's emotional responses and reactions, rather than organically evoking them.
• Themes of loneliness, friendship, and recovery compromised by forced emotions.

Personal Connection and Enjoyment

• Difficulty in connecting with Eleanor due to the transparency in authorial manipulation.
• Importance of not needing to shut off intellect to enjoy a book emphasized.

Literary Prize Context

• Questioned the book's merits in the context of literary prizes, arguing it lacks artistic vision and takes shortcuts.
• Compared to other simpler, artistically valuable books from previous prize lists.

Final Thoughts

• Acknowledgement that the book appeals to many readers, including those who don't prioritize literary artistry.
• Invite for open, respectful discussion regarding differing viewpoints on the book.