When I was younger, I loved to read. From Nancy Drew to Harry Potter, I read every book in the series. It was a great way for me to spend my time and make friends. This followed me through middle school, as my friends and I were obnoxiously quoting The Fault In Our Stars in the hallway and reading Divergent in the hallway. But now, as a college student who is constantly reading articles and textbooks for school, I find myself with little motivation to read or to even see what good novels are out there now. Especially now that there is Netflix and Hulu, my friends and I often just opt for a movie night for a lazy Sunday afternoon. But over winter break I decided that I was going to go to the bookstore and buy and book. “This book needed to be perfect because I was going to read it during winter break,” is what I told myself. Well, I didn’t finish it over winter break if I’m being completely honest. However, with some persistence and curiosity, I have finished the novel.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine By Gail Honeyman is a gripping contemporary novel with a wonderful story that will stick with you. This story follows a woman named Eleanor Oliphant, who comes off slightly rude and uptight at first, as she is often unable to say anything other than what she is thinking. Eleanor is attempting to meet the love of her life, a musician she sees at a concert, but a certain IT guy and other obstacles get in her way. However, the biggest obstacle Eleanor probably faces throughout the story is herself and her past, which remains a shocking mystery until the bitter end. While many characters may find Eleanor obnoxious or quite odd, Eleanor grows on you and brings the novel humor and empathy. I’ll admit, I did not care for the novel at first and I thought it would be like every other basic contemporary novel with a stressed girl trying to meet her love, however, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has many deep layers and is a true page turner. If you have the chance, I highly recommend picking up the book and giving it a read. Trust me, once you pick it up you won’t want to put it down.