Eleanor Oliphant's Journey to Happiness: A Novel

Kgalibi: Sometimes I fell like I'm Eleanor, I'm all alone in this crazy world. But, then I start to learn about her past and realize how lucky I am just to be lonely. Eleanor has survived unspeakable tragedy, but she gets up everyday goes to work, ignores those making jokes about her until one day she makes a friend. Someone that cares enough to pull her out of her shell. May we all have the kindness of Eleanor, and the strength to help an Eleanor.

United States on Nov 06, 2023

Jacqui Smail: This might be my favorite book of all time. I chuckled my way through it whilst simultaneously feeling heart sorry for Eleanor. Buy this book, read this book, I guarantee that you too will love it. Very entertaining!

United States on Nov 03, 2023

Dharmveer B.Dharmveer B.: This story would feel boring at times, but if you stick to it till the last chapter, then everything would get connected and you'd find how beautifully the author has framed it all.

For me, reading this required patience. This novel was different from the others I've read so far. You have to look at life from the perspective of Eleanor (the protagonist), which gets kind-of boring sometimes. But once you follow this way of exploring the chapters, you'll find the story really insightful and unpredictable. I'm grateful that I read it to the last. It was worth it.

[deducted one star for poor book binding, but the page quality and print quality are good]

India on Oct 29, 2023

Miss Stacy: I read this book in 2 days. Don't you love when you find a book so good you can't stop reading?! Eleanor is an unusual but fascinating character. Initially one might think, "Why is the character so peculiar?" As you read further, you might think "How did she ever manage to carve a path of some 'normalness'?"

United States on Oct 27, 2023

Keri Crawford: I wasn't sure that I'd like this book at first, but I must say Eleanor drew me in rather quickly! I loved seeing the world through Eleanor's eyes. Her no nonsense, see it like it is, observant eyes. You can tell she's a little different from how she articulates herself and views the world. Using such words as vertiginous, televisual, Weltschmerz, sundry, anathema, recondite and straitened in every day speech. Soon, you learn that there's something dark lurking under the surface with Eleanor, something she'd rather not talk about. But as a chance encounter leads her to an unwavering friendship and a new way of looking at life she's forced to ask herself some hard questions. Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine...or she hopefully will be!

United States on Oct 22, 2023

Verena R.: I recently went to a breakfast place and found the book on a pile sitting on a shelf in a corner.

I usually go by cover when picking a book and I am so glad I did.

I experienced all sorts of emotions and really got to love the characters. To be able to relate with some of it.

As a non native speaker some of it was a little tricky as some words were definitely unknown, but it was also very refreshing to be invited into the mind of Eleanor. Her awkwardness gives you some perspective on how some people go through life and it definitely reminds you on how to treat the people around you, but also how you expect to be treated and it also takes some of the anxiety away, when meeting new people.

Thank you for this very moving read.

Germany on Oct 09, 2023

Carol M (IL): I had a very difficult time getting into this book after reading about 50+ pages. I almost decided not to finish it it was rather disturbing at times but it’s also amazing and I’m sure this happens to people in real life what Eleanor actually went through was able to overcome and make a life for herself.

Having a alcoholic parent, I can relate to some of the upsetting incidents. He told me to get out at 18 and yet I was able to finish college (BA) and university MA) and I’m very proud of myself just like Eleanor is and I am also completely fine.

United States on Oct 03, 2023

Mrs. J. Richmond: Apparently the author set out to write a novel about lonely people. This is far more than that.

The heroine, Eleanor is locked in a time warp bubble caused by extreme childhood trauma. It isn't until she has a complete breakdown that she learns to address that trauma and deal with its outcomes.

The story of how Eleanor finds peace unfolds slowly around her everyday exceptional life. It is exceptional because even though it is actually very ordinary, even boring, it's the prop that allows Eleanor to function, along with her favourite vodka.

It is hard to know if Eleanor is neuro divergent or simply a product of her trauma, I suspect both. Her eccentric behaviour certainly raises a few eyebrows, and lots of laughs.

The cruelty of her mother is almost unfathomable..I would like to have seen her behaviour explored more fully. Was she bipolar? A pathological liar? Did she have a personality disorder?

Eleanor seeks help from a counsellor. We aren't told if this person is a psychologist or psychiatrist. Was she qualified to tell Eleanor she shouldn't fear having children of her own? Lots of food for thought in this book.

There are many instances...

Australia on Sep 09, 2023

Christopher Peter: I don't routinely give out five star reviews, but this book totally nailed it for me. I must admit I wasn't sure if I was going to like it - I didn't like the title at first, and really I only read it because it was a book club read. But I'm so glad I did. It's so well written, alternately sad, thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny.

Eleanor Oliphant is a woman with a tragic past and a troubled present. She appears to be autistic or otherwise neurodivergent - although that is never explicitly stated - finding it difficult to form relationships, though she holds down a job. She also has something of a drink problem, as well as an unhealthy obsession with a musician she's never actually met. However, through a chance encounter with a stranger and a growing friendship with a work colleague who she appears on the surface to have very little in common with, her life begins to change and take off in a surprising new direction.

The characters are all well drawn and convincing, as is the dialogue. Eleanor herself could so easily have been annoying or cliched, and yet she jumps off the page as an engaging, fully realised person. I found myself really rooting for her. The...

United Kingdom on Jul 24, 2023

Andrea Potzler: Ein geregelter Job seit neun Jahren, eine eigene Wohnung, jeden Tag etwas zu essen, ein Fernseher und ein Leben ohne Höhen und Tiefen- was mehr könnte sich die dreißigjährige Eleanor Oliphant denn vom Leben wünschen?! So sieht sie das jedenfalls selbst zu Beginn eines Romans, den ich auf einer vierstündigen Zugfahrt verschlungen habe. Und doch zeigt sich nach und nach, dass so ziemlich alles fehlt oder zutiefst dysfunktional ist, was ein Leben lebenswert macht: Freunde, eine Beziehung, eine Familie.

Die Rahmenhandlung ist schnell erzählt: eine Frau, die in einem Büro arbeitet, ist einigermaßen einsam und unglücklich. Im Laufe des Romans verbessert sich ihre Situation. Aber halt. Das ist es natürlich nicht, warum mich das Buch Hitze und Chaos einer vierstündigen Bahnfahrt hat vergessen lassen. Eleanor ist mit all ihren besonderen Verhaltensweisen schräg und knurrig wie Ove in "Ein Mann namens Ove". Und genauso wie in diesem Roman auch, zeigt sich langsam, was dazu geführt hat, dass sie ist, wer sie ist. Das habe ich gespannt verfolgt und dabei immer mehr ihre geradlinige, unangepasste Art zu schätzen gelernt.

Insofern bin ich den Menschen ihres Umfelds...

Germany on Jul 11, 2023