3.5 stars rounded up. The crime portion of the novel was somewhat predictable, but there were enough surprising turns, and red herrings, to satisfy me3.5 stars rounded up. The crime portion of the novel was somewhat predictable, but there were enough surprising turns, and red herrings, to satisfy me. I would estimate that close to 50% of the novel is contemporary fiction – showing the characters adjusting to new motherhood. This didn’t bother me as those parts were interesting enough, and gave the characters a real feel by showing them in everyday life situations. Also, even those parts did relate to the crime plot – as the mother’s dealt with a wide range of emotions – fear, guilt, relief, doubt – because a baby they knew had disappeared without a trace. Even though the plot involved a missing child, I found it a tamer read than I’m used to in the crime/mystery/suspense genre. There was little violence, no graphic content, and hardly any profanity, so I can see it appealing to a wider range of audience. I see it’s already being made into a movie, and I think it’s a good choice, and if it’s done right will be a crowd-pleaser. The first three chapters were a bit weird and all over the place, and even though they quickly made sense a few chapters on, to me it seemed like an underwhelming way to begin a novel. For those who prefer lighter, bordering on cosy, crime, this is the book for you....more
‘The barman was well over six feet tall and had created strange, enormous holes in his earlobes by inserHeart-warming, honest, painful, and beautiful!
‘The barman was well over six feet tall and had created strange, enormous holes in his earlobes by inserting little black plastic circles in order to push back the skin. For some reason, I was reminded of my shower curtain.’
Eleanor Oliphant wants you to know that she is completely fine thank you very much! She goes to work, comes home to her one-bedroom flat, spends her evenings and weekends alone, enjoys crossword puzzles, and drinking vodka, and every Wednesday she speaks to her mummy. She is perfectly content, and doesn’t need anything, or anyone, else. Then she attends a concert, where as soon as she lays eyes on the lead singer, is convinced he is the man for her, and makes it her mission to meet him. Around the same time she meets, Raymond, the IT guy from her office, whose irritating habits, and personal grooming leave a lot to be desired. And when Eleanor and Raymond come to the rescue of an elderly man, Sammy, after he collapses in the street, Eleanor’s carefully ordered life really starts to change.
This was a phenomenal read, that really messed with my emotions. I’d be in fits of laughter one minute, enveloped with a warm feeling the next, then blinking back the tears, and swallowing the lump in my throat. It dealt with some very serious issues, but was never a depressing read. Nor was it a light read, but it was a fun one, which sounds like a contradiction, but you’ll see what I mean.
Eleanor and Raymond were both wonderful characters with a lot of depth. I was certain going in that I had the reason for Eleanor being the way she was pegged, but I was completely wrong, which made this a very unexpected, touching, and powerful book. I really admired Eleanor for being so strong and positive. She was truly an inspiration, and watching her slowly blossom and heal was pure joy. And Raymond was such a sweetheart – genuine, kind and patient – you couldn’t have asked for a better man for Eleanor to meet. Oh and he’s Scottish, love those accents, can’t wait for the movie. Eleanor and Raymond’s relationship was beyond cute and adorable – a slow burn that felt real and natural.
Feeling blessed right now to have read this, and am excited to see what Gail Honeyman writes next....more
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