ABOUT HOME FIRE“Ingenious… Builds to one of the most memorable final scenes I’ve read in a novel this century.” --The New York Times

WINNER OF THE 2018 WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION

FINALIST FOR THE 2019 INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD

LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
325 pages

What’s it about?
 Elanor Oliphant is a thirty year-old office worker living a very small life in Scotland.  She goes to the office each day and avoids any social interaction.  On the weekends she looks forward to a Tesco pizza and a couple bottles of vodka.    People find her odd and they are often disdainful of her- as she is puzzled by them.  This all changes one day when she sees a random man and decides he is the one for her- he will change her life.  This starts her on a path towards making some changes.  At about the same time she is thrown into a relationship with the IT specialist at the office, Raymond.  She and Raymond are walking out of the office together when they happen upon a gentleman in need of medical attention in the road.  Sammy is his name and he is a big-hearted man who is grateful for their help. Eleanor, Raymond and Sammy soon become friends and these friendships will change Eleanor's life.

What did it make me think about?
 Loneliness.

Should I read it?
 I must admit that I was expecting a funny, light book.  I was mistaken.  Gail Honeyman has written a character in Eleanor Oliphant that makes laugh out loud observations- but this book is so much more.  I loved this book!  This novel tackles some really hard subjects. I would say it is every bit as sad as it is funny.  Somehow, the author has managed a fine balance and given us a novel that makes you both laugh and cry.   I will miss Eleanor and Raymond!

Quote-
"These days, loneliness is the new cancer- a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way.  A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don't want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted, or that it might tempt fate into visiting a similar horror upon them."

If you liked this try-
​Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny
The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick
​Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman

​9 1/2 stars
​