I checked this out from my local library. If I wasn't reading it for a book club discussion, I would have stopped it early on. I was bugged by the Reese Witherspoon quote on the cover that described the book as "funny." What was I supposed to be laughing at, the horrifically abused woman who cues as autistic? There were a couple witty lines, but there is nothing funny here. I related strongly to Eleanor and her obliviousness, and that made this a painful read. I suppose it is warm and uplifting, as it nears the end, but the plot wades through some deep, dark trigger-inducing trauma to get there. As I described it to my husband, I needed to push through reading this book, like I was ripping off a bandage.

The writing is good, that is for certain. The characters have immense depth. This is one of those books that I'm glad to have done. I can say I read it. It'll make for an interesting book club discussion. ( )

This is by far my new favorite book. ( )

Initially it seems a mundane story, but scraps of her past are revealed, so you turn the pages to find out more, and are soon hooked.
Eleanor is a very lonely, simple but serious person, trapped by past events.
The story is conveyed by her conversational thoughts, little clues to her past are dropped along the way: the scar on her face, her nasty, vindictive, discouraging mother.
This frail lonely individual has a surprising very formal language and conversation.
As her history is slowly revealed, her character is revealed, and she starts to learn to live.
( )

Eleanor Oliphant struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.
Everything changes when she meets Raymond, a bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. It is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to heal her own profoundly damaged one., ( )

This isn’t the kind of book I usually read, it was a birthday present from a friend and when I started it I did think it would be one I abandoned, but somewhere along the way it snuck inside me and really pulled at my heart. At times it made me laugh out loud and at others I felt so desperately sad that I cried, this is a heartwarming tale of loneliness and small acts of kindness, I’d highly recommend it. ( )