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Honeyman’s debut has received
rave reviews and its fair share of awards, although it has also divided
opinion. Eleanor Oliphant is thirty years old and lonely. Her colleagues think
she is odd and are more likely to be found laughing at her behind her back than
making conversation with her. This she can tolerate, the isolated weekends that
are eased only with the help of a bottle of vodka however, are harder to
swallow. Her case may be extreme but it’s not uncommon for people to find
themselves with nobody to talk to outside of work. ‘These days, loneliness is
the new cancer – a shameful, embarrassing thing, bought upon yourself in some
obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not
mention it.’ Thankfully, even in the few yeas since the book was published, the
conversation around loneliness has become more prominent.
There are a number of threads
running through the story. It is hinted at early on that Eleanor suffered some
trauma in her childhood which is alluded to throughout and gradually revealed
in more detail. We are led to suppose that it is the events from her youth that
are at the root of her naïve yet oddly formal behaviour, her inability to
engage with the world in what others would consider a normal way. The further
into the novel the more we see the connections between her past and her current
mental state and self-confidence. Her attempts at healing feel very true
to life and are emotional to read
The other main narrative thread
draws on common tropes found in rom-coms – a crush on a man that is obviously
no good while remaining oblivious to the kindness of someone closer, and the
physical transformation that a change of clothes and some make-up brings. These
parts feel more predictable and cliched but make for easy reading.
An interesting, humorous read
that gives you the perspective of a young woman who’s never quite learned to
connect with her fellow humans. Her internal monologue shows her confusion with
popular culture and the behaviour of those she meets, and although you root for
her you can understand why people get off on the wrong foot with her. There are
some inconsistencies and the ease with which she adapts to some of the
situations don’t seem quite in keeping with her general character but overall
this is a heartfelt, relatable read.
Pick up a copy:
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