Eleanor Oiliphant is absolutely fine

[MipMipMip]

Please tell me it cheers up! About to meet Raymond's mother and I'm getting seriously depressed.....

[buckeejit]

Just stick with it, you'll probably like it more at the end.

[MipMipMip]

Chers. At present I'm just uncomfortable.

[Deliphant]

Also reading this at moment - not feeling the love yet!

Reminds me of the Rosie Project, but in that I had a clear mental image of what the chap was like, but I'm finding I've not got that with Eleanor.

Will persevere.

[LoveManyTrustfew]

It is utterly brilliant.

[MargoLovebutter]

Stick with it. I really struggled initially but now I've finished it, I'm glad I did.

[annandale]

Everybody i know who has read it liked it except me so well worth continuing.

[CherryMaraschino]

Gosh, I found it a bit overly look-on-the-bright-side-ish, if that makes sense, although still a good read. Think that says terrible things about me..

[CarolinePooter]

Sorry, I also tried and failed. The character seemed cardboard. Unless that was a deliberate thing to give some surreal charm? Maybe I am too impatient. Luckily, it was a library book, so no loss!

[OzymandiasFanClub]

I really enjoyed it.There are funny elements. And there are savagely painful elements. But ultimately, it is hopeful.

At first I thought it was going to be kooky singleton drinks too much ( oh how funny, not). Then it reminded me of a modern Jane Austen comedy of manners where the heroine is on the spectrum.
But really, it's more like The Bell Jar- first person account of mental anguish- how loneliness and aloneness can be helped by everyday, small acts of kindness and affection.

I never recommend sticking with a boom if you're really not enjoying it but I thought it was very good.

[southeastdweller]

I thought it was awful. I didn't believe in any of it.

[shumway]

I didn't like it. Not well written.

[KakunaRattata]

Such a relief that other people thought it was rubbish, everyone on fb seems to rave about it but I just thought it was a bit crap and not very believable.

[MipMipMip]

Glad I'm not the only one seeing The Rosie Project in it. Although I found that far better written.

I will persevere for a bit but give up if it doesn't improve. Thanks all!

[ggirl]

I liked it , thought the way of writing reflected her personality that was quite rigid in thinking . I did find the ending a bit hurried though..hate when an author does that.

[PastramiAndRye]

@OzymandiasFanClub it really reminded me of The Bell Jar. I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down.

I thought Gail Honeyman did a fab job of describing a flawed main character!

[OzymandiasFanClub]

@PastramiAndRye It also reminded me of Janice Galloway's The Trick Is To Keep Breathing - another fabulous but gruelling first person account of mental illness. JG gets some sort of reference at the beginning of EO- I can't remember whether the book is actually dedicated to her??? It's gone back to the library now....
Anyway, thoroughly recommend the Janice Galloway if you have enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant and The Bell Jar. I read it years/ decades??? ago when it first came out. I remember staying up all night reading it, equally shocked, appalled and enthralled. It's a cracker.
If it's not available from your library, abebooks have several copies for around 3 quid inc postage.

[GinisLife]

Awwww I liked it. I couldn't put it down. She's meant to be socially inept.

[woodfires]

I enjoyed it more and more as I read on, it is one of my books from last years reading that I kept, due to capacity issues most move on, although I always have a fondness for Glaswegian books.

[woodfires]

Thanks pp for other similar recommendations.

[Sallystyle]

I loved it.

She is completely fine :)

[HannahnotAgnes]

I absolutely loved it.

[wibblywobblyfish]

I enjoyed it, however I had worked out the plot and ending by about 1/3 or the way in.

[KTyoupigeon]

Took it on holiday - left it on holiday! Really couldn't get on with it at all

[Deadringer]

It took me a while to get into it too but I really enjoyed it and am glad I stuck with it.

[HowDoIGetOffTheBus]

I loved it from the start, was totally hooked - well worth sticking with.