Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Eleanor Olliphant

115 replies

cleofatra · 15/02/2018 17:31

Does it get better? I am constantly fighting an urge not to throw it across the room
Up to chapter 7

OP posts:
AlwaysOldBeforeMyTime · 18/02/2018 19:35

Aha! I read this, thought it was dull as dishwater but thought it was just me. Glad to hear it's not!

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 18/02/2018 19:34

I am loving this book

Her loneliness is heartbreaking she is locked into a life that she feels safe in

I am not sure why it’s an insult to adults who have suffered abuse as a child I could certainly relate to some of it

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 18/02/2018 19:31

My colleague recommended this and I really liked it , and her . It’s not a literary classic but her voice really sticks with you . I really liked her character and her voice and I was rooting for her . If only everyone could survive like her

JoyceDivision · 17/02/2018 19:47

SoleBizzz, is the childhood abuse the bit readers are supposed to 'work out'? Is that a spoiler?

PrincessoftheSea · 17/02/2018 19:43

I loved it too. I hope there will be a second book about Eleanor. I really liked her.

Original poster
cleofatra · 17/02/2018 18:35

Do you know, I'm so sorry I had no idea there was a book of the month thread on this - just found it. Apologies.

OP posts:
LadyMonicaBaddingham · 17/02/2018 11:37

Bloody dreadful. Painfully predictable and I thought it was quite insulting to survivors of abuse in childhood.

SatsukiKusakabe · 17/02/2018 11:29

Yes dish agree entirely - the point was that she gets less “rude” ie more socially aware as she gets more involved in life; her character development is the story.

I don’t read Jodi Picoult but thought her books were more issue driven than character driven, like this was.

TheDishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 17/02/2018 11:23

I loved it. I think your supposed to know the ending throughout, it's not supposed to be a twist. I didnt think Eleanor was unlikeabe, as a person yes she was unlikable but I had a lot of empathy for her as a character.

Original poster
cleofatra · 17/02/2018 11:19

oops,
I used bloody Grammarly as well but missed my typos

of her circumstances making me think OF her differently but because the author WRITES her as less rude as time went on).

OP posts:
Original poster
cleofatra · 17/02/2018 11:17

southeastdweller

I think on the positive side, the story did get a bit more interesting and the main character became less unlikeable. (Not because of her circumstances making me think if her differently but because the author write her as less rude as time went on).

On the "not so positive", it was SO predictable. I guessed everything that was to unfold and felt a bit like "oh, was that it then" at the end. A bit "same old, same old".

I should have know better. I feel this was just another "chick lit", "pap" kind of book. I HATE Jodi Picoult books and the like and didn't realise this was going to be THAT sort of book. I thought it was going to be a little "magical" so was disappointed in that.

OP posts:
Trooperslane2 · 17/02/2018 11:10

I absolutely loved it

southeastdweller · 17/02/2018 11:07

So what did you think of it?

Original poster
cleofatra · 17/02/2018 11:04

Done! Thank god that's over.
What next I wonder?

OP posts:
SatsukiKusakabe · 17/02/2018 09:19

I was recommended it by a friend who indentified with it and thought I might too, btw.

SatsukiKusakabe · 17/02/2018 09:16

I think you either have a chime of recognition with her voice or you don’t; and if you don’t she seems wildly implausible!

Nelly1727 · 17/02/2018 07:52

I absolutely loved it.

Thirtyrock39 · 17/02/2018 07:51

I loved this book
I read it in one day and you will definitely warm to Eleanor as the story unfolds for me that was when she went to the hospital to see an elderly man (not a spoiler!) and from that point on I was rooting for her
It was sad, funny and harrowing in places but it's the best book I've read in ages

Toomanytealights · 17/02/2018 07:42

I loved it and thought it was very well written. No other author has ever made me laugh and cry in single sentences.I do know several qwerky characters myself. It made me think about loneliness and kindness. I think there are a lot of Eleanor's out there in varying degrees.

SoleBizzz · 16/02/2018 23:06

Loved this book. Cried reading it. Cried because it came to an end. Couldn't put it diwn and wish there was more if Eleanor to come.

One of the best books I have read.

I felt her loneliness because of her childhood abuse throughout. I identify with this and how my abusers voice still whispers in my ear. Makes life socially awkward.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 16/02/2018 14:45

Still wasn't worth it, though...

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 16/02/2018 14:44

heavily discounted at supermarkets. Yes! I threw it in the trolley in Morrisons because it was three quid Grin

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 16/02/2018 14:43

Really didn't like this. I can see what the author was aiming for but it just wasn't executed very well.

plus3 · 16/02/2018 14:38

Thanks Emma will continue to avoid!

Original poster
cleofatra · 16/02/2018 07:44

Ok up to chapter 11 now.....feel it has become a bit more interesting but still struggling through .
bradleypooper I keep visualising her as Reese Witherspoon now Grin

OP posts: