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Original poster

Elinor Oliphant is my favourite book ever. What next?

160 replies

thisisnothow · 09/01/2019 06:57

Just finished it and loved Elinor. Don't what to read next but missing a good book. Recommendations please!

OP posts:
planespotting · 09/01/2019 07:11

I know!!! 😫
Here for recommendations. I got The trouble with Ghosts and Sheep after that one but not as good

Bandyknock · 09/01/2019 07:12

Donna Tartt - The Secret History. Really awesome.

Whatsmymethod · 09/01/2019 07:25

After that i read 'I found you' by Lisa Jewell. Really liked it.

I've just started 'The list that changed my life'. It's good so far

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Books
Southernc0mfortmirror · 09/01/2019 07:29

I’ve just started The Cactus, which seems to be heading along similar lines. I haven’t read enough to decide whether it’s just an Oliphant knock off though

QuentinWinters · 09/01/2019 07:30

The Power by Naomi Alderman.
Bridget Jones Diary (the first one)
Saving Grace by Ciara Geraghty
The Horse Dancer by Jojo Moyes (or sheltering rain or night music)
Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes

DeadBod · 09/01/2019 07:33

I read this and couldn't put it down.
Placemarking for inspiration.

moleeye · 09/01/2019 07:36

Another one for Donna Tartt. It's my favourite book of all time and I regularly read-read it!

BikeRunSki · 09/01/2019 07:36

I just finished Elinor too! I’m still in that mourning period after finishing a great book. Watching this thread for recommendations. I did like “I Found You” too.

moleeye · 09/01/2019 07:36

*re-read!

Atalune · 09/01/2019 07:39

A prayer for Owen Meany
The Goldfinch- Donna tratt
The poisonwood Bible- Barbara Kingslover

DropZoneOne · 09/01/2019 07:42

The keeper of lost things - i didn't want the book to end because it was so lovely

Skiphopnjump · 09/01/2019 07:44

The Seven Imperfect Rules of Elvira Carr is brilliant and very, very similar to Eleanor Oliphant :)

planespotting · 09/01/2019 08:16

The trouble with Ghosts and Sheep
GrinGrin
I meant Goats!!! 😂

NoonAim · 09/01/2019 08:20

Eleanor Oliphant was a glorious book, such a gem.

I also loved Hit and Run (the one written by Doug Johnstone and set in Edinburgh)

U2HasTheEdge · 09/01/2019 08:22

The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes. By the author of The Keeper of Lost Things.

I haven't finished it yet but I love it.

NC4this1 · 09/01/2019 08:25

The Cactus - very similar kind of book.

GrumpySausage · 09/01/2019 08:26

My copy got delivered yesterday and I've only managed 2 chapters so far flipping kids.

Looking forward to get stuck in to it.

Whisky2014 · 09/01/2019 08:27

Omg I thought it was utter crap! I can't believe anyone enjoyed it. I'm really shocked!

BriocheBriocheBrioche · 09/01/2019 08:27

Normal People by Sally Rooney is a fantastic book. Not a huge plot line but you become very invested in the characters. Would definitely recommend.

Iheartlondon · 09/01/2019 08:29

The Cactus definitely has an Elinor feel to it, I found it very difficult to put down.

ShatnersWig · 09/01/2019 08:30

Someone bought me that book. Biggest pile of shit ever, gave up a third of the way through.

My recommendation for a good book is therefore ANY BOOK except that. And possibly On Chesil Beach which was also a pile of shit.

Cyberworrier · 09/01/2019 08:38

Lols Shatners wig. I really enjoyed Elinor but can see why some don’t get the hype. It is a very sweet story and definitely tugged on my heart strings, very readable. But those are not qualities I usually look for in a book (apart from the readable bit)!
I preferred it to Chesil Beach and find it hard to compare the two as i think Ian McEwan is trying to be more ‘literary’ (but in Chesil Beach’s case that translated as not very engaging, possibly with some well written sentences).

I enjoyed The Gold Finch, that was one of the most readable books I’ve read... but I’d say a bit less of a comfort blanket of a book than Elinor.

UrsulaPandress · 09/01/2019 08:43

The unbearable sadness of lemon cake.

ShatnersWig · 09/01/2019 09:00

@Cyberworrier It's poorly written and totally and utterly unbelievable and I simply do not understand why it's been the big hit it has. I can often not particularly enjoy a book but understand why others do but this has me stumped.

She is a 30-year old woman who went to university but speaks like she's from the 1930s. She reads widely, listens to a lot of Radio 4, uses a computer at work but when her assistant asks if she wants a new laptop, desktop or tablet she has "absolutely no idea what she's talking about". She doesn't know how to order pizza and says she only eats bland food (mostly spaghetti hoops) buy buys wasabi nuts. Drinks. Despite reading widely, doing crosswords, she's never heard of The Grinch or Spongebob. I don't have kids but I've heard of them and I hardly ever listen to Radio 4 or do crosswords. She does cryptic crosswords, which takes intelligence, but then she comes across as being as thick as pig shit. There's loads more I could say.

She's completely inconsistent and unbelievable (as opposed to having a few quirks).

TheBhagwan · 09/01/2019 09:02

*@Atalune wrote:

A prayer for Owen Meany
The Goldfinch- Donna tratt
The poisonwood Bible- Barbara Kingslover*

Did I write this? These are three of my favorite books of all time. Although I thought Elinor Oliphant was good but forgettable so I may not be the right one to ask.