Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Mental health is not something that many people feel comfortable talking about. It's taboo. Despite the fact that millions of people struggle with mental health issues on a daily basis, there has been a deep and often terrifying shame attached to this topic. Perhaps because mental illness has always been a bit misunderstood and misconstrued. Perhaps because people see it as a sign of weakness. Whatever the reason, people often feel that their struggles with mental health should be private.

Gail Honeyman's novel Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is an incredible look at the deep and devastating effects that trauma can have on the human psyche. She takes the bond between a mother and her children and turns them into a horrifying tale of abuse and repressed memory. Throughout the book the main character, Eleanor, struggles with everyday interactions with the people and the world around her. Through masterful storytelling, reminiscent of Hemingway, Honeyman presents the reader with the realities of Eleanor's past in small bursts. Just enough to give the reader an idea of why this oddball woman is the way she is.

But when her world comes crashing down on her head, it is Eleanor's journey back from rock bottom that truly showcases Honeyman's talent at illustrating the horrors that mental health can bring about. Eleanor's struggle to remember and come to terms with what happened to her and her family brilliantly capture the importance of competent mental health support and the healing powers of simple companionship. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is a beautiful look at the everyday realities of mental health issues and the ability of a person, who has endured the worst this life can throw at her, to simply survive.

Highly Recommended: 4.9 stars