Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

By: Gail Honeyman

Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron

Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

The Sunday Times bestseller

Soon to be a major motion picture produced by Reese Witherspoon

Eleanor Oliphant has learned how to survive – but not how to live

AudioFile Magazine Earphones Award Winner.

Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend.

Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything.

One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn how to navigate the world that everyone else seems to take for granted – while searching for the courage to face the dark corners she’s avoided all her life.

Change can be good. Change can be bad. But surely any change is better than… fine?

©2017 Gail Honeyman; Extract of The Lonely City (2016) by Olivia Laing reproduced by permission from Canongate Books Ltd. (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"A truly original literary creation: funny, touching and unpredictable. Her journey out of the shadows is expertly woven and absolutely gripping." (Jojo Moyes)

"Deft, compassionate and moving." (Paula McLain)

"I adored it. Skilled, perceptive, Eleanor's world will feel familiar to you from the very first page. An outstanding debut!" (Joanna Cannon)

I’ll miss Eleanor

This book is one of the books that you’ll carry with you for a long time. It’s funny, dark, sad and heartwarming. The characters are incredible and the voiceover is perfect. I’m now waiting not so patiently for Gail to write her next book!

Brilliant book brilliant narrator

Loved the book. With delicate writing, sensitive but not sentimental, the author draws the reader into the book and forces one to look at the world from the perspective of an emotionally scarred woman with neither social skills nor the ability to recognise kindness in others. Witty, hopeful, sad. A really worthwhile read.

Life is difficult

Fascinating story. Very well written and read. Good ending. A Little slow to start with.

excellent and refreshing

Funny , sad, touching, this book brings you through a journey of emotions. You can't help getting attached to the characters. Food for thought given the current pandemic and lockdowns on themes such as loneliness and the importance of human contact/friendship and perseverance.

Beautiful story

The story is marvelous and perfectly written, well balanced between irony and sorrow. Narrator is really good with all the voices, makes all the characters appear in front of you.

The narrator is the highlight of this

It's easy to listen to because the narrator did a fantastic job although the strong Scottish accent for one character gets difficult to understand for those who are not used to it, like me.

I was expecting to uncover a unique storyline as it goes on but disappointed that there's nothing extraordinary about it. We've definitely read lots of stories of people abused as a child and the mental and psychological struggle they face as adults. The "twist" in the end has been done many times as well.

Great effort for performance nevertheless.

Unexpected. Must read!

I was so surprised by this novel. You really see the main character blossoming. I loved every bit of it. Highly recommend.

Praises not exagerated

So much has been said about this book and it has been praised by so many. None of the praises have been exaggerated. The book exceeded all my expectations. It is both refreshingly light and at the same time deeply moving. The author’s timing of events and thoughts are absolutely perfect. She created beautiful characters that the reader falls in live with. The journey with Eleanor seems to be over too soon.
Also: The narrator was the best ever!! Beautiful voice and wonderful articulation.

Absolutely loved it

I was laughing out loud and the next minute I was stunned and crying . What a journey to be taken on!

Just beautiful

Beautifully written and read with huge integrity to the writing. One of the best Audio books I have ever listened to.