Turmoiler Book of the Month: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

I’m fine. You’re fine. We’re all fine.

But, are we? What does that word even mean? And do I want to be just fine? We ask people how they are doing without the expectation that they actually might tell us truthfully. If you say anything other than, “I’m good,” or “doing fine,” you’ll probably wedge some palpable discomfort into your conversation. The question is asked out of social rules and habits, not out of actual curiosity. But where does that leave many of us? I’ll tell you. Using the comfort of “fine” to hide our problems behind. And even if we believe we are “fine,” we just might not be.

Eleanor Oliphant explores the very nature of the word and the reality that might exist behind it.

If you’re in your twenties, then you get it. You’ve got the baggage of the past, combined with the stress of your present and the unknown of your future all sprawled out heavily on your shoulders. Eleanor can go a stretch of days without uttering a word. Friday afternoon hits and she heads back to her apartment where she drinks some wine and eats some comfort food, until suddenly, it’s Monday morning and she hasn’t spoken to a single human in over 48 hours.

She rarely cries and never outwardly complains. On the outside, she’s…well, fine. But on the inside, she’s numbing the pain of her childhood, the fear of disappointing her mother and the loneliness that overtakes her on the weekends. This book really struck a chord with me. I learned we need to check in on our friends, even the friends who seem fine. Because, sometimes, it’s those exact friends who need help the most.

Throughout the novel, Eleanor is faced with the challenge of digging deep within herself to discover why she is unhappy.

A lot of us avoid this. Being self-aware can be extremely anxiety-producing. It’s much easier to numb the pain of our emotions and settle for feeling fine, rather than dig deep and face demons of our past. Thankfully, this novel explores what can happen if you leave your emotions unchecked, and the power of a single friend who notices that maybe you’re not as fine as you claim to be.

If you’re looking to escape your own lonely turmoil and trade it in for Eleanor’s, this book is for you. It’s not just a fine book. It’s incredible. It’s raw. It’s riveting.