Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Oh how this book touched me. I wasn't sure I'd like it. Although I kept seeing it online with such high recommendations. As it began I found myself resisting the main character. She was odd and not warm. She lacked self-awareness in ways she could help herself fit in at work and find own her path. As the story unfolded I found myself softening to Eleanor. Developing compassion for her perspective, her rigor and her patterns. She was surviving the best she knew how, and with the most confidence in herself possible. I find such affection for stories that put odd personalities in front of one another. To see how they connect and more importantly, learn from one another. This is exactly what happens.

When Eleanor encounters someone where she can focus her energy other than herself, she too begins to soften. She becomes part of something greater than her own deficiencies. Her past of pain and devastation is diminished by her present day opportunities. She begins to understand friendship, forgiveness and generosity. The lessons in this book are substantial.

For me it was reminiscent of a book I read in my teens, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger. The unsettling feeling of not fitting in was so present in both of them and transported me back in time. I still miss this character months later. And I'm so glad she had a place in my reading life this year!

Comments

The Last Romantics

⭐⭐⭐⭐ What a story ..and four star because five don't come that easily to me! Family drama, abandonment, love, loss and forgiveness fill this story that should not be remembered by the title. Which was only the name of a blog written by an anonymous author. This family grew apart and then in threads found a way back. But like any cloth that's been severed, it was never the same strength, feel or look than the original. Or was the original never that strong.

Hello, Sunshine

⭐⭐⭐ Audio book. I thoroughly enjoyed Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave. When I moved on the First Husband I thought, 'meh.' And when I read Hello, Sunshine I was glad I found it on audio as it made for an entertaining listen. Abeit light, it did entertain. Loved the picturesque setting in the Hamptons and the summer lifestyle with hints of New York City. Two books in a row for me where someone else's child had a profound impact on the protagonist. Story of love, forgiveness, regret, friendship and acceptance. light as air, bright as sunshine!

Migrations

Migrations was a beautiful song in the midst of chaos. The characters were relatable, flawed, adventurous and calm. The story centers around Franny Stone and her study of bird migration. Yet this story is so very much more. Her desire is to follow 'her birds' which lands her aboard a vessel in Antarctica. And the journey begins. Love, loss, forgiveness, strength, perseverance and nature play a part in this beautiful story! DESCRIPTION: Franny Stone has always been a wanderer. By following the ocean’s tides and the birds that soar above, she can forget the losses that have haunted her life. But when the wild she loves begins to disappear, Franny can no longer wander without a destination. She arrives in remote Greenland with one purpose: to find the world’s last flock of Arctic terns and follow them on their final migration. She convinces Ennis Malone, captain of the Saghani, to take her onboard, winning over his eccentric crew with promises that the birds she is tracking wi...

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