Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Available: Now

For the Summer of 2017, I’ve been trudging through the so called “It” books of the Summer and can’t even finish them. Then I stumbled across this little gem and my faith in books in restored. Eleanor is quirky (some may say she may be on the spectrum, emotionally damaged, a whack-a-doodle) but she grows on you throughout the course of the story. Towards the end of the tale you find yourself rooting for her – for life, work, love, acceptance, everything.

What I loved: Eleanor’s growth as a person was my favorite aspect of the book. As she entered the mainstream of life she finally got to learn all of the things we take for granted – social cues, what to wear, what to do for fun, basically anything and everything. The way she takes these things on – as a process, a challenge, a project is precious. Of course she stumbles but that makes the ending all that sweeter.

What I didn’t love: That “the system” could not give poor Eleanor anything that she needed above and beyond the three basics – food, shelter, and an education. So many of our children in foster programs are just shuffled from one place to the next without a connection to someone, anyone. Eleanor would be considered a success story as she no longer needed any government assistance because she was a functioning member of society but there was no thought when she was growing up on how to make her a human being.

What I learned: Bobbi Brown can teach you how to do a successful smokey

eye. I’m heading there today.

Overall Grade: A-