Reading like it's my job #14: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine; The Chain; Foundation
I took a little break to travel but now I'm back and super excited to share my thoughts on what I've been reading recently. Over the last month I finished a few books - one was about loneliness and mental illness and hope, another was about a child kidnapping crime ring, and finally a classic work of sci-fi. There's something for everyone this week, so read on!
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
I thought this was a book geared towards women. It is written by a woman and the central character is a woman and Reese Witherspoon (a woman) recommended it for her book club. Lady book clubs all over the country were reading it and raving about it. Why should I read a book when I'm not the target audience? Why should other men? Because it's a good book, that's why. Men and women can learn a lot from Eleanor's story. It woke me up to the people around me who may be silently suffering from loneliness, depression, or other emotional trauma.
I had a bit of a slow start. The first couple chapters didn't sell me and I started questioning my choice to read it. Eleanor is an odd duck and her social awkwardness is painful. She works an administrative job with uninspiring coworkers, spends lots of time alone drinking vodka, and her mom is excessively cruel. I didn't really like Eleanor...until I did. And then I started to really like her. I'm not even sure when it happened, but soon I didn't mind spending time with her inner monologue and going through those awkward social interactions with her. I started seeing her for the witty, intelligent, at times clueless, person that she is. She made me laugh.
There not much of a plot...until there is. The action subtly sneaks up on you, teases past events, and develops slowly but confidently. Kudos to Ms. Honeyman: Many events that appear superfluous and disconnected from each other end up crafting a complete and coherent narrative that is heartbreaking and hopeful. The pieces of Eleanor's life come together by the end and I wanted it to keep going. Since it doesn't keep going and there is no sequel, I just started over at the beginning.
Give this a read. It built empathy and opened my eyes to the list of things that could cause life-altering trauma in one's life, a list which seems to have endless possibilities. By the end I was loving Eleanor, loving Raymond (one of her only friends) and glad I gave it a chance. There's so much more to say about this book so if you end up reading it, or have read it, hit me up so we can chat!
Other reads
The Chain by Adrian McKinty - This is a crime thriller that you will either love or hate. I fell mostly in the middle because the premise is downright disturbing and a bit far-fetched. I'm going to spoil plot points because it is hard to talk about this book without revealing a few things. If you don't want spoilers for The Chain, skip this section!
Kylie, a 14 year old girl, is kidnapped right from the get-go. Her mother, Sarah, gets a series of phone calls and instructions detailing how to get her daughter back. Part of the process is she must pay a ransom (no surprises there), then kidnap another child and instruct the parents of that child to do exactly the same thing. Kylie wasn't the first to be kidnapped and she won't be the last. Thus "the chain" will go on and on. Fear, threats, and violence keep the chain going.
Not my favorite book I've read this year (can I just go back to reading about Paul the apostle?). Even though I'm a parent, the "how-far-one-would-go-to-get-a-child-back-from-a-kidnapper-and-realizes-the-violence-and-horror-one-is-capable-of" stories just aren't for me. It does have the redeeming quality of containing a not-so-subtle warning about the dangers of social media and the foolishness of being constantly connected and posting our daily activities and whereabouts. Sarah uses social media stalking to dastardly ends and makes it seem easy. I came away from this wanting to beef up my internet privacy.
Foundation by Isaac Asimov - This book was not what I was expecting from Book 1 of a famous sci-fi trilogy by one of The Big 3 sci-fi writers. Once I adjusted to the structure, which involves major time jumps, I settled in for the political maneuvers and intense conversations that make the book so enjoyable. I'm in no rush to begin Book 2 and may just re-read this now that I have a better feel for it. It seems simple enough yet there's probably subtext and social commentary that I'm missing. No, not probably, there definitely is.
I'm currently reading A Game of Thrones...because I love doing things waaaay after everyone else does them. Even though I watched the show and know everything that happens, it has drawn me in and I love it. I'm also reading Utopia for Realists and On the Road, so expect to hear about those next week!
Thanks for allowing me room in your hearts and inbox!
Kyle