Literature In A Cup: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

By Carrie Pinkard

Welcome to month seven of Literature In A Cup! We are SO glad you’re reading with us. Here’s what we have brewing this month: 

On the bookshelf: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

On the kettle: Peace & Love Motherf**ker

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine review:

4/5 teacups

On the surface, you wouldn’t think the life of Eleanor Oliphant would be interesting enough to be the basis of a novel. She’s a 30 year old woman who works an office job, lives in a small apartment, and keeps to herself. But after spending a few chapters with Eleanor and seeing life through her lens, you start to root for her like an old friend.

Eleanor Oliphant’s life never veers from routine. She works a 9-5 and spends the weekends inside her apartment drinking vodka and sleeping. She has no family, no friends, and none of her coworkers want to talk to her. That is until her computer breaks, and the bumbling but kind IT repair guy, Raymond, comes to fix it for her. 

Raymond is the first person in many years who treats Eleanor like a normal human being. He is respectful, friendly, and starts to slowly bring Eleanor out of her shell. Their friendship finally gives her things to look forward to. She now has someone to each lunch with, someone to (reluctantly) attend parties with, and someone to make her feel like she belongs. 

Eleanor’s friendship with Raymond serves as a tonic to her very rough childhood, and being treated as a social outcast as an adult. Ramond isn’t phased by Eleanor’s eccentricities or her brutally honest way of seeing the world. He accepts her for who she is, and the friendship quite literally changes Eleanor’s life. 

This book makes you think abot the power of friendships. It makes you think how forming that bond with someone opens up a million doors you didn’t know existed. It reminds you that the simple kindness of making someone feel valued and respected can go a long way. 

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a humorous read willed with quirky characters and funny societal observations. It also delves into tough topics like loneliness, depression, and child-hood trauma. Eleanor’s life hasn’t been easy, and reading this book can be emotionally difficult. It’s a character study of a woman who’s deeply wounded by her past. But there are many hopeful moments as Eleanor learns to heal, live and thrive, alongside an unexpected friend. 

About the book and tea pairing:

“I felt a warmth inside, a cozy, glowy feeling like hot tea on a cold morning.” 

There is plenty of tea talk in this book, as it’s based in Ireland. Eleanor changes a lot but what doesn’t change is her love for a good cup of tea. We paired this book with Peace And Love, Motherf**ker because those are the things Eleanor really wants in life. She is constantly chasing inner peace and solace from her past. She also desires romantic and platonic love but isn’t quite sure how to to attain it. This soothing green tea blend will keep you calm as you experience all of Elanor's ups and downs.

Come hang out with Eleanor Oliphant as she goes on a quest to find Peace & Love Motherf**ker.