Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How did the twist ending regarding Eleanor’s mother change your perception of the story? Did you find it a satisfying conclusion? Why or why not?
• Which relationship (whether romantic, familial, or platonic) did you feel most invested in? What made it compelling?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Consider Eleanor’s infatuation with Johnnie. Have you ever developed a celebrity crush like this? Why do certain people we don’t know draw us in so intensely?
• Eleanor develops several coping mechanisms to manage her loneliness. How do you deal with loneliness in your own life? What recommendations would you give to someone struggling with feelings of isolation?
• Have you ever undergone a personal transformation like Eleanor’s? What kind of relationship do you think exists between external and internal transformations?
• Throughout Eleanor and Raymond’s friendship, Eleanor questions and upends several social norms. Do you agree with her perception of social conduct? What are some social rituals that you feel are unnecessary, and what are some that you feel serve an important purpose?
• How did you feel about Eleanor’s attempt to die by suicide? Can you understand why her journey culminated in this choice? Did you think the topic was handled appropriately?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Though Eleanor is never depicted as receiving any particular diagnosis, mental health clearly plays a key role in her character arc. How does society treat people with mental illnesses or other disabilities? Has this changed since the novel was published?
• Consider the use of Twitter posts throughout the novel. What does the novel suggest about the way social media use influences our perception of the world around us? How do you see this playing out in the real world?
• Consider the setting of Eleanor’s workplace. How does workplace culture facilitate widespread loneliness? What other factors contribute to what has been described as an “epidemic” of loneliness in many contemporary societies?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• How does the slow reveal of Eleanor’s traumatic past support her character development?
• Eleanor’s unreliability as a narrator is highlighted through her infatuation with Johnnie. What other cues does Honeyman use to signal her unreliability?
• How do Eleanor’s conscious wants and unconscious needs inform the plot in different ways?
• Why is Raymond so determined to become friends with Eleanor? Discuss how their friendship fills his own unconscious need. 

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Choose a song that encompasses one of the novel’s key themes. Discuss whether it represents a pessimistic or a hopeful take on this theme.
• Write a story about the members of Pilgrim Pioneers, either before or during the events of the novel.
• Write an “Interactions With People” cheat sheet for Eleanor to refer to in times of uncertainty. 

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