Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I have always loved books with their different styles and cover designs but recently I feel as though I have a new-found love and appreciation for them. This cover design by Holly Macdonald is simply stunning. It just is. The intricate pattern contrasting against a deep dark background is beautifully crafted and further enhanced by the copper details catching the light. You cannot help but be drawn to it on the shelf and ultimately that is the most successful type of design.

'Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work

every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same

two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend.

Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life.

Except, sometimes, everything...'

Gail Honeyman created the central character of Eleanor who feels instantly real and leading such a simple and sometimes very relatable life. However, Eleanor is incredibly lonely. There are a number of books about dementia, memory loss and other mental health issues and yet this novel is one of the first I have read where profound loneliness is so evident. There are many reasons for Eleanor’s isolation. These are gradually unpicked as the novel unfolds; as well as the mystery of whether there is actually something wrong with her, or whether it is just that without social interaction, our ability to understand what is appropriate behaviour in the world simply withers away.

This debut novel, published by Harper Collins, was discovered through a writing competition by an author in her 40s. It has sold for huge sums worldwide and was crowned both 'Book of the Year' and 'Fiction: Debut book of the Year'. The novel manifests the overwhelming emotion of kindness and the narrative is full of quiet warmth and deep and unspoken sadness. Eleanor's life is quite the emotional rollercoaster but it's real. Everyone has good days and bad days, everyone has ups and downs and the book’s wonderful and joyful final message is simple; it is never too late, for any of us.