Entering a synopsis of this novel for a writing competition, Gail Honeyman, a lady in her forties, was ‘discovered’. So, ladies, it’s never too late for fame. Why did the bare bones of this novel attract publishers’ interest? One reason, perhaps, is that it considers loneliness, a real problem in British society. Age, family break-up, mental health issues, etc. have all contributed to an increasingly large percentage of us living alone and without regular meaningful social contact. I don’t expect this novel to be wonderfully cheerful. Nevertheless, it is said to be very funny.Did it make you laugh?
We could consider the validity of the novel’s depiction of loneliness, whether we liked Eleanor, whether other people’s responses to her are realistic, and perhaps whether we have come across very lonely people. Hope this is not going to be too depressing, ladies.
Hi Ladies,
ReplyDeleteI hope this post finds you and your families well and enjoying life. All is well here and we finally had some good rain this week to help alleviate the terrible drought that has been devastating our farming communities in NSW. Not enough so I have been reading but at least the livestock has water for another month.
Ivars and I are off to Brisbane tomorrow to visit Sam, he is leaving his old share house uni days behind him and moving into an apartment with his girlfriend. He tells me it’s time to do some proper adulting haha.
I very much enjoyed our novel this month and while it didn’t inspire any belly laughs I have to say there were quite a few smirks at Eleanors observations of people and society. Her inability to recognise social cues and dry comments about some of our bizarre expectations of manners in public was a brilliant foil for some of the very serious issues covered in this novel.
I really liked Eleanor as a character I felt a lot of sympathy for her and admired her strength to survive through some terrible ordeals. I imagine though if she were actually my friend I’d find her quite aggravating at times, but still be friends nevertheless.
I have known and know some lonely people and at times in my life felt lonely and isolated as well I think this is were I could really identify with some of of Eleanor’s experiences.
I didn’t realise that Eleanor’s mother voice was all in her mind, that took me by surprise and I cheered when I realised the effort it took for her to say goodbye to this domineering controlling force and to move forward.
The support characters I thought were beautifully portrayed and amazingly supportive. Perhaps a little unrealistic in this day and age but lovely and added a much needed lift to the sadness of Eleanor’s story.
I think Ms Honeyman captured a real sense of what it is to be lonely and isolated and how disconnected we become from the world around us. There are so many reasons people become isolated and not all of them are as traumatic as Eleanor’s but the experience of loneliness seems to be similar.
Thank you Sue, I really enjoyed our story and look forward to more from Ms Honeyman.
love to all
Hello to you both! Summer is almost over here and school starts next week. I’m getting so teary thinking about Benjamin starting school in a few short days. Nancy, I’m glad you’re getting to visit Sam. I am not ready for when my babies move out (a very long time away but never far from my thoughts). Sue, I hope your recent guests enjoyed their stay.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I found this month’s novel to be excellent. I will definitely recommend it to others. I think the way Ms. Honeyman teases you with a little of Eleanor’s dark secret, a little at a time, keeps the reader glued to the book. I, myself, finished it about three days. Eleanor just kept dropping these curious little clips and phrases that made you wonder. At one point I even suspected Eleanor of having set the fire! Ms. Honeyman made it incredibly hard to guess much in our story.
Nancy, I am with you about Eleanor’s mother. I had absolutely no idea that she was in Eleanor’s head until the very end! I was completely shocked! Another part of the story I couldn’t possibly have guessed. This story was definitely not a belly laugh (as you say Nancy) type book but Ms. Honeyman was masterful at keeping such tragic content light. Eleanor reminded me of a darker version of Don Tillman from “The Rosie Project” or a darker Sheldon Cooper from “Big Bang Theory”. Tragic life for our heroine but not told in a manner that would bring the reader down.
I think my only (mild) disappointment with the book was the ending for Eleanor and Raymond. Regardless of personal habits, Raymond was a very kind character. I think that Eleanor deserved a little happiness after so many hardships. I understand that Eleanor had to first work on her emotional, mental and personal history before she could enter into a deep relationship with another but that doesn’t mean a little part of me didn’t want to see those two together. A rather superficial thought but that’s ok.
Definitely an excellent book, Sue! I really enjoyed it!
Love to you both,
Katie
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteReading about your lives, I do wonder where you ladies find the time to read. Hope you are enjoying Brisbane, Nancy, and that Sam’s happy with the new apartment. I’m very impressed with his sense of responsibility. Seems incredible that Benjamin is starting school, Katie. I really admire the way you adjust to all these changes in routine. I’m pleased to say that we are almost back in our groove. The last set of summer visitors has gone and Jay has returned from a week in Amsterdam with his nephew. We spent today, a gloriously sunny late summer day, at Hull’s Freedom Festival. Wonderful atmosphere and fantastic performers. Yesterday was the fourth birthday of the Mum and Dad’s residential home. As part of the celebrations they had a singer and a garden party with a few stalls. Gorgeous weather again. I ran the bookstall with my Mum beside me. She recalled from somewhere the words of some of the singer’s well-chosen songs. Brilliant.
So glad you both enjoyed the book. I did too,
Unquestionably, it was depressing in places. Colleagues’ unkindness, Eleanor’s own unkindness to others, her profound loneliness: “It’s always nice to hear my first name spoken aloud by a human voice . . . “, the length of a weekend, even one supported with vodka. And her mother . . . the worst of that character was one could believe in her. Or perhaps I’ve been reading too many sensational newspaper articles.
Raymond’s grounded humanity was wonderfully conveyed, and through him the upside of family life. Eleanor was intentionally and unintentionally very, very funny. Society’s inability to help her was awful, and horribly understandable. The state can only provide opportunities to make meaningful relationships. Then it’s up to the people concerned to make it work. Just not enough humanity to go round sometimes is there?
I’ve lived in a number of flats in various places, twice living across from proud, independent old ladies who had few visitors, whose family turned up only when the ladies were in the last stages of illness. Retirement can be a horribly isolating experience. So can being a teenager, as being a secondary school teacher vividly demonstrated. We won’t go down that route . . .
But you get the feeling that Eleanor is going to be O.K. Not sure I really believed in the counselor, but then I’m lucky enough never to have been counseled. I believe in Raymond’s friendship, though, so I’m betting on a happy ending.
I keep meaning to thank you, Nancy, for the amazing backdrops (is that the right word?) to our reviews. Loved this month’s colours.
Take care, ladies
Much love to you and your families
Sue