The Fairfax Library Book
Discussion Group will meet Thursday, March 14th
at 7 p.m. in the meeting room of the Fairfax Library to discuss our March book,
Eleanor Oliphant isCompletely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
Here are some links for
additional background and information:
Coming up, we have the
following book to look forward to reading and discussing:
Thurs. Apr. 11th The
Leavers by Lisa Ko
Thurs. May 9th Days Without End
by Sebastian Barry
Thurs. June
13th Barracoon by
Zora Neale Hurston
Thanks for reading with
us. I look forward to seeing you at the Fairfax Library.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Knowing the truth about
Eleanor’s family, look back through the book to revisit her exchanges with her
mother. Did you see what was ahead? How did Honeyman lay the groundwork for the
final plot twist?
2. What are the different ways
that the novel’s title could be interpreted? What do you think happens to
Eleanor after the book ends?
3. Eleanor says, “These days,
loneliness is the new cancer—a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon
yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that
you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud
for fear that they might too be afflicted” (p. 227). Do you agree?
4. What does Raymond find
appealing about Eleanor? And why does Eleanor feel comfortable opening up to
Raymond?
5. Eleanor is one of the most
unusual protagonists in recent fiction, and some of her opinions and actions
are very funny. What were your favorite moments in the novel?
6. “Did men ever look in the
mirror, I wondered, and find themselves wanting in deeply fundamental ways?
When they opened a newspaper or watched a film, were they presented with
nothing but exceptionally handsome young men, and did this make them feel
intimidated, inferior, because they were not as young, not as handsome?” (p.
74). Eleanor’s question is rhetorical and slightly tongue-in-cheek, but worth
answering. What are your thoughts? If men don’t have this experience, why not?
If they do, why is it not more openly discussed?
7. Eleanor is frightened that
she may become like her mother. Is this a reasonable fear? What is the balance
of nature and nurture?
8. Is it possible to emerge
from a traumatic childhood unscathed?
9. Eleanor says, “If someone
asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that
you cried yourself to sleep last night because you hadn’t spoken to another
person for two consecutive days. FINE is what you say” (p. 226–227). Why is
this the case?
