Books to Borrow Martinsburg Public Library Recommends

If you are a reader who enjoys unique, even quirky characters; think "A Man Called Ove"; you will enjoy the novel, "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine."

As you begin reading this novel, you will quickly pose the question, is Eleanor fine? Eleanor routinely tries to convince herself and the reader that she is fine, even though, she ends each work week with a frozen pizza, a bottle of Chianti, two bottles of vodka and drinks and sleeps the weekend away.

"Everything is fine," Eleanor tells her social worker. You soon discover that social workers have made bi-annual visits to Eleanor's apartment where she has lived alone since the age of 17. Eleanor also has a scar on her face that indicates that something bad happened to her when she was younger. This event has left Eleanor living as a recluse trying to get through the work week and looking forward to her weekends.

Circumstances and special people force Eleanor to make changes in her life. She embarks on a physical transformation based on a crush she develops and begins an emotional transformation with a co-worker who becomes her first meaningful relationship.

The tragedy that forms Eleanor's social awkwardness and mental health issues is not revealed until the end of the novel, but on that journey, the author uses suspense and humor to capture the reader's interest.

The is Gail Honeyman's debut novel. She has created a unique and thought-provoking character in Eleanor. You will consider how we all strive for meaningful, human connections. This would be a perfect read for a book club. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.