The Witches of Westminster are Completely Fine

Barbara and the Bookies

We weren't the witches of Eastwick. No, just the witches of AAUW book review as our little coven of literary ladies gathered the other night to discuss Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman. We munched on cheese and crackers, rather than frozen pizza or pasta with pesto and sipped wine, rather than vodka, Eleanor's favored food and drink choices. But because our hostess was Barbara, who always decorates for the season and dons costumes extraordinaire,  we borrowed her witch hats and cuddled spiders as we chatted about the cobwebs of Eleanor's mind.

No spoilers here. No big reveals. I'll simply say that since I read this novel a few months ago I've been haunted by Eleanor. She's soared right up there in my cast of unforgettable characters. She's  huddled next to Mr. Klepper of Peter S. Beagle's A Fine and Private Place, the second Mrs. de Winter of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and Jo of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. She might as well have stepped out of the pages of a 21st century novel imagined by Charles Dickens, so idiosyncratic is her behavior and her quirkiness.

Eleanor's not completely fine, not in many ways. As our group traded opinions the other night, I once again am so glad that discussing such book allows us to learn so much about each other, as well as the chance to learn about the author and the themes of the selected work.

Reese Witherspoon has optioned the film rights to this book. I'm already wondering who will be cast as the huge-hearted, if unhygienic Raymond. It may be hard to think of Reese as transforming into Eleanor, but I didn't believe Renee Zellweger could become Judy Garland. Until she did.

Eleanor's "lesson learned"?

The only way to survive is to open your heart.