Audiobook: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman

This was another book on the ‘recommended’ list on the Audiobooks app. I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Not being completely sold after listening to the sample, I noticed all the awards and recognitions and decided to download it anyway. I’ve become so fond of all the characters (except the mother). It’s one of those books that you want to finish, but also don’t want to finish. Cathleen McCarron, who read the book was great with her beautiful Scottish accents.

The premise is about Eleanor who is an accountant at a design firm, everything seems pretty normal; she has her routine and way of doing things. Very set in her ways and opinionated about how things should be, we start seeing that things may not be as ‘fine’ as it all first appears. We get to see glimpses into her past and the puzzle pieces slowly fall into place. It’s a marvellous book and highly recommendable. 

Audiobook: Educated, Tara Westover

I stumbled across the “Audiobooks” app when I was looking for the audiobook Sapiens. Even though I have a list as long as my arm of books that I want to read, I couldn’t make up my mind what to use my second ‘Audiobook’ credit on. 

When I saw ‘Educated’ by Tara Westover, I didn’t think too much of it. What I quite like about the app is that is allows you to listen between three and five minutes of a book and you can then decide whether you want to download and listen to the rest of it. Every time I opened the app, ‘Educated’ popped up. Reluctantly, I decided to listen to the first few minutes to get an understanding of what it’s about. It was intriguing!

It’s about Tara Westover who grows up in a Mormon culture. I didn’t (still don’t really), know too much about Mormonism. It was absolutely fascinating, and very soon I was hooked, and every opportunity I  got, I would listen a bit more.

Her father was against relying on the government in any way, so did not register his children when they were born. He only believed in home remedies; so no going to hospital if you’ve seriously injured yourself. And all the education you needed you got at home. The fact that Tara was able to move out and get educated, is incredible.

I didn’t take too many notes while listening, but I really like this:

 “You are not fool's gold, shining only under a particular light. Whomever you become, whatever you make yourself into, that is who you always were. Even gold appears dull in some lighting—but that is the illusion. ... It was not that I had done something wrong so much as that I existed in the wrong way.

Highly recommendable. 

BOOK: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Rachel Joyce

What a beautifully written book! 

Whenever I read, I generally capture phrases or sections that are written incredibly well that I like to refer back to at a later stage. 

In the event of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, I would have ended up copying the whole book as Rachel Joyce is an incredibly talented author. She manages to capture the most mundane things incredibly beautifully, e.g. 

Harold woke with an intense need to be back outside. Bright daylight frilled the curtains as if straining to get at him.

The book follows Harold Fry on his journey after he receives a letter from an old friend. Harold is pretty fed up with his relationship with his wife, and decides to write his friend a letter and goes to post it. When he gets to the postbox, he decides to rather go to the next post box to post it, then the next.

I was veeeery worried that this book would turn out to be another 'The Goldfinch' [by Donna Tartt]. Which, I initially absolutely loved. But the end was incredibly disappointing. It was such a let down after investing so much time in reading it. So, I was very wary about liking the story of Harold Fry too much. 

But, I am elated to say that it is highly recommendable!

Some wisdom from Harold Fry: ‘Nobody is so frightening once you stop and listen’.

Do yourself a favour and enjoy this beautifully written book.