The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett

Content Warning: This section contains discussions of suicide and bullying.

“Eudora Honeysett is invisible, and she doesn’t care one jot. She has lived her life as best she can. She is ready for the next step, the final destination, or whatever half-baked euphemism people insist on using these days.”

This quote sets up Eudora’s frame of mind at the outset of the novel. She does not see value in continuing to live and has lost all the people around her who would care about her death. What will quickly become evident is that she is not in fact invisible. Rather, it is her choice to withdraw and refuse to connect with others that has caused this isolation that she feels.

“The waiting room seemed to hold its breath as they disappeared down a corridor.

‘Don’t want to end up like that poor old bugger, do you?’ said the woman, tapping Eudora’s arm. ‘Being poked and prodded when you’re on your way out. May as well take control of your destiny if you can.’”

This encounter is the catalyst for Eudora’s quest to end her life with assisted suicide. While she is discontented before this moment, her fall—and the sight of others in A&E—underscores Eudora’s fears about dying in the hospital as her mother did. This new idea that she could take control of the process feels empowering and exciting.

“‘So, will you look after Mummy and the baby for me? Please?’

She gazed up at him. She thought she saw a reflection of a tear but decided it was a trick of the light.

‘Of course, Daddy. I’ll look after them until you get home and then we can do it together.’

Her father nodded before hurrying them to their feet.

‘Good girl, Dora. I knew I could rely on you.’”

This pivotal moment creates the sense of duty that guides Eudora for the rest of her life. She promises to take care of Beatrice and Stella until her father comes home, not knowing at the time that he will never return. Eudora carries this burden late into her adult life until both Stella and Beatrice have passed away. Her father probably did not intend for her to take on such a huge burden—i.