The Opposite of Loneliness

"We don't have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did, I could say that's what I want in life."

Marina Keegan

Hey loves!

I recently read "The Opposite of Loneliness" by Marina Keegan and I wanted to share my thoughts on this wonderful book with you. Marina graduated from Yale University in 2012 and died a few days later in a car accident. Her family then decided to share some of her writing with the world in the form of a book which is how "The Opposite of Loneliness" came into being.

It is a collection of short essays and their topics vary. It starts with the last essay Keegan published - The Opposite of Loneliness. It was her way of saying goodbye to Yale and reading it gives you an idea of what it meant for her to leave the place she called home for the past four years. Throughout the book, you really feel like the characters are genuine and real because she tells her stories with such a love for details and does not shy away from pointing out her characters' flaws.

What I loved most about her book is that you can relate to all the characters. Some of them are in extraordinary situations such as being trapped in a submarine but Keegan still makes them accessible. Her writing is genuine in a way that is hard to describe but it makes her characters seem real. And the emotions they feel become real in the reader.

The book is perfect for anyone who does not have a lot of time for reading at the moment - the stories are not related to one another and you can read one at a time. I read some of them on my way to the NGO where I volunteer weekly and others before going to bed.

Whenever you finish one of the stories, it will leave you with a few things to reflect on it. Keegan raises questions about who we are, who we want to be, and why we are who we are in a very interesting way because you do not feel like she really asks the reader to think about it. But once you put the book down, your thoughts just start to wander. This book definitely has the potential to influence us and how we perceive ourselves and the environment and that is what makes it so special.

I would highly recommend putting this book on your reading list! If you want to get the book, you can find it here.

If you want to contact me, please message me. I am glad to say that I have heard from many of you and I love to read your messages.

Lots of Love,

Elena