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lillycano's review against another edition
3.0
Recommendation from my running partner Ajay. Quick read and a few of the short stories will stick with me. Especially the submarine one ❤️
kikala's review against another edition
3.0
If the second half of the book hadn’t been included this would have been a runaway for me. Once you get into the later essays it just reads as school prompts that don’t have legs of their own.
dilchh's review against another edition
4.0
I remember seeing an article about Marina Keegan and feeling both jealousy and in awe for her; we were just a year apart (with me being a year older than her), yet she has achieved more than I had achieved in the years that I have lived. I was so jealous knowing that she went to Yale, and then graduated as a magna cum laude, but I am also in awe seeing her hard work in achieving those achievements. More than anything, I was sad knowing that she had left this earth at the tender age of just twenty-two.
I maybe bias when I first pick this book; I was already expecting something grand from Marina Keegan when I finished reading her most acclaim essay, The Opposite of Loneliness. But then I get to read her fictions which were splendid! I can’t help but feel envious of her. The more I read her fictions, the more I felt devoid of myself; it’s as if all her stories are all about losing someone or something, and I can’t help even more sad and empty knowing that Marina did leave this world and left a hole for those who knew her dearly. Maybe she wrote other fictions that were not as sad and dark as the one published in this book, nevertheless, reading her fictions made me glad that I chose to read this book.
It’s a little bit different though when I read her non-fiction; I’m going to be blunt here, I could never write as good as her, but her way of writing non-fiction was different (obviously), in the sense that her non-fictions sometimes was too detailed and boring. It’s like she’s trying to extend the pages and the words; but even so I still manage to liked it anyways, especially the last essay, Song for the Special.
I felt that reading this book as the first book in 2015, especially during my stay in a foreign land for my Master degree, was the right choice. Here I am living in a foreign land and dreading the days until I’m home, I felt alone at times and lost. As I flip the pages reading Marina Keegan’s work and thoughts, I felt embarrassed, envious, calm, and probably confident. I felt like things are going to go for the better, I don’t know why.
I would totally recommend this book to all my fellow friends, if not for the content of the book, at least for a little reminder that we can also make an impact in this world, little as it may; leave your footprint in this world.
I maybe bias when I first pick this book; I was already expecting something grand from Marina Keegan when I finished reading her most acclaim essay, The Opposite of Loneliness. But then I get to read her fictions which were splendid! I can’t help but feel envious of her. The more I read her fictions, the more I felt devoid of myself; it’s as if all her stories are all about losing someone or something, and I can’t help even more sad and empty knowing that Marina did leave this world and left a hole for those who knew her dearly. Maybe she wrote other fictions that were not as sad and dark as the one published in this book, nevertheless, reading her fictions made me glad that I chose to read this book.
It’s a little bit different though when I read her non-fiction; I’m going to be blunt here, I could never write as good as her, but her way of writing non-fiction was different (obviously), in the sense that her non-fictions sometimes was too detailed and boring. It’s like she’s trying to extend the pages and the words; but even so I still manage to liked it anyways, especially the last essay, Song for the Special.
I felt that reading this book as the first book in 2015, especially during my stay in a foreign land for my Master degree, was the right choice. Here I am living in a foreign land and dreading the days until I’m home, I felt alone at times and lost. As I flip the pages reading Marina Keegan’s work and thoughts, I felt embarrassed, envious, calm, and probably confident. I felt like things are going to go for the better, I don’t know why.
I would totally recommend this book to all my fellow friends, if not for the content of the book, at least for a little reminder that we can also make an impact in this world, little as it may; leave your footprint in this world.
alicebme's review against another edition
3.0
My BFF SAJ sent this to me to read. It was her vacation book this summer. I enjoyed it all, especially the range of stories in the collection.
lizziethereader's review against another edition
2.5
This is an interesting collection of fiction and nonfiction writing, but it was not as life changing or memorable as some reviews have led me to expect.
ruth24's review against another edition
3.0
I was drawn in by my curiosity about the title and by Marina's bright yellow coat on the cover. This little book of essays and stories renewed my interest in creative non-fiction and gave me hope that people are interested in the kind of everyday stories and relationships that Marina writes about, that strike a cord with me as well.
Other reviewers have complained that her stories sound like the writing of a 20-something. I agree but I don't think she claims to be anything else or seems embarrassed by that. That, to me, is almost what I liked best about it. She shows aspects of herself, not just in personal essays but in her non-fiction as well, which cannot be easy to do. She shows that everyday life occurrences are important and hold weight in our lives. I felt connected to her stories and essays and was comforted by the realization that I am not the only person who feels or thinks certain things. For those reasons, I think she achieved what she set out to.
Other reviewers have complained that her stories sound like the writing of a 20-something. I agree but I don't think she claims to be anything else or seems embarrassed by that. That, to me, is almost what I liked best about it. She shows aspects of herself, not just in personal essays but in her non-fiction as well, which cannot be easy to do. She shows that everyday life occurrences are important and hold weight in our lives. I felt connected to her stories and essays and was comforted by the realization that I am not the only person who feels or thinks certain things. For those reasons, I think she achieved what she set out to.
tiggerser's review against another edition
3.0
Such a young vibrant life cut short. So talented a writer and such an old soul. Although her non-fiction I found a bit bizarre, I'm glad I read it as it does encapsulate the selfish yet altruistic ambitions of a youth.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the fiction pieces. some of the essays I liked. nothing would be under 4 stars in this collection
laureltree13's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this book up after having heard so many people talk about how great an essay TOL was. People, including the great Oprah- I mean, when that girl talks I listen! So, I snatched it off the shelf, headed for the cash, and began reading it in the way home.
Now, the problem with hyped-up books is that we subconsciously set a bar so unattainably high that most reads don't meet these ridiculous expectations we've set. It's sad really, but it happens. (A lot more than I'd like)
I wanted to love this book, to have become enthralled and inspired by Marina like so many others had. She was seemingly wise beyond her years; her tragic death at twenty-two punctuating her mention of being so young and having a lifetime ahead of her. If anything, I should have found common ground being we're the same age.
Yes, it's a sad story- her biography showing how much promise she had, her spunk and optimism, But I wasn't INSPIRED or ENTHRALLED. If anything, what I got from this book was a reminder of how short life can be, an affirmation to live life to the fullest. Because we can never know what tomorrow will bring.
"We're so young. We're so YOUNG. We're twenty two years old. We have so much time."
A mere three pages made up her TOL essay, the other 204 were dedicated to her short-story fiction and non-fiction essays, which I forced myself to read for the sake of counting it in this year's Goodreads Reading Challenge.
She had definite potential as a writer- and undoubtedly a great future ahead of her being a Yale graduate with a job lined up for her at the New Yorker- but her stories seemed to reiterate the same things as the last, they lacked the fundamentals that made an okay story great. Again, she had potential.
But for me, it just wasn't enough.
You let me down, Oprah.
Now, the problem with hyped-up books is that we subconsciously set a bar so unattainably high that most reads don't meet these ridiculous expectations we've set. It's sad really, but it happens. (A lot more than I'd like)
I wanted to love this book, to have become enthralled and inspired by Marina like so many others had. She was seemingly wise beyond her years; her tragic death at twenty-two punctuating her mention of being so young and having a lifetime ahead of her. If anything, I should have found common ground being we're the same age.
Yes, it's a sad story- her biography showing how much promise she had, her spunk and optimism, But I wasn't INSPIRED or ENTHRALLED. If anything, what I got from this book was a reminder of how short life can be, an affirmation to live life to the fullest. Because we can never know what tomorrow will bring.
"We're so young. We're so YOUNG. We're twenty two years old. We have so much time."
A mere three pages made up her TOL essay, the other 204 were dedicated to her short-story fiction and non-fiction essays, which I forced myself to read for the sake of counting it in this year's Goodreads Reading Challenge.
She had definite potential as a writer- and undoubtedly a great future ahead of her being a Yale graduate with a job lined up for her at the New Yorker- but her stories seemed to reiterate the same things as the last, they lacked the fundamentals that made an okay story great. Again, she had potential.
But for me, it just wasn't enough.
You let me down, Oprah.