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bdog967's review against another edition
Cute! Just wanted a longer form read for this summer
heftsi's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure if this book is worth finishing. In the introduction Marina's former professor mentions that none of these stories were completed, and Marina would've wanted to revise them to (her) perfection.
The more I read this book the more I became annoyed at her family and anyone else involved in pushing for the publication of Marina's unfinished work.
This writing is filled with sentences overstuffed with descriptions so tedious that one may even forget the writer's original line of thought. After skipping 'The Emerald City' I gave up at about page 119, and even then I flipped ahead and attempted to read more stories, to no avail. As someone who long ago resolved not to finish books I don't like, I had to stop.
Hers is a tragic story however I think her family should have left it at that and not published their daughter's unfinished work. Instead of this book, Marina's commencement speech, "The Opposite of Loneliness", may have served her memory much better as her final work, at least in the public eye.
The more I read this book the more I became annoyed at her family and anyone else involved in pushing for the publication of Marina's unfinished work.
This writing is filled with sentences overstuffed with descriptions so tedious that one may even forget the writer's original line of thought. After skipping 'The Emerald City' I gave up at about page 119, and even then I flipped ahead and attempted to read more stories, to no avail. As someone who long ago resolved not to finish books I don't like, I had to stop.
Hers is a tragic story however I think her family should have left it at that and not published their daughter's unfinished work. Instead of this book, Marina's commencement speech, "The Opposite of Loneliness", may have served her memory much better as her final work, at least in the public eye.
goodyeargoodbooks's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded to 4.
I am glad I read this book. It inspired, it saddened, it made me realise that we should make the most of our opportunities while we still can. It also left a bit of a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth. Does this book demonstrate a talented young writer’s view on the world? Yes. Does it live up to the praise that graces its cover? Arguably no.
Full review at https://emdoesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/the-opposite-of-loneliness-essays-and-stories-by-marina-keegan/
I am glad I read this book. It inspired, it saddened, it made me realise that we should make the most of our opportunities while we still can. It also left a bit of a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth. Does this book demonstrate a talented young writer’s view on the world? Yes. Does it live up to the praise that graces its cover? Arguably no.
Full review at https://emdoesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/the-opposite-of-loneliness-essays-and-stories-by-marina-keegan/
supernumeraryemily's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
I almost didn't finish, but I picked up the book again months later and sped through the last few essays. What strikes me most about her nonfiction is the ability to hold both nuanced critique and deep optimism at the same time. The most memorable of her fiction pieces to me was "Cold Pastoral."
hannahsmorgan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
anaffpereira's review against another edition
3.0
The Opposite of Loneliness is a collection of (mostly) interesting stories. Some I found memorable, others not so much, a couple of them I just didn't understand.
Although the fiction works seem very real, the writing felt somewhat forced, as if the author was trying too hard to be deeply profound, to wrap everything up nicely. Nevertheless, stories like "Cold Pastoral" (which was particularly boring) left me rather confused, since there seemed to be no concrete ending or resolution.
Her non-fiction work, on the other hand, is much more fluid, with relevant topics. Keegan was smart and driven; I think she somehow would accomplish her dream of being a writer, had her life not been cut short. On that note, it was too sad to read her concerns about running out of time… Life sure is cruel.
This being said, The Opposite of Loneliness didn't impacted me as I expected. Its popularity is absolutely due to the author's unfortunate and sad death; so there isn't much objectivity surrounding this book, much of its value is purely sentimental. People are fascinated by tragedy and how unfair life is; therefore, they are fascinated by this book.
Although the fiction works seem very real, the writing felt somewhat forced, as if the author was trying too hard to be deeply profound, to wrap everything up nicely. Nevertheless, stories like "Cold Pastoral" (which was particularly boring) left me rather confused, since there seemed to be no concrete ending or resolution.
Her non-fiction work, on the other hand, is much more fluid, with relevant topics. Keegan was smart and driven; I think she somehow would accomplish her dream of being a writer, had her life not been cut short. On that note, it was too sad to read her concerns about running out of time… Life sure is cruel.
This being said, The Opposite of Loneliness didn't impacted me as I expected. Its popularity is absolutely due to the author's unfortunate and sad death; so there isn't much objectivity surrounding this book, much of its value is purely sentimental. People are fascinated by tragedy and how unfair life is; therefore, they are fascinated by this book.