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A review by foolishpsychopomp
The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone by Olivia Laing
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I think if you aren't interested in any kind of art history or any of the artists she features in this book then it's probably best to give this book a pass.
I am, however, a person who enjoys those things as well as reflecting on the concept of loneliness, especially when you are in a situation where you are surrounded by other people, so overall I liked what this book set out to do. Olivia Laing touches on various different ways loneliness can manifest and how it isolates people but because it is so wide spread it sometimes feels like only an introduction that doesn't get fully explored. So I feel like how much you may get out of parts of this book may vary depending on what previously interacted with on the subject of loneliness. Like the chapter that spoke about the internet and social media didn't really do much for me as I have heard a lot on that particular subject and it feels as though this book only ever scratches the surface of that conversation because it is also talking about so many other things. That being said even if that is the case with some parts of the book there is still a lot there that was new and engaging for me.
Outside of understanding more about people I may only really know about in passing, I did like the focus of different artists throughout the book because it does create this connecting thread on how loneliness isn't as isolating as it makes you think it is. Though I do wish the book would provide photos of at least some of the works Laing talks about in this book. Especially since it focuses so heavily on visual art sometimes the explanations of what something looks like just isn't as effective as actually seeing the work itself. And it's not as if the book is all text because there's a photo at the end of each chapter, just not one that she ever talks about in the text.
My one major disappointment with this book is that I feel like I don't really have an understanding of Laing's thoughts and opinions on loneliness. Yes she talks about her experience living alone in New York but they are really only anecdotal and I wanted to hear her own musings rather then just reciting research. That's not to say it isn't there at all, just that it feels like it makes up such a small percentage of the book. Also because the book is largely the reciting of research I found that it sometimes lead chapters or parts of chapters to drag on. So the book, while having good intentions, occasionally gets a bit lost in the weeds.
I am, however, a person who enjoys those things as well as reflecting on the concept of loneliness, especially when you are in a situation where you are surrounded by other people, so overall I liked what this book set out to do. Olivia Laing touches on various different ways loneliness can manifest and how it isolates people but because it is so wide spread it sometimes feels like only an introduction that doesn't get fully explored. So I feel like how much you may get out of parts of this book may vary depending on what previously interacted with on the subject of loneliness. Like the chapter that spoke about the internet and social media didn't really do much for me as I have heard a lot on that particular subject and it feels as though this book only ever scratches the surface of that conversation because it is also talking about so many other things. That being said even if that is the case with some parts of the book there is still a lot there that was new and engaging for me.
Outside of understanding more about people I may only really know about in passing, I did like the focus of different artists throughout the book because it does create this connecting thread on how loneliness isn't as isolating as it makes you think it is. Though I do wish the book would provide photos of at least some of the works Laing talks about in this book. Especially since it focuses so heavily on visual art sometimes the explanations of what something looks like just isn't as effective as actually seeing the work itself. And it's not as if the book is all text because there's a photo at the end of each chapter, just not one that she ever talks about in the text.
My one major disappointment with this book is that I feel like I don't really have an understanding of Laing's thoughts and opinions on loneliness. Yes she talks about her experience living alone in New York but they are really only anecdotal and I wanted to hear her own musings rather then just reciting research. That's not to say it isn't there at all, just that it feels like it makes up such a small percentage of the book. Also because the book is largely the reciting of research I found that it sometimes lead chapters or parts of chapters to drag on. So the book, while having good intentions, occasionally gets a bit lost in the weeds.