bookgurl666's review
5.0
this is my favorite book ever. third time around. every time is moving and fresh.
shaneace's review against another edition
5.0
These essays and short stories will stay with you long after you put the book down.
ffilippa's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating: 3.75/5 stars
This is my first nonfiction book EVER and that's a pretty big deal to me. I really did enjoyed The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan. Some stories were better than others, of course -- that's how it is.
I had two favorite-favorites in this book. There was one about a submarine (it was very touching and different) and one was written in e-mails only (a soldier e-mailing his... girlfriend?). I wanted much more of those two in particular, and they are the ones I remember the most. And also, I enjoyed her fiction part, the beginning of the book, more than the non-fiction part. But every story was truly great.
I really liked Marina Keegan's emotional and powerful writing. It was beautiful, but I need to add that it was quite complex at times (I'm not a native English speaker so it's maybe harder for me to understand..?) but I still really enjoyed her way of writing and explaining situations and events. The writing was very real.
This was the perfect non-fiction book for me (as a beginner in the genre) to read. Really, it was the perfect choice. This book has opened up my eyes for non-fiction, especially essays and short stories since that's what this book contained. It was a great book!
I highly recommend this book for everyone to read.
This is my first nonfiction book EVER and that's a pretty big deal to me. I really did enjoyed The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan. Some stories were better than others, of course -- that's how it is.
I had two favorite-favorites in this book. There was one about a submarine (it was very touching and different) and one was written in e-mails only (a soldier e-mailing his... girlfriend?). I wanted much more of those two in particular, and they are the ones I remember the most. And also, I enjoyed her fiction part, the beginning of the book, more than the non-fiction part. But every story was truly great.
I really liked Marina Keegan's emotional and powerful writing. It was beautiful, but I need to add that it was quite complex at times (I'm not a native English speaker so it's maybe harder for me to understand..?) but I still really enjoyed her way of writing and explaining situations and events. The writing was very real.
This was the perfect non-fiction book for me (as a beginner in the genre) to read. Really, it was the perfect choice. This book has opened up my eyes for non-fiction, especially essays and short stories since that's what this book contained. It was a great book!
I highly recommend this book for everyone to read.
mariahhanley's review
5.0
Both the fiction and nonfiction in this anthology was very, very good. The world should mourn the loss of Marina- she seems as if she was a kind, intelligent, amazing young woman and writer.
salshrem_nardea's review
4.0
This book is divided into two parts- fiction and nonfiction. I only read one of the fictional stories but decided to go ahead and only read the nonfiction essays in the book. I liked those much better. Marina really was a talented writer and her work really reflects that. It's eerie to read about both her optimism and fear for the future being that she died a few days after her college graduation. The first essay, "The Opposite of Loneliness" was my favorite along with the one about her car and the one about 25% of Yale graduates going into Consulting and finance. I really liked it, and maybe i'll go back and read the fiction essays, but for now I'm happy with just reading the nonfiction.
elliemcc11's review
Hmmm, I wanted to like this book and had been looking forward to reading it but after two stories I wasn't enamoured. There was a lot of hype surrounding this book given the author's death at such a young age, and it won a Goodreads award (which I voted for at some point thinking the book sounded interesting) hence the reason I was eager to read it. To be honest, I think if I'd been 20 or so years younger, about to start university, this book would have appealed more. My tastes have probably changed and now I found the story I read, dare I say it, a little whiny.
I may return to read other stories in the book, and I thank the publisher for an advanced reading copy.
I may return to read other stories in the book, and I thank the publisher for an advanced reading copy.
jinwooooo's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
3.5
I thought I'd try a different book genre and this one was recommended at that time. Isn't my cup of tea, but was OK.
mskanyegenya's review
3.0
It's often hard for me to review books by deceased authors, moreso if they died so young like Ms Keegan.
As I read the stories and essays I kept thinking, "Damn! Can't believe she's dead. So much brilliance and promise lost so soon to death." But it is well. Marina wrote with her life. Her reflections will outlive her.
As I read the stories and essays I kept thinking, "Damn! Can't believe she's dead. So much brilliance and promise lost so soon to death." But it is well. Marina wrote with her life. Her reflections will outlive her.