The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan

     Wow. Why I did not pick this up sooner is beyond me. Maybe it's because I had a little trouble finding it at my local Barnes and Noble (aka, it being missing from its designated spot on the proper bookshelf even though I knew it was in stock). I'm not salty at all ;) Alas, I finally found a copy in an unexpected place. 

     Keegan was a true talent; having written for the New York Times, The New Yorker, NPR, and Yale Daily News and landing herself a promising career at The New Yorker. She was pretty badass. Her idealism, sharp wit, and ruthless optimism served her (and the world) well in opening up an honest dialogue about fears and dreams for the future. She reveals the frailty of the human spirit and forever questioned everything and anything. Her collection of short fiction and essays captured beautifully the hopefulness and uncertainty that permeates our youth. Her words encouraged and challenged us to live more fully, and simply be aware and be more present, wherever we were in life.  Her essays and stories encapsulated (all in their own, different, and unique ways) people's own version of loneliness, but they always left you wondering with a subtle sense of hopefulness - despite however seemingly bleak the situation was. Her words have passion. More importantly, they evoke or unlock the many different parts of us. The skeptic. The romantic. Her work always gives us that "ah" moment, like she understands all the emotions we had been bottling up inside but were too afraid to confess to the world.

     She inspires camaraderie; to keep doing and keep living and keep loving as much as possible. And it is that sense of community that makes us feel like we aren't so alone in our many thoughts after all. We're in this together.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this review. Her words really hit me. She brought up things I've thought about before but had forgotten and tucked away in the deep chasm of my brain. I feel like there is a piece amidst this collection for everyone -- I certainly know that a select few of them have related to me on a very personal level. The many voices she created will speak volumes to a diverse audience. But I highly recommend. 12/10.

I hope you all have a lovely day. Until next time,

Sara