The opposite of loneliness

OVERVIEW:

An affecting and hope-filled posthumous collection of essays and stories from the talented young Yale graduate whose title essay captured the world's attention in 2012 and turned her into an icon for her generation.

Marina Keegan's star was on the rise when she graduated magna cum laude from Yale in May 2012. She had a play that was to be produced at the New York International Fringe Festival and a job waiting for her at the New Yorker. Tragically, five days after graduation, Marina died in a car crash.

As her family, friends, and classmates, deep in grief, joined to create a memorial service for Marina, her unforgettable last essay for the Yale Daily News, "The Opposite of Loneliness" went viral, receiving more than 1.4 million hits. She had struck a chord.

Even though she was just twenty-two when she died, Marina left behind a rich, expansive trove of prose that, like her title essay, captures the hope, uncertainty, and possibility of her generation. The Opposite of Lonelinessis an assemblage of Marina's essays and stories that, like The Last Lecture, articulates the universal struggle that all of us face as we figure out what we aspire to be and how we can harness our talents to make an impact on the world. 

REVIEW:

I really think that it’s such a tragedy to lose someone so young and talented so soon. Marina Keegan the author, no doubt had a bright future waiting for her. She has a job waiting for her at the New Yorker and she graduated magna cum laude from Yale. Oh well right… That’s life!

In the book, there are short stories about heart break, dying, parents, childhood, long distance relationships and friendship. I don’t really like reading short stories, but her short stories made me want to read them. They are full of raw emotions and I can relate to some of the stories and essays. 

I always envy people who can write stories, and Marina Keegan was a brilliant writer. Some of the stories were just ok, but there are stories that made me think about my life and decisions.. Have you ever read “chicken soup for the soul?” well in that book there are true to life stories and most of them are sad stories. I think this book is similar to the book chicken soup for the soul.

RATING:

4.5