Amongst the books I select for my reading list from time to time, I try to leave space for one or two 'discoveries' which find their way to me, rather than me going looking for them.
So, the late Marina Keegan's youthful essays and stories, grouped together here under the lead-in piece called 'The Opposite of Loneliness' just happened to be sitting on a shelf in a charity bookshop in the south of England in mid-2023. I picked it up and saw that one of the comments on the cover was from JR Moehringer, who is - coincidentally - the author of a much more famous book on my reading list for later in the year.
On a near-impulse, then, I purchased the book and began to read it. The introduction, by Anne Fadiman, alone, sets the work in the context of the author's untimely death in a road traffic accident in 2012 and each of the pieces following showcases a young and talented writer with something to say and a distinctive way of saying it.
Some of the fictional pieces are more successful than others and you suspect that the writer's lived experience must have inspired the realism of 'Cold Pastoral' and 'Winter Break'. Her imagination reigns freer with 'Reading Aloud' and 'Hail, Full of Grace' and, a particular favourite of mine, 'Sclerotherapy'.
But one or two of Keegan's non-fiction essays are sublimely written and very affecting. 'Stability in Motion' is a beautiful piece about everything a car means to its first owner, 'Against The Grain' is nothing short of a love-song to a once-taken-for-granted (but not any more) mother and 'Song for the Special' is the author's calling-card to the world she leaves behind.
The essay which surprised me the most was 'Why We Care About Whales'. In a beautifully weighted piece of writing, Keegan contrasts the care and concern some people show for stranded whales with that shown to homeless people or others who fall off society's radar. She manages to do this without belittling the care needed by the whales, and freely given by those who attempt to rescue them. It's a simply delightful essay which changed my mind about the subjects covered.
So, this was largely a well-written collection of stories by a writer with a keen eye for observation and a keen ear for language. Mostly, it was very enjoyable and occasionally it was sublime.
It's a shame that we will never hear or read the voice of this author as they mature. Their youthful voice, however, is still powerful, tempered and effective. Recommended. ( )

A mere five days after graduating magna cum laude from Yale University Marina Keegan lost her life in an auto accident at the tender young age of 21. She had dreamed of being a writer so her family and friends took it upon themselves to gather up her small body of work and present it to the public in this book. And wow, was Marina talented ! The little book is a gem. Without a doubt, she would have gone on to accomplish great things. By all means, give it a read. ( )

Fiction: 3 stars; Nonfiction: 5 stars

The Opposite of Loneliness is a book that should not exist. The Opposite of Loneliness is the book that I’m glad I didn’t write. These two statements may sound contradictory and my logic and reasoning are complex and circular to say the least. But most importantly, damn can Marina Keegan write. Could. Marina Keegan could write.

Marina Keegan is the new enigma and “could have, would have, should have world of possibilities” now haunting my mind. Her fiction is the writing of a slightly angsty, yearning-to-be-edgy college student exploring the themes of young love, changing families and drug use. She explores complex themes and extended metaphors that a fellow millennial can relate to. Her work, though, sadly leaves so much room for more. There is always room for more to the story. Her work doesn’t end neatly and cleanly wrapped up with a bow on top but open-ended and messy. By all accounts, her life was stereotypical in many ways, her experiences perfectly relatable which leads her fiction into a trap. She doesn’t have the life experience to make it credible.

Following the dozen or so fiction stories come some hard hitting and brainy non-fiction works, including the one about the artichokes that set Wall Street and the world of post-graduate consulting firms and hedge funds on edge. But my favorite, is “Stability in Motion,” Marina Keegan’s ode to her car. There’s a special bond that a teenage girl forges with her car and everything Marina said rang true of my experience as well. I think it’s funny that of all the pieces included, it was that one that stood out to me most. Marina’s writing is sarcastic and sharp, a literature or English professor’s dream. Unfortunately she’ll never have the chance to grow, to evolve. She will always be a good college writer but held to the standards of what she could have been. The Opposite of Loneliness is worth a read for millennials, but I fear others just might not “get it.” ( )

I don't even know how to begin to describe it. The Intro and Acknowledgements alone were so heartfelt. I read them both twice so I could fully absorb Marina Keegan's actual writings with the knowledge of what kind of person she was and that they were the only words of hers I'd ever get to read.
I've just tried about 5 different ways to try and describe her actual stories and essays but I can't get the wording right. If I were you, I'd read one of her stories every other night if you have the chance so you're able to savour the awesomeness instead of devouring it whole. ( )

Stunning book of fiction and non-fiction from a talented writer who died too soon. ( )