*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Title: Loner
Author: Georgina Young
Publisher: Text Publishing
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
ISBN: 9781922330130
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Set in Melbourne, Loner is a humorous and heartfelt exploration of new adulthood. Lona kills her days by sneaking into the dark room at her old art school to develop photographs. She kills her nights DJ-ing the roller disco at Planet Skate. She is in inexplicably, debilitatingly love with a bespectacled Doctor Who-obsessed former classmate, and in comfortable, platonic love with her best friend Tab. Lona works hard to portray a permanent attitude of cynicism and ennui but will her carefully constructed persona be enough to protect her from the inevitable sorrows and unexpected joys of adult life? Loner re-examines notions of social isolation experienced by young people, suggesting sometimes our own company can be a choice and not a failing.
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Lona is alone by choice. She has one friend, Tab, who means the world to her, and her parents who are confused by her at best, but still maintain a relationship with her. She is a post-secondary school drop out who works at the local roller rink and takes photos on the side. Her story is one of existence and existentialism. Lona doesn’t want to fit the mold. She has no drive to connect with many others, but she is perfectly content in her way of life. She is driven to not find her drive. It’s an accurate portrayal of many young adults in today’s day and age who are really just trying to determine what the point of life truly is.
Lona is both instantly likeable in her honesty. She’s generally not an enjoyable person for new people to meet, but she intends it that way. She does not strive to connect with others in a false or untruthful sense. She never pretends to be anything other than herself, discarding social niceties in favour of her unedited, open, and honest self. Most people are turned off at her unflinching behaviour, but those who are in her life love her for it. Even if they can’t truly understand it. Lona forces those around her to confront the difference between being lonely and being alone. She is content in her self-isolation, happy to have shed any falsehoods in favour of finding her own truth. She is ok with stagnation, not seeing the point in pursuing something just for the sake of having something to do. She wants real inspiration and motivation.
I really enjoyed this book! I did struggle a bit with Lona’s lack of motivation, as we are two very different kinds of people, but I truly appreciated her for it. What I both didn’t connect with and really enjoyed are the same thing. I think there are many readers out there that will find a tangible connection with Lona as she simply exists in her world, unhindered and unafraid.
I’d love to know what others have thought of this book. Share your thoughts in the comments.
And happy reading!
Worn Pages and Ink 