The End of Loneliness by Benedict Wells

Shattered by the untimely death of their parents, Jules and his siblings (Liz and Marty) struggled to grapple with bereavement, grief and estrangement at a tender age. While Liz desperately tried to squeeze out every shimmering drop of life and Marty found solace in a cynical worldview, Jules plunged himself into a world of daydream as his only coping mechanism. With poignant imagery and sonorous language, The End of Loneliness recounts an exquisite coming-of-age story wherein the struggles of maturity are depicted with utmost authenticity.

The End of Loneliness is one of the few books I can see myself reading over and over again, and every time my eyes roam over the pages, I will still stumble upon some details I have never noticed before. Because this book is full of philosophical ruminations, I think it needs to be savoured, not gulped down in one sitting. Throughout the story, the author discusses various important issues, including the role of memories, the complexities of grief, and the unpredictability of life. For me, it is astounding how Wells dissects such subjects without sounding too melodramatic or pretentious. Instead, this novel bears the kind of melancholy that seeps deep into the readers’ hearts and souls. Although I initially found Alva quite perplexing and confusing, I gradually forged a deep connection with the characters, especially Jules, as their story unfolded. Whenever I hold the book close to my heart, I cannot help but feel as if a fraction of their pain escaped the pages and permeated through my skin.

For me, reading is usually my escapism, but this book hits too close to home. It takes me down memory lane and makes me reflect on some moments in my life. In some ways, I think that The End of Loneliness is a memento mori as it constantly reminds me of the brevity and unpredictability of our earthly existence. At the end of the day, are we truly in control of our life? Or are we merely the pawns at fate’s mercy? If life is not a zero-sum game, does it mean that some of us are simply prone to suffer from mishaps?

"Life is not a zero-sum game. It owes us nothing, and things just happen the way they do. Sometimes they’re fair and everything makes sense; sometimes they’re so unfair and we question everything. I pulled the mask off the face of Fate, and all I found beneath it was chance." - Benedict Wells, The End of Loneliness