Liverpool Law Sep 2017 copy

Review
Book Review: ‘100 Days of
Solitude’ by Daphne Kapsali
by Thomas Sutherland, Canter Levin & Berg
Like most of us, I often wonder what it
would be like to be less busy. A life where
you could wake up and not be able to
name at least 10 things that need doing
that day, whether at home or work. For
the majority of readers, that feeling only
truly comes when on holiday (and maybe
Christmas – albeit I know a lot of people
who are busier during the Christmas
period than at work!)
The fascinating thing about this book, and
why I think it would be fitting to be read by
lawyers, is that it contains the tale of
someone who actively chased solitude. I.e.
no phones ringing, no commuting, no place
to be. Not only that but, to make sure she
kept to her vow, she stayed in a small house
up a mountain in a small, relatively
uninhabited Greek island.
And so started her 100 days of solitude. To
be clear, she didn’t actively set out to avoid
people. Rather, she interacts with the
various individuals on the island (mainly
her distant neighbours, the post office staff
and, increasingly throughout her 100 days,
the island’s cats).
Whilst the premise of the book may sound
extreme, the author is extremely honest about
the path to her decision, her varied emotions
during each day and the various stages of fear,
self-doubt and, ultimately, contentment (albeit
with a nagging sense that she needed more
companionship).
For me, the moral of the book is to make
more time to pause and reflect on life – i.e.
focusing on the memories you’re making and
embracing good times rather than simply
rushing through life and being distracted by
the bad points.
Whilst it was fascinating to read the author’s
account, I could certainly not manage 100
days of solitude; in fact, I think I’d struggle
with 100 hours of solitude! In the end, the
book made me appreciate the fact that life is
varied and that’s for the better.
Well recommended – 4 stars (out of 5)
Tom Sutherland, Employment Solicitor,
Canter Levin & Berg
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