Elsewhere

Elsewhere is the debut novel by Gabrielle Zevin. It's about how, after people die, they go to a place called Elsewhere and become younger, before finally being sent back to earth to be re-born as somebody new.

I just finished it and I highly recommend it. It's short, but it's beautiful. It's one of those books that you really want to reach the end of, but you never want to finish because it's so amazing and powerful.

Has anybody else read it? I'm so glad I did, because it's an amazing book.

Comments & reviews · 4
Note: You are not logged in, but you can still leave a comment or review. Before it shows up, a moderator will need to approve your comment (this is only a safeguard against spambots). Leave your email if you would like to be notified when your message is approved.

User avatar
KailaMarie
Review

i thought it was interesting and unpredictable. i really liked the uniqueness of it, and the ending was sad to me. i almost cried.

i loved Owen, but for some reason i didn't connect them falling in love for a long time b/c i thot he was like a LOT older than she was, but then we found out they were pretty close in age, so it didn't seem pedophile-like to me anymore.

i would suggest people read it, but i wouldn't say it's the best book ever.

User avatar
Alainna
Review
Alainna wrote a review · Sun Jul 20, 2008 1:21 pm

Stella Thomas wrote:I read it last year. In a day. In France. In the searing heat, when i should have been at the beach.


Snap. I read it two years ago by the pool on holiday in about two days.

It was gripping and yes, good at the time. I liked the after-life idea but to be fair I wouldn't call it a 'great' read.

As for the reading age I reckon I'd say about 11 - 16 year olds but I wouldn't say that adults can not read it. :?

Alainna
xxx

User avatar
Lauren
Review
Lauren wrote a review · Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:11 pm

I read it a couple of years ago and I called it my favourite book for awhile. It was a good idea, even if the life-after-death thing has been done to, er, death.
Of late, have found it a bit YA, though, and have handed it down to my sister.
Chocoholic, what reading age would you give it? I find it hard to believe many adults would like it.

Stella, you're reading Villette? That's great! Nobody, on the face of the earth, seems to have read Villette. It's like her forgotten book. When you get to the end, help a simpleton out, would you? I didn't understand that ending one bit.
P.S. Have you read Shirley?

P.P.S To chocoholic - sorry to invade your Elsewhere thread with Bronte. :l

User avatar
StellaThomas
Review

I read it last year. In a day. In France. In the searing heat, when i should have been at the beach.

It was short, emotional, beautiful and wonderfully believable, even if it's about heaven. Liz's reactions to all around her were superb and Owen... it was terribly sad, I suppose but in the same way, beautifully sweet.

It made me want to read Tuck Everlasting. I read half of it in the school library, but then I couldn't find it again to get it out.

The ending was nice...

I loved it.

And now I want to read it again...

I can put Villette aside for a night, I think.



A true poet does not bother to be poetical. Nor does a nursery gardener scent his roses.
— Jean Cocteau