Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
So Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin is one of those books where perhaps not reviewing it in a timely manner ultimately creates the final judgment: it’s a pretty forgettable book. I hate to say that because I remember thinking that the book wasn’t that bad while I was reading it but when I picked it up again I almost convinced myself that I hadn’t read it before. I couldn’t remember a single thing about it. I had to go read some other reviews to refresh my memory and that’s not a good thing. It’s not the small details that I’m talking about but rather the basic premise.
Elsewhere is a story about the afterlife. Liz is almost sixteen when she’s hit by a car and killed. She awakens to find herself on a cruise ship, headed to Elsewhere. It’s there that she meets her grandmother and discovers that everybody ages backward until they are ready to be born again. How could I forget that? The premise certainly is unusual. I don’t remember ever wanting to put it down. It held my interest. I wouldn’t tell people not to read it because I think many teens will like it. But it’s not one that stuck with me for long. Oh, yeah. And there’s talking dogs. I don’t like talking dogs.
Links of interest: Gabrielle Zevin website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy
Publisher: Square Fish, May 15, 2007. (original publication: August 11, 2005)
Paperback, 304 pages. ISBN: 0312367465
Copy source: Library
Elsewhere is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.
Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!
Tags: book club, children's literature book club selection, E-H Title, fantasy, female author, Fiction, Publisher: Square Fish, science fiction, U-Z Author
 |
| or | 
|
Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.
Yeah, I read this book too, and I have to agree with you. It kind of a cool premise, but I didn’t really like the ending, and thought it could have been done a little better.
on December 11th, 2009 at 11:25 amIt does sound like an interesting premise, but too bad it’s so forgettable.
on December 11th, 2009 at 12:23 pmI like your honest review. I also like the snowflakes that are falling across my screen.
on December 11th, 2009 at 2:38 pmI do like talking dogs, but not forgettable books, so I think I’ll skip this one.
on December 11th, 2009 at 4:08 pmI don’t like talking dogs either. I’ll have to add this one to the maybe pile. Thanks for the honest review!
on December 11th, 2009 at 10:43 pmIt’s so funny that you mentioned your book not being memorable. I also had the same experience with the review I posted today!
Mine was part of a series though, which made it frustrating because I had a hard time remembering prior books so that I could keep reading and know what I was reading. Sigh. If only we could read, write, and review as fast as we would like.
on December 11th, 2009 at 10:57 pmHa. I tried reading Elsewhere awhile back, got about 75 pages into it and couldn’t carry on. Though, I did very much like Zevin’s other novel, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac.
on December 16th, 2009 at 8:17 am[...] Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin [...]
on December 30th, 2009 at 9:29 pmI have been eying this book, but your review certainly says something about it. I am not really a talking dog kind of person either as a general rule. I will not strive to get my hands on this book. Thanks for the straight review!
on January 5th, 2010 at 7:32 pm