Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

12 reviews

rosalind's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was a re-read of a book that left a huge impression on me when I read it for the first time as a pre-teen. Every bit as moving the second time around at 31. I do think the writing quality massively improves about halfway through, but that’s neither here nor there (it’s, if you will, Elsewhere, chortle chortle chortle). Zevin’s gift is in painting the profound specifics in broad brushstrokes. I’m really glad I revisited this sweet gem of a book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Car accident

Moderate: Animal death and Abandonment

Minor: Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

fluffy1st's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Grief

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

wmwmw's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of my favourite books! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Car accident

Minor: Animal death

rachelshubin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Second reading: as a 30 year old with way more experience with grief than I was when I initially read Elsewhere, this book hits even harder now. The thought of not knowing what happens after we die has troubled me far less than the fear of dying itself. The book’s concept of “Elsewhere” and aging backwards is such a fascinating exploration of death and grief. It feels like a juvenile 15-almost-16-year-old at first and extremely profound and tender 20-something by the end. Oh how I sobbed! This book is one that everyone should read. As the blurb on the front of it says: “every so often a book comes along with a premise so fresh and arresting, it seems to exist in a category all its own.”

First read in 2006/2007 and gave it five stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Car accident

moond4ncer's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Grief, and Car accident

ceredonia's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

rebecca_w28's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book was a pretty quick and easy read but it had an amazing storyline nonetheless. I really like how all the characters came together and how their stories blended so nicely. I liked following Liz’s journey both physically and emotionally. It was also a pretty unique concept that I hadn’t seen before which was pretty cool.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Grief, and Car accident

moranguinhos's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Grief, and Car accident

boop123's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Car accident

Moderate: Cancer and Drug abuse

Minor: Miscarriage

redefiningrachel's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Car accident

Moderate: Gun violence and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction and Infidelity