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.