Elsewhere
Author, Alexis Schaitkin
Pub date: 6.28.22

I'm not sure I've read anything quite like this one before. It was so brilliantly and well- written that I was completely transfixed in the vivid descriptions, metaphors, and mystery that comprise this unique and stunning novel.

Bending the multiple genres of speculative fiction, dystopian fiction, and magical realism, Schaitkin writes of an idyllic and isolated community of people who survive above the clouds, tucked away from civilization. This community thrives on tradition and their strong connections but are cursed with a dark and mysterious affliction that, consequently, causes mothers to simply, disappear.

Vera was only a young girl with her mother vanished. The girls and women of the community always speculate about the other's vanishing and attempt to understand and possibly change their own fate when the time comes that they too, will become mothers...

The incredible joys and challenges of motherhood, the infinite love and immeasurable time spent mothering, and the self- doubt, worries, and loss of self that naturally comes along with it, was so beautiful and relatable. Elsewhere explores the impact we have on others and asks of the legacy that mothers' leave behind. Vera is faced with the question of what to do knowing there is a possibility that someday she may suddenly
vanish leaving her husband and daughter behind

There are no chapters, only parts to Elsewhere and each part reads somewhat as a different part of the story, but the connections and how things cycle back in the end was fascinating. As I am still piecing parts together and wishing I could discuss with someone, I believe that Elsewhere would make for an excellent buddy or book club read.

I feel like this review is a little mysterious and vague too, but sometimes when you read a book. the less you know, the better the reading experience.

Dark, moving, and incredibly thought- provoking, I definitely recommend you add Elsewhere to your summer tbr! I'll be adding Schaitkin's debut, Saint X to mine immediately!

4.5 stars!

SYNOPSIS:
...a spellbinding revelation and a rumination on the mysterious task of motherhood and all the ways in which a woman can lose herself to it; the self-monitoring and judgment, the doubts and unknowns, and the legacy she leaves behind.

MY THOUGHTS:
My book club was lucky to receive #gifted copies of this book and we had a fantastic discussion. I loved this little book. It’s short but packs a serious punch with beautiful, literary writing, and explores the important topic of motherhood. In a very unique way, this book examines mothering and being mothered, how mothers lose themselves in the act of mothering, how they literally and figuratively disappear. I highlighted and noted so many passages - the writing and sentiments expressed were words I wanted to sit with and ideas I knew I’d want to revisit. I was absolutely gutted by some of the passages, particularly, “How does a motherless mother mother?”

Elsewhere is a fable about an isolated small town where mothers sometimes spontaneously disappear. They're largely kept away from the outside world because of their secrets and traditions. The story is beautifully written and I loved the description of settings and people. However, I found it a little bit difficult to connect to the characters. I tend to find that to be true with the genre or fables and dystopian literature. The story is fascinating and keeps pace as we discover what is going on. The narration by Ell Potter was phenomenal. She has such a beautiful, emotive voice.

Thank you Celadon Books / Macmillan Audio for providing this ebook / audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Out June 28, 2022 [Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Vera has lived her entire life in a small town with a unique affliction—mothers spontaneously vanish without warning, and without a trace. But when she becomes a mother herself, she finally begins to question the affliction—and whether she will have to lose her daughter to save herself.

Frankly, this is a bit of a weird book. It’s beautifully written, but it also has incredibly long chapters and a plot where not a ton happens. I’m a big fan of what I consider “creeping dystopia” novels, where the horror of the world slowly builds until you realize its true colors, and although this has some of those vibes, I think I wanted a bit more of it. I also didn’t love the characters, which meant I didn’t really sympathize with anyone as much as I wanted to.

All of that said, there is a lot to redeem this book—it is short but packs an emotional punch, it is decidedly original, and it is definitely thought-provoking, especially for the current moment in time where questions about motherhood and our treatment of mothers are more relevant than ever. While it didn’t fully land with me, I definitely didn’t dislike it—so if the premise sounds interesting to you I’d recommend giving it a chance.

Recommended if you like: unique feminist dystopia; questions about motherhood; short and emotional reads.

CW: Sexual assault; loss of parent; loss of child.

Elsewhere by Alexis Schaitkin is a different book that I am definitely not used to reading. Told in the POV of the main character Vera, this is a very emotional and thought provoking book. It is intriguing but a strange story I am not used to. I really had to dig deep and just not “think” so much about it. Then it kicked in and instead of trying to figure it all out I just kept reading it with an open mind and it turned out much more appealing! A community where mothers disappear due to an affliction?!?! I found myself reading to find to find out why?!? If you like a speculative fiction type book, this one is for you. I think this would make a great book club read and discussion type book. I think it would help.

Thank you NetGalley, Celadon Books and Alexis Schaitkin for an advanced copy of this very interesting book in exchange for my honest review.
#netgalley #elswhere. #celadonpublishing. #alexisschaitkin. #arc. #celadonreader/influencer

"A mother was a chance to hate someone as much as you loved them, caring and wounding, a push and pull that only tightened the knot that bound you."

I drank this book in. I cried at the end, which is so rare for me but where this read brings you is like nothing I've read before. It comes out tomorrow (6/28) and I strongly urge you to pick it up. There is so much to take away from and think on, I can't wait for the discussions this book will bring.

This book says so much about motherhood, friendship, partnerships and the tragic notion that you can't have it all.
I don't want to say too much because this book just needs to be walked into blind, but as someone who isn't a mother, I still felt the deep implications motherhood brings to these women. The willingness to love, the judgment from other mothers and longing for life outside the confines of the barriers put before Vera, who is our perspective into this world, make for a compelling and sometimes shocking read.

I had no idea if this was horror, fantasy or plain fiction but I think depending on your life perspective, it could read in any of the above.
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon books for the digital galley.

How can you erase a mother a child's memory? Why is it so necessary to take away everything from a child that belongs to his or her mother and distribute those others to make a memory of mother such a public property? Why these mothers who left have no place back in their society or in their child's lives? Elsewhere feels like a retelling of Handmaid's Tale with a dash of "freedom"

Mothers leave. When the time comes, they disappear without saying a goodbye. You would be able to see the signs. If a mother a tired, or cannot deal with her child's behaviour; suddenly it's a sign. Because mothers cannot let go of their children, they cannot be tired of them, their whole purpose in life is taking care of them. In this tiny village, everyone stays where they are. They don't leave. Only women leave, not to come back. Sometimes foreigners come to visit; they create this hype. Villagers hope that they will stay (without realizing who they really are). None of them stay... Because they cannot...

This book was a really interesting page turner. Seeing a daughter experiencing a loss without really knowing what that is and falling into same trap when she grows up leaves quite an impression on you. I still don't know how easy to erase a memory of a mother , but I don't expect it to be as fast as it was in this village.

“When a mother went, we woke in the morning and sensed it. The clouds that took her touched us all, connected us all, an intimacy we had never not known. We felt her vanishing like a thread cut loose, presence turned to absence.”

Vera grows up in a small and isolated town, pressed upon against the mountains, cloud-covered and damp year round. This town is unique in that it faces a singular affliction: some mothers vanish, disappearing into the clouds. It is the exquisite pain and intrinsic beauty of their lives; it sets them apart from those that live Elsewhere and it gives their lives meaning. When motherhood comes for Vera, will she be able to stay and mother her beloved child, or will she, too, disappear into the clouds?

It has been a hot minute since I’ve read a good dystopian story. Elsewhere was compared to the stories of Margaret Atwood and that is a very fair and accurate comparison. If you just focus on the surface of this story it is an interesting take on an isolated society. But if you look a bit deeper, it it so much more than that. It explores all of the nuances of motherhood. It puts the spotlight on mothers and how they are critiqued for every decision they make. She’s not involved enough. She’s too involved. Her child misbehaves so it must mean that she’s not mothering right. As a mother myself, I feel like we are always under a microscope for our decision. It feels, at times, like people want to see you fail because maybe that failure makes them feel better about themselves and their decisions.

Vera is every woman. She is scared but strong and just trying to be the best she can be for her daughter. Is that enough? Are any of us ever enough? Motherhood is simultaneously the hardest and most rewarding job there is. Watching Vera as she tries and, inevitably, stumbles to find her way was a joy indeed. I have found myself thinking of this story long after I finished reading it.

The audio of this book was so well done! The narrator has the most beautiful accent which adds to the uniqueness of the story and gives it a bit of mystery. Her narration is easy to follow and she adds quite a bit of emotion and angst to poor Vera. I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, Celadon Books, and the author for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. Available tomorrow!

Elsewhere by Alexis Schaitkin is a compelling novel about Vera and the isolated community in which she lives. The community is thought to be ideal by those living there. The only problem is a mysterious affliction that randomly strikes mothers. The affliction causes the mother to simply disappear without a trace.
Alexis Schaitkin does a good job of exploring the dynamics of female friendships, mother/daughter relationships, as well as the need to belong in a community. Vera was a likable character and I enjoyed reading about her growth and shifting perspective on her community and experiences as the novel progressed.
Thank you to Celadon Books and Net Galley for the advanced e-book .
3.5 Stars

Many thanks to @celadonbooks for the advanced reading copy; review contains my own thoughts and opinions.

Elsewhere is a moving, thought-provoking tale of speculative fiction that follows Vera from childhood into adulthood. Vera lives in a village that is secluded from elsewhere. Their existence is far from idyllic - as some women become mothers, the affliction takes them and they simply disappear. I really enjoyed this well-woven tale; Schaitkin’s writing style is almost lyrical and this book was hard to put down.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This kind of reminded me of the HBO show The Leftovers, where the mothers disappear and you aren't sure why or where they go. There doesn't seem to be a formula for who is chosen or when, the only criteria is that you are a mother. Unlike The Leftovers, the leaving as we will call it happens regularly and only happens to women who are mothers. The town has accepted this phenomenon as part of their normal routine, and they know it does not happen "elsewhere". They have a ritual when a leaving occurs. They understand that their isolated town is different than elsewhere, and they are OK with that. They are fascinated by elsewhere but have no intentions of going there, their town is perfect the way it is.

This follows Vera from childhood through adulthood as she experiences her own mother disappearing and becoming a mother herself. She shows us the beauty of her town as well as the brutality that occurs when holding true to their traditions. This touches on so many great topics. At the center it is a book about identity, motherhood, and relationships. Through Vera's eyes we get to experience all of the facets of her person as well as how she views motherhood. This book will take you through all of your emotions and I found that it kept my attention as we walked alongside Vera for all of the major events in her life.

I don't gravitate toward speculative fiction or character driven stories, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was new and fresh but something I wholeheartedly can relate to as a mom. As mothers we often find ourselves losing our identities as we settle into our roles as wives and mothers as our families come first. The love we feel for our children is fierce, and we are constantly judged as we raise our children. No matter what you do it isn't enough or it is too much, and no matter what you do it is never the right choice. Schaitkin very much accurately captured what it is like to be a mother on any give day.

This was a wonderful deviation from the plot driven novels I typically enjoy. I loved the writing and the imagination put into the town. If you are a fan of Margaret Atwood I think you would enjoy this. It is emotional and thought provoking. I highly recommend it!

Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the ARC of this!

What an interesting look at motherhood and childhood! I can totally see the comparisons to Margaret Atwood and The Lottery, I was drawn right into to this almost sinister town with its disappearing mothers. The main character, whose POV we see the story from, talks about it as idyllic, but in such a way that I was low-key creeped out. The way that they treat an outsider, or stranger, the way they talk about elsewhere, the way they interact with each other, just had me unable to look away, they were compelling in their darkness. As a mother myself, the idea that I could just disappear with almost no warning from my child’s life and then just be erased, through giving up all my possessions and every image of me (more to self: be in more pictures even if it’s hard) and to know and fear that it could be coming for you was unsettling. I don’t want to say too much about her experience, to avoid spoilers, but to say, I was so mad at myself that I didn’t figure some things out sooner 😂🤐

"I began to know what women here had always known: We we're endangered, but we were dangerous, too; our peril was also our power."

In light of the Supreme Court's Handmaid's Tale decision to rule over women, the words in the beautiful lyrically written allegory Elsewhere by prophetic author Alexis Schaitkin are powerful reminders that we, women, must be our own force.

Told through Vera's eyes, this story of an isolated town surrounded by mountains, is about women often suffering an "affliction" when they become mothers; disappearing without a trace. The townsfolk will say she was a "bad" mother. She is judged as neglectful or over protective, too strict or not strict enough and undeserving of children. Her belongings will be burned and all traces of her float as ash above the mountains.

Vera finds a way out of the affliction but one that changes the course of her life and through her journey Elsewhere we learn truths about the town and the choices we all make; including not making a choice.

I read and listened to this important timely story about how as women we must only have the "right" emotions. We can't be sad, depressed or angry. We are no longer an individual feeling human. We are just a vessel.

The hypnotic performance of narrator Ell Potter kept me immersed in Vera's quest to escape disappearing and have her family. I cried when she felt her choices were taken from her, when she was alone, scared and often ridiculed by those who knew nothing of her life. Sound familiar?

Elsewhere is speculative fiction, magical realism, a modern day allegory. There's mystery, tension, sex, fear, and love. At times we long to be Elsewhere maybe Vera 's story will give us the courage to find our way.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Vera grew up in a remote town up high along the clouds. When she was young, her mother disappeared just as many women do in their society. Mothers have a mysterious affliction that make them disappear without warning. Following Vera as she grows through adolescence into adulthood, becoming a mother herself, and struggling with this affliction herself this novel questions the very nature of motherhood and how much a woman must give up of herself in order to be a mom.
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💭 Thoughts 💭
I’d categorize this one as magical realism, and while it definitely got me thinking I found it overall a little lackluster. The premise was cool, but the plot never really took off for me. There was a pretty good twist at the end that made the beginning of the story make a lot of sense.
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⌛️ Favorite Moment ⌛️
Vera feels her affliction coming, so she decided to leave their special town for Elsewhere. The descriptions of Elsewhere (basically like any modern city) were very interesting and it was compelling to see Vera make sense of her new world.

What an interesting read! I really enjoyed this one. At times the pacing was slow but it did not take anything away from the overall book! Vera’s story is sad and tense and lonely but someone she makes it. The tie in to her mother’s story was fantastic and really added to the ending of the book. Overall I really liked this book! Thank you Celadon for my ARC!

Both intriguing and frustrating. Told by Vera, it's the story of a town where women - mothers- will disappear, without rhyme or reason, into thin air at any time, leaving behind their families. Where do they go? It's the great mystery. Vera's mom goes when she is 16 and Vera is adrift until a stranger (a stranger !) arrives in this isolated town in in the mountains, bringing changes but then Vera, like her peers, also marries. And she becomes a mother. No spoilers as to what happens next but one of the challenges with this is that the time frame shifts and is unclear- there are references to years having passed. Can you go home again in a scenario where you've been wiped from the universe? Schaitkin poses some interesting questions about mothers and memories. The writing is lovely and it's easy to envision the town (not so much outside of the town). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A different sort of novel for fans of literary fiction.

Elsewhere conjures a community in which girls become wives, wives become mothers and some of them, quite simply, disappear...

How would I characterize this book? It's a mix between The Grace Year and The Blue Ticket by Sophie McIntosh with a sprinkle of Margaret Atwood. The premise of this book is WILD and this is exactly the type of theme that I love to get lost in thought to. This was immersive and well-written with an easy and hypnotic prose. The author did a great job of world-building in the first third of the novel. At only 240 pages, I read this through in one sitting

Our protagonist Vera is like every girl, making friends, working for her father, falling in love and starting a family, but what sets Vera apart is that she lives in an isolated town with a unique affliction: some mothers just vanish into thin air, disappearing into the clouds. It's all Vera and her friends have ever known, no one ever questions it, and it sets this small community apart from people 'elsewhere' and gives their lives meaning. When Vera sees the signs that she is next, she has two choices- she can disappear into thin air or she can just disappear...

This book forces you to examine if women like Vera are less of a dedicated, loving mother if they choose to go elsewhere to survive rather than stay with their children until the very last second they fade away. What are the limits of the sacrifice of motherhood? How does this translate into places outside of this community like 'elsewhere'? Is this just accepted, by men, women and children alike?

I love a critical eye and a dystopian take on what it means to be female, motherhood and the ways in which women lose themselves to it. The topic is so provocative and impactful, it's age old but yet it's current and it really makes you stop and think. I felt very similarly about this novel as I did the The Push- blown away by its quiet truthfulness. And oh my goodness those last chapters were a gut punch. A fantastic read, 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.

Slow-paced but haunting, this book had me experiencing a range of emotions. I was intrigued, confused, pensive, and sad. Definitely a powerful novel, a parable about motherhood that takes place in a strange town where mothers regularly disappear, taken by the affliction the town suffers. Who will be taken, how can mothers avoid it? Can they?
I saw this as an opportunity to examine how motherhood can seem to consume a woman as an individual, but I can’t tell if it’s critical of that or accepting. Perhaps both, or whatever the reader prefers to believe.
P.S. I have so many questions for the author—definitely there would be a lot for a book club to dig into.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This is a novel that makes you think, draws you in, and keeps you engaged the whole time. I do not want to give too much away, but I love Alexis Schaitkin's writing, and will always ready anything she creates.

4.5 stars.


Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this book!

Elsewhere tells the story of Vera, a young girl then woman living in an insular and isolated mountain village, a place both familiar and strange, idyllic and foreboding, where mothers suffer an "affliction" which causes some of them to disappear. No one knows exactly where or how they go, they just disappear seemingly into the misty clouds of their mountaintops leaving behind husbands and children and friends, never to be spoken of again. This unique affliction causes mothers of the village to be both revered and scrutinized for who will be the next mother to disappear?

Elsewhere is a meditation on both motherhood and childhood, two halves of a whole. This timeless speculative fiction is reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale not in content, but in that it offers a very narrow scope of view with sort of peripheral peeks at broader context. And similarly to Handmaid not all questions will be resolved, but Elsewhere does tie up enough loose ends to be a wholly satisfying read.

I dug the themes and world building and dreamy almost fairytale quality. A unique take on well trodden ground.