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The Other Life
If you could return to the road not taken, would you?
Happily married and pregnant, Quinn Braverman has an ominous secret. Every time she makes a major life decision, she knows an alternate reality exists in which she made the opposite choice-not only that, she knows how to cross over. But even in her darkest moments-like her mother's suicide-Quinn hasn't been tempted to slip through...until she receives devastating news about the baby she's carrying.
The grief lures her to peek across the portal, and before she knows it she's in the midst of the other life: the life in which she married another man, and is childless. The life in which her mother is still very much alive.
Quinn is forced to make a heartbreaking choice. Will she stay with the family she loves and her severely disabled child? Or will an easier life-and the primal need to be with her mother-win out?
Happily married and pregnant, Quinn Braverman has an ominous secret. Every time she makes a major life decision, she knows an alternate reality exists in which she made the opposite choice-not only that, she knows how to cross over. But even in her darkest moments-like her mother's suicide-Quinn hasn't been tempted to slip through...until she receives devastating news about the baby she's carrying.
The grief lures her to peek across the portal, and before she knows it she's in the midst of the other life: the life in which she married another man, and is childless. The life in which her mother is still very much alive.
Quinn is forced to make a heartbreaking choice. Will she stay with the family she loves and her severely disabled child? Or will an easier life-and the primal need to be with her mother-win out?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 17, 2011
59 people are currently reading
2432 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Meister
17 books542 followersThank you for visiting my Goodreads page. I'm proud to announce that my newest novel, JOYRIDE, was selected by Zibby Owens as one of the most anticipated books of 2025. DIVORCE TOWERS, which was featured in People Magazine, won an award for Best Escapist Novel, and was selected for Zibby's Ultimate Summer Reading List as well as Newsday's Summer Reads. My other books include TAKE MY HUSBAND which received a starred review from Booklist, THE ROOFTOP PARTY, which was called "wickedly entertaining" by BookReporter and was selected by Long Island Woman Magazine as Summer Pick of the year, as well as LOVE SOLD SEPARATELY, DOROTHY PARKER DRANK HERE, FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER, THE OTHER LIFE, THE SMART ONE, and SECRET CONFESSIONS OF THE APPLEWOOD PTA. In addition to being a novelist, I'm an editor, screenwriter, book coach, creative writing instructor, and ghostwriter. For more information visit ellenmeister.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
May 13, 2017
THE OTHER LIFE, by Ellen Meister is totally mesmerizing and spellbinding; an exploration of a young woman, a mother--of parallel universes, a crossroad, a pivotal choice, and a glimpse of the other life, what could have been?
Ellen creates a magical and an emotional thought-provoking story of Quinn, a happily married woman –a wife and mother of a six-year-old son, who is pregnant and has received some heartbreaking news about the unborn child she is carrying. She is now forced to make a very difficult choice, as is her husband. She misses her mother, Nan, an artist who committed suicide after years of depression.
THE OTHER LIFE is about returning to the road not taken and exploring the life unlived. Have you ever longed to see what happened on the other road?
Quinn needs and desires answers and is pulled to the basement of her house to the hidden door drawing her metaphorically to the other side, crossing over with a glimpse into the unknown. There are cracks in her life and foundation. Unresolved feelings with her mother's death. Will she remain on the other side?
In the other life her mother would still be alive, and she would be childless and married to a different man. Will she allow herself to be pulled toward this strong force; her mother, or stay and fight for the family she now has and the baby with an unknown future? Is she up for the battle? Has she really understood her mother's suicide, her motives, and what about the meaning of the paintings? A powerful bond of mother/daughter relationship.
Audiobook Recommendation Let me say, this is one book which I would recommend the audiobook. As an audible member, I listen to tons of audiobooks, and the narrator will make or break a book.
In this case, Meister’s clever and magical prose transports you to another level– Captivating with vivid descriptions, and the voice transcends you to an almost "dream state of mind". It was amazing how relaxed I became, hanging on to every word. I continued to rewind as so engrossing. Hillary Huber delivers an outstanding performance for a winning combination.
After listening/reading, a book, I will often rate the book, and prior to the writing of my review may reflect a few days before returning; sometimes weeks, and often forget to return:). In the meantime, I am intrigued and want to learn the inspiration behind a book, and begin researching the web for fascinating tidbits.
I would strongly encourage readers to visit Ellen’s website as she does a really good job of summarizing her books, her inspiration behind the book, and this one includes an in-depth interview with the author, trailer, Q & A, discussion questions, and reviews.
THE OTHER LIFE would make an ideal book, for book clubs and group discussions while exploring the different personalities and characters in the book. A nice celebration of life—the past and present, its messiness, overcoming grief, and the deep boundless love available when we embrace and bond together, versus taking the easy way out.
On a side note: As all my reading friends are aware, I tend to read new and advanced reading copies, as part of my blog. When doing so, I am introduced to a world of newfound authors, as I enjoy a variety of different genres.
Ellen Meister is one of those rare jewels. You fall in love with the book, the author, and her style. She writes across many genres and can be funny as heck, astute, clever, and profound and serious the next, making you want to read more of her books. Not only is she a talented author, she is such fun to communicate and connect with on Goodreads, Twitter, and other social media sites.
Working my way backwards, starting from latest and upcoming Dorothy Parker Drank Here (Dorothy Parker #2), coming Feb 24, 2015, highly recommend Read My Review and you have to read the prequel, Farewell, Dorothy Parker (Dorothy Parker #1) loving the new glamorous savvy front cover, and now we come to the book at hand, THE OTHER LIFE—A magical and enchanting contemporary novel for women of all ages. Looking forward to reading more.
Especially women-- as we move through life, we long sometimes for an escape (what is my exit strategy), whether it be through reading, writing, art, meditation, or other forms. This strong need could be brought upon by stress, grief, a difficult decision, or as we approach a certain age or milestone.
As we become older, everyone reflects back upon a crossroad in our lives, whether work or business and second guessing, which ultimately will change the course of our lives. As our beauty and youth diminish, at age 30, 40, 50, 60+, we wake up and think, "how in the heck did I wind up here?" What if?
A nice weekend escape . . .Loved the West Palm Beach, FL connection as I reside here in Urban Downtown trendy WPB in a former artist studio- historic 1920's cottage bungalow.
JDC MustReadBooks
Ellen creates a magical and an emotional thought-provoking story of Quinn, a happily married woman –a wife and mother of a six-year-old son, who is pregnant and has received some heartbreaking news about the unborn child she is carrying. She is now forced to make a very difficult choice, as is her husband. She misses her mother, Nan, an artist who committed suicide after years of depression.
THE OTHER LIFE is about returning to the road not taken and exploring the life unlived. Have you ever longed to see what happened on the other road?
Quinn needs and desires answers and is pulled to the basement of her house to the hidden door drawing her metaphorically to the other side, crossing over with a glimpse into the unknown. There are cracks in her life and foundation. Unresolved feelings with her mother's death. Will she remain on the other side?
In the other life her mother would still be alive, and she would be childless and married to a different man. Will she allow herself to be pulled toward this strong force; her mother, or stay and fight for the family she now has and the baby with an unknown future? Is she up for the battle? Has she really understood her mother's suicide, her motives, and what about the meaning of the paintings? A powerful bond of mother/daughter relationship.
Audiobook Recommendation Let me say, this is one book which I would recommend the audiobook. As an audible member, I listen to tons of audiobooks, and the narrator will make or break a book.
In this case, Meister’s clever and magical prose transports you to another level– Captivating with vivid descriptions, and the voice transcends you to an almost "dream state of mind". It was amazing how relaxed I became, hanging on to every word. I continued to rewind as so engrossing. Hillary Huber delivers an outstanding performance for a winning combination.
After listening/reading, a book, I will often rate the book, and prior to the writing of my review may reflect a few days before returning; sometimes weeks, and often forget to return:). In the meantime, I am intrigued and want to learn the inspiration behind a book, and begin researching the web for fascinating tidbits.
I would strongly encourage readers to visit Ellen’s website as she does a really good job of summarizing her books, her inspiration behind the book, and this one includes an in-depth interview with the author, trailer, Q & A, discussion questions, and reviews.
THE OTHER LIFE would make an ideal book, for book clubs and group discussions while exploring the different personalities and characters in the book. A nice celebration of life—the past and present, its messiness, overcoming grief, and the deep boundless love available when we embrace and bond together, versus taking the easy way out.
On a side note: As all my reading friends are aware, I tend to read new and advanced reading copies, as part of my blog. When doing so, I am introduced to a world of newfound authors, as I enjoy a variety of different genres.
Ellen Meister is one of those rare jewels. You fall in love with the book, the author, and her style. She writes across many genres and can be funny as heck, astute, clever, and profound and serious the next, making you want to read more of her books. Not only is she a talented author, she is such fun to communicate and connect with on Goodreads, Twitter, and other social media sites.
Working my way backwards, starting from latest and upcoming Dorothy Parker Drank Here (Dorothy Parker #2), coming Feb 24, 2015, highly recommend Read My Review and you have to read the prequel, Farewell, Dorothy Parker (Dorothy Parker #1) loving the new glamorous savvy front cover, and now we come to the book at hand, THE OTHER LIFE—A magical and enchanting contemporary novel for women of all ages. Looking forward to reading more.
Especially women-- as we move through life, we long sometimes for an escape (what is my exit strategy), whether it be through reading, writing, art, meditation, or other forms. This strong need could be brought upon by stress, grief, a difficult decision, or as we approach a certain age or milestone.
As we become older, everyone reflects back upon a crossroad in our lives, whether work or business and second guessing, which ultimately will change the course of our lives. As our beauty and youth diminish, at age 30, 40, 50, 60+, we wake up and think, "how in the heck did I wind up here?" What if?
A nice weekend escape . . .Loved the West Palm Beach, FL connection as I reside here in Urban Downtown trendy WPB in a former artist studio- historic 1920's cottage bungalow.
JDC MustReadBooks
August 31, 2016
Bleh. Skip this one. A hot jumbled mess of every “controversial” social topic you could imagine, thrown together to make a very weak story line. Let’s see: we’ve got mental illness (check!), homosexuality (check!), suicide (check!), abortion (check!), internet sex (check!), hmm, what else? Probably some more that I am missing. OH, and did I mention: ridiculous “portals” through which the main character can travel to experience what her life would have been had she not married her husband? Yeah, it’s another one of those “sliding doors”/”what would my life be like IF. . .” types of books. This would have been fine with me if it had been better written and not the hot mess of topics listed above (like she just tossed them all into a grocery cart, willy nilly). Plus, the lady’s writing style wasn’t very strong and had weaknesses like this:
"Once a professional thief in Manhattan had clipped an expensive gold bracelet off her writs, though she didn’t realize it until later.”
Really? If you didn’t realize it until later, then how do you know a) who did it or b) whether he/she was a professional or not? This makes no sense. I was kind of surprised these types of things were not cleaned up in editing. Oh well! :) Don’t waste your time on this one! :)
"Once a professional thief in Manhattan had clipped an expensive gold bracelet off her writs, though she didn’t realize it until later.”
Really? If you didn’t realize it until later, then how do you know a) who did it or b) whether he/she was a professional or not? This makes no sense. I was kind of surprised these types of things were not cleaned up in editing. Oh well! :) Don’t waste your time on this one! :)
December 9, 2010
Before I had a child, I often wondered what it would be like to have one and wondered how my life would change if I did. I wanted a magic vision--some way to see what it would be like. But there is no such view into the alternate worlds we imagine for ourselves; experience is the only answer.
At its core this book explores the question of the road not taken. If we are honest we can all admit that there comes in a time in our lives when we wonder what would have happened if we had chosen another path. Most often, we push the thought away, satisfied as we are with our partners and families if we have them or happy not to have them. Whatever the case may be.
But what if you could experience that other life?
During an extremely volatile and emotionally devastating time of her life, Quinn is able to make the leap to her other life. She is able to experience all of the emotion of an alternate life, while retaining the knowledge of her current existence.
It is almost what one might believe of heaven--an other life which allows you your experiences from your true life. And in that other life, you might encounter those who had passed before you, living as they once did.
The problem for Quinn is not in experiencing this alternate reality, and not in choosing which place is the best for her--instead the problem is about what she is willing to sacrifice and for whom. In the end, her decision is based not on holding onto the past, but in believing in the future.
This book will break your heart and piece it back together. Not only is it beautifully written, it's also a great read. Without hesitation, I say, buy this book for someone you love and I promise you they will thank you for it.
At its core this book explores the question of the road not taken. If we are honest we can all admit that there comes in a time in our lives when we wonder what would have happened if we had chosen another path. Most often, we push the thought away, satisfied as we are with our partners and families if we have them or happy not to have them. Whatever the case may be.
But what if you could experience that other life?
During an extremely volatile and emotionally devastating time of her life, Quinn is able to make the leap to her other life. She is able to experience all of the emotion of an alternate life, while retaining the knowledge of her current existence.
It is almost what one might believe of heaven--an other life which allows you your experiences from your true life. And in that other life, you might encounter those who had passed before you, living as they once did.
The problem for Quinn is not in experiencing this alternate reality, and not in choosing which place is the best for her--instead the problem is about what she is willing to sacrifice and for whom. In the end, her decision is based not on holding onto the past, but in believing in the future.
This book will break your heart and piece it back together. Not only is it beautifully written, it's also a great read. Without hesitation, I say, buy this book for someone you love and I promise you they will thank you for it.
April 12, 2011
I stepped outside my usual genres to read this contemporary novel with a paranormal twist. I'm glad I did! Quinn's circumstance is fascinating. Her major life choices lead to split realities, and she is able to visit a world in which she has made an alternate decision, experiencing the consequences.
While I was engaged by the plot, what truly captured me were the small incidents in this book that define the bittersweetness of motherhood. For example, I loved the simple passage that describes Quinn encouraging Isaac's independence by letting him rinse his own hair in the bath and surreptitiousness wiping away the suds that he missed afterwards.
I can think of two audiences that will love this novel: mothers and the children of parents with mental illnesses. Quinn's struggle to understand and forgive her bipolar mother is one that many readers will be able to relate to. The Other Life is not filled with easy answers. Instead, it is poignant portrayal of surviving unfairness and learning to treasure our imperfect lives.
While I was engaged by the plot, what truly captured me were the small incidents in this book that define the bittersweetness of motherhood. For example, I loved the simple passage that describes Quinn encouraging Isaac's independence by letting him rinse his own hair in the bath and surreptitiousness wiping away the suds that he missed afterwards.
I can think of two audiences that will love this novel: mothers and the children of parents with mental illnesses. Quinn's struggle to understand and forgive her bipolar mother is one that many readers will be able to relate to. The Other Life is not filled with easy answers. Instead, it is poignant portrayal of surviving unfairness and learning to treasure our imperfect lives.
March 15, 2011
There is a certain genre of books, I don't know the name, but the entire book consists pretty much of dialog between normal people living normal lives. There are couples with problems, parents with problems, siblings with problems, and incessant dialog and introspection on perfectly normal issues. You can open the book to any page, and find perfectly ordinary dialog about perfectly ordinary situations. Even when the situation is a little unusual--a couple finds that the woman is carrying a child with a serious birth defect--the dialog is absolutely banal. Endless should we this, should we that. First the couple discusses. Then the woman discusses with her Mother what her husband said to her. Then she discusses with her friends what her Mother said. Then the woman thinks about it a lot. Why people read these books is beyond me. This is one of those books, and I only got to page 72.
January 26, 2011
“Beyond the Crack in the Foundation Lies the Life She Might Have Lived”
The Other Life is fascinating, original and intriguing. Exploring the complexities of mother/daughter dynamics, the book examines the consequences when that love is put to the ultimate test. If you are longing for invigorating, relevant writing over a broad emotional plane, you will love this book. Be prepared to be touched deeply.
What would you do if you had the option of escaping from today into a life that might have been yours had you made different choices? Quinn Braverman finds portals to the life she might have led, to be irresistible lures. She vacillates between her present day life and the road not taken throughout the novel. We find ourselves relating to Quinn and her family in one time frame and then, just as our comfort zone is set, we are drawn into Quinn’s alternate life. Grieving over an abnormality in her unborn baby, Quinn desperately seeks comfort from her dead mother, Nan. However, in that alternate life, Nan had tormented her daughter with unpredictable episodes of depression. Complicated? Yes. Grief, emotional chaos and the difficulty of making the right choices abound. Ms. Meister handles all of this tricky business with ease. There are some descriptions of sexual encounters, but they do not overwhelm the book.
Author, wife, mother, curator, and lecturer on literary issues, Ellen Meister created a masterpiece in her new novel, The Other Life. A departure from her earlier light, hilarious books, The Other Life not only explores mother/daughter love but is also a tribute both to its blessings and curses. In an interview, Ms. Meister stated that book clubs enjoy novels with fresh writing, complex characters and emotional dilemmas to which readers can relate. She met that challenge with this creative tour de force.
The book is interspersed with metaphorically brilliant vignettes called “Quinn Deconstructed,” a series of paintings done by Nan. Each depicts Nan’s perceptions of Quinn’s earlier life. There are other stunning touches. A suicide note in the form of a painting. A house not put on the market for seventeen years to preserve a child’s memories. A pink infant’s outfit kept by a mother in anticipation of her granddaughter’s birth.
The Other Life is a riveting read for thoughtful women. Recommended for book clubs, mothers, daughters, and anyone who longs for the listening ear of a deceased, loving parent.
I thank G. P. Putnam’s Sons for supplying me with a review copy. The opinions expressed in my review are unbiased and wholly my own.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
The Other Life is fascinating, original and intriguing. Exploring the complexities of mother/daughter dynamics, the book examines the consequences when that love is put to the ultimate test. If you are longing for invigorating, relevant writing over a broad emotional plane, you will love this book. Be prepared to be touched deeply.
What would you do if you had the option of escaping from today into a life that might have been yours had you made different choices? Quinn Braverman finds portals to the life she might have led, to be irresistible lures. She vacillates between her present day life and the road not taken throughout the novel. We find ourselves relating to Quinn and her family in one time frame and then, just as our comfort zone is set, we are drawn into Quinn’s alternate life. Grieving over an abnormality in her unborn baby, Quinn desperately seeks comfort from her dead mother, Nan. However, in that alternate life, Nan had tormented her daughter with unpredictable episodes of depression. Complicated? Yes. Grief, emotional chaos and the difficulty of making the right choices abound. Ms. Meister handles all of this tricky business with ease. There are some descriptions of sexual encounters, but they do not overwhelm the book.
Author, wife, mother, curator, and lecturer on literary issues, Ellen Meister created a masterpiece in her new novel, The Other Life. A departure from her earlier light, hilarious books, The Other Life not only explores mother/daughter love but is also a tribute both to its blessings and curses. In an interview, Ms. Meister stated that book clubs enjoy novels with fresh writing, complex characters and emotional dilemmas to which readers can relate. She met that challenge with this creative tour de force.
The book is interspersed with metaphorically brilliant vignettes called “Quinn Deconstructed,” a series of paintings done by Nan. Each depicts Nan’s perceptions of Quinn’s earlier life. There are other stunning touches. A suicide note in the form of a painting. A house not put on the market for seventeen years to preserve a child’s memories. A pink infant’s outfit kept by a mother in anticipation of her granddaughter’s birth.
The Other Life is a riveting read for thoughtful women. Recommended for book clubs, mothers, daughters, and anyone who longs for the listening ear of a deceased, loving parent.
I thank G. P. Putnam’s Sons for supplying me with a review copy. The opinions expressed in my review are unbiased and wholly my own.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
November 30, 2010
Warning: have the Kleenex handy before reading this one! I'm on a blog called the Girlfriends Book Club with Ellen Meister, and she's just lovely. So I knew THE OTHER LIFE was a book she'd poured her heart and soul into, and that it was a departure for her. I love books with magical realism, so I dove into the advanced copy of THE OTHER LIFE...and I read it in two days. I was so sucked in by the two lives of Quinn Braverman, and I say "two" because she's able to travel through a portal back and forth between them. In one, she's married to wonderful Lewis, who owns a taxi company, and they have a son named Isaac. But her mother is gone (by her own hand), and Quinn misses her fiercely. In her other life, she's with her longtime boyfriend, childless, but with her mom alive and well. So which life will Quinn end up choosing, particularly when she finds out that her and Lewis's forthcoming baby has a terrible condition. Because in the end, she must pick one or risk everything. THE OTHER LIFE is absorbing and gut-wrenching at once.
January 10, 2017
This book had promise, but for me it fell way short. Parts were unbelievable and there were many unanswered questions and unexplored topics:
SPOLIERS
-Even though Quinn has had the whole 'slip through the portal' ability since she was very young, she doesn't do it until age 36. Wouldn't she have tried it before then?
-At one point she actually decided to stay in the other life because her real life is taking a turn for the worse. But this means leaving her sweet 6 year old son, whom she adores. The author spends a great deal of time painting her as a devoted, stay-at-home mom so this just doesn't ring true.
-It is explained that Quinn has the portal power b/c Nan was slipping between two worlds as she was delivering Quinn - one where she gives birth to Quinn and one where she commits suicide and they both die. Does that mean Nan has the power b/c her mom did the same thing? Why does Nan have the ability? And from the way Quinn's portal jumping works, there needs to be a fissure that she has to physically push herself through (even hurting herself at times). How is Nan doing this when she is in the operating room giving birth? Or does it work differently for her? This is not explained.
-And my biggest issue: at one point Quinn's son Isaac sees her portal, her fissure, and tells her he wants to touch it. This is similar to a part earlier in the book when Quinn senses her own mother's portal and asks about it. Her mother freaks out, yells at her to stay away and Quinn has a similar reaction with Isaac. But, isn't Quinn worried that Isaac might have the ability to life jump too?! Throughout the book, Isaac seems to have a sense that his mother is skipping out on him, disappearing. It feels like more than run-of-the-mill separation anxiety...it seems like he knows about the portal jumping, giving more credence to the idea that maybe he can do it too. But, this issue is never addressed.
SPOLIERS
-Even though Quinn has had the whole 'slip through the portal' ability since she was very young, she doesn't do it until age 36. Wouldn't she have tried it before then?
-At one point she actually decided to stay in the other life because her real life is taking a turn for the worse. But this means leaving her sweet 6 year old son, whom she adores. The author spends a great deal of time painting her as a devoted, stay-at-home mom so this just doesn't ring true.
-It is explained that Quinn has the portal power b/c Nan was slipping between two worlds as she was delivering Quinn - one where she gives birth to Quinn and one where she commits suicide and they both die. Does that mean Nan has the power b/c her mom did the same thing? Why does Nan have the ability? And from the way Quinn's portal jumping works, there needs to be a fissure that she has to physically push herself through (even hurting herself at times). How is Nan doing this when she is in the operating room giving birth? Or does it work differently for her? This is not explained.
-And my biggest issue: at one point Quinn's son Isaac sees her portal, her fissure, and tells her he wants to touch it. This is similar to a part earlier in the book when Quinn senses her own mother's portal and asks about it. Her mother freaks out, yells at her to stay away and Quinn has a similar reaction with Isaac. But, isn't Quinn worried that Isaac might have the ability to life jump too?! Throughout the book, Isaac seems to have a sense that his mother is skipping out on him, disappearing. It feels like more than run-of-the-mill separation anxiety...it seems like he knows about the portal jumping, giving more credence to the idea that maybe he can do it too. But, this issue is never addressed.
February 5, 2011
Happily married, pregnant for the second time, medical issues with the pregnancy and maybe with her husband...he was discussing the medical issues with everyone but Quinn. Quinn was beside herself because everything seemed to be going wrong with her life, and most of all she couldn't get over the temptation to slip through to the other life.
This other life...the life where she could talk to her deceased mother and her ex-boyfriend Eugene...not the life she was leading now where her mother and Eugene were absent. She knew she shouldn't go there, but she couldn't help it. When she slipped into the other world, she could forget for a little while.
Every time she saw a fissure in a wall, in a fireplace, in the basement...no matter where it was...she felt the pull and the need to go through the portal to the other life. She always returned after "the trip," but was never satisfied that the disappearance into the other life would be her last...she just couldn't make it her last trip…the urge was too powerful. Whenever Quinn slipped through the portal, my concern was that she wouldn't be able to get back to the present life. :)
The book told the tale of Quinn's life/lives that included her son, Isaac, her husband, Lewis, her brother, Hayden, and her nosy neighbor, Georgette. They all had issues of their own and all seemed to rely on Quinn for help....little did they know that Quinn could use some help herself.
The book will keep your interest and is what I am going to call on the other side of different along with many choices none of us wants to make in our life. :) My rating is a 4/5.
This other life...the life where she could talk to her deceased mother and her ex-boyfriend Eugene...not the life she was leading now where her mother and Eugene were absent. She knew she shouldn't go there, but she couldn't help it. When she slipped into the other world, she could forget for a little while.
Every time she saw a fissure in a wall, in a fireplace, in the basement...no matter where it was...she felt the pull and the need to go through the portal to the other life. She always returned after "the trip," but was never satisfied that the disappearance into the other life would be her last...she just couldn't make it her last trip…the urge was too powerful. Whenever Quinn slipped through the portal, my concern was that she wouldn't be able to get back to the present life. :)
The book told the tale of Quinn's life/lives that included her son, Isaac, her husband, Lewis, her brother, Hayden, and her nosy neighbor, Georgette. They all had issues of their own and all seemed to rely on Quinn for help....little did they know that Quinn could use some help herself.
The book will keep your interest and is what I am going to call on the other side of different along with many choices none of us wants to make in our life. :) My rating is a 4/5.
September 6, 2011
This was neither "gripping" nor "emotional" as the synopsis stated. As a mother, I had major issues with this book. A lady finds out her unborn baby has some pretty severe issues. Ok. That's a pretty emotional thing to go through, and I have never had to experience that or make the decision to continue with a pregnancy or terminate. But...I can tell you that no mother I know would then be tempted to ditch her healthy 6 year old (that she supposedly adores) and her amazing, supportive husband (whose only fault I could see was that she found him TOO supportive). This lady is tempted by a life with some neurotic Howard Stern-type guy and a mother who is bipolar and not very nice to her a lot. I don't get it. I couldn't buy into the seduction of her "other life".
The ending was redeeming but I didn't ever really feel that I could connect with this main character. And I might be biased because of my own "mother" issues. And I hate Howard Stern.
The ending was redeeming but I didn't ever really feel that I could connect with this main character. And I might be biased because of my own "mother" issues. And I hate Howard Stern.
April 23, 2011
I almost didn't finish this one - I'd started it, then put it aside to plow through a ton of YA reads. Why pick it up again? Because I wanted to see if my earlier impressions were the same. Sadly, they were.
The premise is that Quinn was born just as her mother was trying to commit suicide and thus sort of has two lives, and she discovers a portal between the two in the basement of her home. In one she's married with a son, pregnant again and her mother succeeded in killing herself seven years earlier, in the other she stayed with her actor-boyfriend and her mother isn't dead. She spends time moving between the two, trying to figure out what she wants and which life is better. The philosophical questions that one should have about these choices don't really happen, Quinn just seems to move through her life and the only difficult decision is about her pregnancy.
This is a good beach read, but nothing more.
ARC provided by publisher.
The premise is that Quinn was born just as her mother was trying to commit suicide and thus sort of has two lives, and she discovers a portal between the two in the basement of her home. In one she's married with a son, pregnant again and her mother succeeded in killing herself seven years earlier, in the other she stayed with her actor-boyfriend and her mother isn't dead. She spends time moving between the two, trying to figure out what she wants and which life is better. The philosophical questions that one should have about these choices don't really happen, Quinn just seems to move through her life and the only difficult decision is about her pregnancy.
This is a good beach read, but nothing more.
ARC provided by publisher.
November 30, 2010
In her riveting, new novel, THE OTHER DOOR, gifted storyteller, Ellen Meister, doesn’t just peek in on a young mother who wavers between love and doubt, she blows it open with a story of a memorable character who straddles two parallel universes, each with its own difficult decisions. It is a brave and honest exploration of the perilous limits of motherhood that will make readers wonder if Meister followed them around with a probe. Your heart will race as you follow the journey of a woman who wonders if she is better off in the here or the hereafter. If you have ever second guessed the biggest decisions of your life (and who hasn’t), THE OTHER DOOR is a captivating homage to the million dollar question, does love conquer all? Knock twice and come in.
October 3, 2016
Foarte interesant subiectul cartii, bine scrisă, dar ceva parca a lipsit...
June 3, 2019
This book was selected by my book club. I thought the plot was intriguing and found it interesting: being able to travel to a parallel life and explore what could have happened if different choices were made. The part that I felt a more personal connection to was when the main character, Quinn, discovers that her mom is alive in her alternate life. This part of the plot quickly captured my attention as I miss my mom every day of my life and constantly wonder with my life situations what she would say or advise, if she were alive. I think many of us would find this what-if scenario fascinating. One can only dream! Back to the plot, Quinn goes back and forth while trying to make a crucial decision and select the life she will keep. Overall, this was an okay book. I liked the plot and I thought this book had so much potential, but the writing left me a bit underwhelmed.
This was my favorite quote:
“There’s no statute of limitations on missing someone. I’m sure there are still times when it feels like only yesterday.”
This was my favorite quote:
“There’s no statute of limitations on missing someone. I’m sure there are still times when it feels like only yesterday.”
January 18, 2012
I think this is a fascinating concept! How many of us have wondered what our lives would be like if only...I know I have. It's a book I would want to write!
I think, though, that there isn't enough of what the title and the first chapter claim the book is about in the book. The author blows a whole big explainey wad right at the beginning of the story that the book is about this woman who has the ability to see her life as it would be if she'd made different choices. She might as well have written "Ok, so here's what my book is about. Here's what happened over the last 30 years of the character's life and here's exactly why and how she's struggling with this." I dunno. Just not my preferred writing style to read. Tell me a story. Don't bash me in the face with it. Let me, the reader, fill in little details like what her glass was filled with instead of immediately reminding me that of course it wouldn't be alcohol because she was preggers. Or that she stuffed two pantyliners in her crotch but left them there when she took off her panties so she wouldn't stain the sheets of the hospital bed. Sorry; over explaining little details in what seems like a defensive manner bothers me. But that's just me. Maybe she wanted to make sure we all see it exactly as she saw it. Maybe she had one of those incredibly nitpicky editors who kept marking "But why would this be? Why would the character do this? Why is that painting over there instead of here?" Maybe I don't like it because it used to be something I did as a writer too...
Anyway. I wanted more of her slipping between lives. I think the ending would have been more heartrending and would have made more sense if Quinn had actually enjoyed her other life instead of constantly trying to leave it to come back.
To me this was more a book about a pregnant mother who gets the worst news you can possibly get and who wishes her mother was there and who has a gay brother with a sketchy boyfriend and who runs into her ex and who is potentially slipped a rufie in a drink at a party by a guy who doesn't know she's pregnant (which would have made more sense for the level of drama that ensued rather than one shot of vodka), and who has all the normal doubts and fears that any mortal woman has about her mothering, her husband and her decisions. But mostly about the pregnancy, which is fine. That's a fine thing for a book to be about.
Good story though.
I think, though, that there isn't enough of what the title and the first chapter claim the book is about in the book. The author blows a whole big explainey wad right at the beginning of the story that the book is about this woman who has the ability to see her life as it would be if she'd made different choices. She might as well have written "Ok, so here's what my book is about. Here's what happened over the last 30 years of the character's life and here's exactly why and how she's struggling with this." I dunno. Just not my preferred writing style to read. Tell me a story. Don't bash me in the face with it. Let me, the reader, fill in little details like what her glass was filled with instead of immediately reminding me that of course it wouldn't be alcohol because she was preggers. Or that she stuffed two pantyliners in her crotch but left them there when she took off her panties so she wouldn't stain the sheets of the hospital bed. Sorry; over explaining little details in what seems like a defensive manner bothers me. But that's just me. Maybe she wanted to make sure we all see it exactly as she saw it. Maybe she had one of those incredibly nitpicky editors who kept marking "But why would this be? Why would the character do this? Why is that painting over there instead of here?" Maybe I don't like it because it used to be something I did as a writer too...
Anyway. I wanted more of her slipping between lives. I think the ending would have been more heartrending and would have made more sense if Quinn had actually enjoyed her other life instead of constantly trying to leave it to come back.
To me this was more a book about a pregnant mother who gets the worst news you can possibly get and who wishes her mother was there and who has a gay brother with a sketchy boyfriend and who runs into her ex and who is potentially slipped a rufie in a drink at a party by a guy who doesn't know she's pregnant (which would have made more sense for the level of drama that ensued rather than one shot of vodka), and who has all the normal doubts and fears that any mortal woman has about her mothering, her husband and her decisions. But mostly about the pregnancy, which is fine. That's a fine thing for a book to be about.
Good story though.
June 4, 2011
Eric and I listened to this on audiobook during one of our road trips recently. I don't think either one of us would have normally even bothered to finish this, but didn't want to admit weakness to each other.
The concept of this book seemed really interesting - a woman has an opportunity to view her life on two parallel paths based on how she made a major life decision. In one life, she is married with a child but pregnant with a daughter with a neural tube defect and suffering from the suicide of her mother. In the other life, she stayed with her neurotic, showbiz boyfriend and lives a "carefree" life of vacations and pretty much doing whatever she wants, with no children but a living mother.
Now, take the premise and add in ridiculous feminine details about urinary incontinence and other "mom info" meant to endear the author to female readers and a large amount of graphic sexual content. It seemed like every time there was travel through the "portal" between the two lives, one of the primary motivations was "primal"/sexual. As Eric said, "It's basically: portal, sex, portal, sex."
Did I mention the writing was lame? Yes, she is hot and ready (or whatever) and actually says to her partner "Let's do this!" which has become a repetitive joke at our house at this point.
It doesn't help that the audiobook is read by a woman with a lilting, "sexy voice" that I found nauseating. I might have been able to squeeze out a second star if I had read the actual book and didn't have to hear that woman's voice.
On to the actual plot, there are huge threads left unaddressed and plenty of times where the motivation of the character is questionable. It was hard to believe the action. One pet peeve of mine, this is a pregnant woman receiving extensive prenatal care because of a high risk pregnancy and no one notices that every time she goes through the portal she ends up with large scrapes and scratches all over her arms and abdomen? What is the point of including this detail EVERY time she goes back and forth if it is then forgotten? Oh! Because it is PAINFUL for her to go back and forth. Deep!
Can you tell I didn't like it? Don't waste your time reading it. Literally, I can not think of a single person I know that I could recommend it to with a straight face. Let's not do this! =)
The concept of this book seemed really interesting - a woman has an opportunity to view her life on two parallel paths based on how she made a major life decision. In one life, she is married with a child but pregnant with a daughter with a neural tube defect and suffering from the suicide of her mother. In the other life, she stayed with her neurotic, showbiz boyfriend and lives a "carefree" life of vacations and pretty much doing whatever she wants, with no children but a living mother.
Now, take the premise and add in ridiculous feminine details about urinary incontinence and other "mom info" meant to endear the author to female readers and a large amount of graphic sexual content. It seemed like every time there was travel through the "portal" between the two lives, one of the primary motivations was "primal"/sexual. As Eric said, "It's basically: portal, sex, portal, sex."
Did I mention the writing was lame? Yes, she is hot and ready (or whatever) and actually says to her partner "Let's do this!" which has become a repetitive joke at our house at this point.
It doesn't help that the audiobook is read by a woman with a lilting, "sexy voice" that I found nauseating. I might have been able to squeeze out a second star if I had read the actual book and didn't have to hear that woman's voice.
On to the actual plot, there are huge threads left unaddressed and plenty of times where the motivation of the character is questionable. It was hard to believe the action. One pet peeve of mine, this is a pregnant woman receiving extensive prenatal care because of a high risk pregnancy and no one notices that every time she goes through the portal she ends up with large scrapes and scratches all over her arms and abdomen? What is the point of including this detail EVERY time she goes back and forth if it is then forgotten? Oh! Because it is PAINFUL for her to go back and forth. Deep!
Can you tell I didn't like it? Don't waste your time reading it. Literally, I can not think of a single person I know that I could recommend it to with a straight face. Let's not do this! =)
February 14, 2024
This is another book that I really wanted to like. I have often speculated about parallel universes where the "parallel me" made different decisions at key moments, and what the results might have been.
Unfortunately, it is clear from this book that the author absolutely no concept of physics or current theories about parallel universes. Quinn Braverman, the main character, moves freely between universes with absolutely no consequences. In her "real" life, she is pregnant. When she slips into one parallel universe, she is not. What happens to the Quinn that is pregnant? She is missing from her original universe. That is made clear. But when she is in the parallel world, she does not have the memories of the Quinn in that world. So is it only her consciousness that is transferred? If so, once again, where is the pregnant body of Quinn from her original universe? In some limbo between universes? The author does not speculate. This conundrum is completely ignored.
If you can forget all those questions, this is not a bad book. It portrays a character faced with an unthinkable choice: a pregnancy that may result in a fetus that dies in utero and will have to be delivered, or a child that may live only a short time after birth, or a child that may suffer profound physical and mental disabilities. Should she go ahead and abort? Wait and see which of these possibilities occur? That is heartbreaking dilemma, no matter what the outcome. Anyone faced with those challenges who found a way to escape to a life of ease and comfort would be sorely tempted to do so, especially considering that in Quinn's "real" world, her mother committed suicide, and in the parallel world, her mother is still alive.
This would have been a 4-star book if the author had dealt with the issues mentioned above - the physics of moving between the worlds. Since no one really knows what would happen under those circumstances, or even if parallel universes really exist, the author could have created her own internally consistent "rules" and incorporated them into the story. Obviously she is not a science fiction buff, and she doesn't have to be - but she should have done some research before she began. As a reader, I felt cheated. Do your homework, authors. You can be sure that if you don't, someone will notice.
Unfortunately, it is clear from this book that the author absolutely no concept of physics or current theories about parallel universes. Quinn Braverman, the main character, moves freely between universes with absolutely no consequences. In her "real" life, she is pregnant. When she slips into one parallel universe, she is not. What happens to the Quinn that is pregnant? She is missing from her original universe. That is made clear. But when she is in the parallel world, she does not have the memories of the Quinn in that world. So is it only her consciousness that is transferred? If so, once again, where is the pregnant body of Quinn from her original universe? In some limbo between universes? The author does not speculate. This conundrum is completely ignored.
If you can forget all those questions, this is not a bad book. It portrays a character faced with an unthinkable choice: a pregnancy that may result in a fetus that dies in utero and will have to be delivered, or a child that may live only a short time after birth, or a child that may suffer profound physical and mental disabilities. Should she go ahead and abort? Wait and see which of these possibilities occur? That is heartbreaking dilemma, no matter what the outcome. Anyone faced with those challenges who found a way to escape to a life of ease and comfort would be sorely tempted to do so, especially considering that in Quinn's "real" world, her mother committed suicide, and in the parallel world, her mother is still alive.
This would have been a 4-star book if the author had dealt with the issues mentioned above - the physics of moving between the worlds. Since no one really knows what would happen under those circumstances, or even if parallel universes really exist, the author could have created her own internally consistent "rules" and incorporated them into the story. Obviously she is not a science fiction buff, and she doesn't have to be - but she should have done some research before she began. As a reader, I felt cheated. Do your homework, authors. You can be sure that if you don't, someone will notice.
October 31, 2011
I really wanted to like this book. I thought the concept of being able to go back & forth between two parallel lives was intriguing, and the concept of the missing/dead mother while pregnant resonated strongly with me personally. I also really love the author's voice.
That said, obviously the book got me emotionally involved, or I wouldn't be trying so hard to figure out why I didn't love it. I'll definitely read more of this author's work.
That said, obviously the book got me emotionally involved, or I wouldn't be trying so hard to figure out why I didn't love it. I'll definitely read more of this author's work.
March 8, 2011
Actually, a 4.5 would be more in order.
Quinn has a happy life--or so it would seem. A devoted and successful husband, an adorable and creative six-year-old, and a new baby on the way should make Quinn a happy woman but Quinn's mother committed suicide and the pain remains, especially after Quinn receives the devastating news that her unborn baby girl may be born with a disability. But she has discovered there’s another life, one in a parallel universe where she is living the life she had before she met her current husband, Lewis, and except for taking care of her extremely needy partner, Eugene, it’s a much easier life. And her mother is still living. So, should she stay or should she go? Should she give up her stress-filled life for a much easier time where her mother is close by? As Quinn goes back and forth between the two lives, she has to decide which is better not only for her, but for her families.
This was a very compelling book with themes of complicated mother/daughter relationships, life/death issues, and choosing what is wanted out of life. Quinn is a likeable and admirable woman and you will totally fall in love with her little boy. I took off half a star as the story got a bit confusing at times and I had a few quibbles with some of the logic (and yes I understand there can really be no “logic” when the same person is living two different lives at the same time). I loved the ending but do keep a tissue within reach.
Those who like the contemporary magical realism of Allison Winn Scotch and other modern women’s stories with an element of fantasy will enjoy this book.
Quinn has a happy life--or so it would seem. A devoted and successful husband, an adorable and creative six-year-old, and a new baby on the way should make Quinn a happy woman but Quinn's mother committed suicide and the pain remains, especially after Quinn receives the devastating news that her unborn baby girl may be born with a disability. But she has discovered there’s another life, one in a parallel universe where she is living the life she had before she met her current husband, Lewis, and except for taking care of her extremely needy partner, Eugene, it’s a much easier life. And her mother is still living. So, should she stay or should she go? Should she give up her stress-filled life for a much easier time where her mother is close by? As Quinn goes back and forth between the two lives, she has to decide which is better not only for her, but for her families.
This was a very compelling book with themes of complicated mother/daughter relationships, life/death issues, and choosing what is wanted out of life. Quinn is a likeable and admirable woman and you will totally fall in love with her little boy. I took off half a star as the story got a bit confusing at times and I had a few quibbles with some of the logic (and yes I understand there can really be no “logic” when the same person is living two different lives at the same time). I loved the ending but do keep a tissue within reach.
Those who like the contemporary magical realism of Allison Winn Scotch and other modern women’s stories with an element of fantasy will enjoy this book.
August 7, 2013
I read this book because of the theme of being able to go back in time and take the road not taken. I often think about how or if my life would have been different had a made different decisions in my life. However, this book is not predominantly about this. She is able to go through a portal to find her other self who is living another life. Except for a random, although very serious, problem, her present life is so much better than the "other life." Her unhappiness has to do with someone else's life decision, and I think any adult would be able to see that without the portal to another life. I also found the explanation of why she had two lives going on confusing and how and who it explained it unrealistic. Except, of course, that the whole idea is unrealistic. I feel however, that if you write a book about aberrations in nature, you should have the explanation worked out better.
April 20, 2011
Bravo Ellen Meister. Not only did she tackle highly controversial subjects (infidelity, birth defects, abortion, suicide, homosexuality, to name a few), she handled them all well. And as a reader who has her feet firmly on the ground, I even applaud her use of "portals" into a parallel life. I kept waiting for Meister to explain them away as a dream or fantasy, but she didn't, and in the end, I was glad she let them exist as portals.
A captivating combination of character & plot driven, her writing was succinct, and it never got in the way of her story. I was so eager to see what the protagonist's decisions were going to be that I had a difficult time putting the book down.
This novel starts out as a "What if I married someone else", but moves quickly into a dozen other "What ifs". And hasn't everyone asked that question of their own life?
Five Stars to The Other Life.
A captivating combination of character & plot driven, her writing was succinct, and it never got in the way of her story. I was so eager to see what the protagonist's decisions were going to be that I had a difficult time putting the book down.
This novel starts out as a "What if I married someone else", but moves quickly into a dozen other "What ifs". And hasn't everyone asked that question of their own life?
Five Stars to The Other Life.
September 9, 2011
What would you do if you could slip through a portal and live your “other life”? The life you left behind by the choices you made. That’s the dilemma Quinn Braverman faces. She is happily married and pregnant with her second child. She has known most of her life that she has the ability to slip between parallel worlds, but when Quinn receives the news that her unborn child may have developmental problems the need to talk to her (deceased) mother again overwhelms her and she makes the choice to go through that portal. She easily slips into a life where she is still childless, engaged to the man the she left behind and able to sit down and talk with her mother who is still very much alive.
The plot of this book was intriguing and reading definitely made me think “what if”, but for me overall the read was a little flat.
The plot of this book was intriguing and reading definitely made me think “what if”, but for me overall the read was a little flat.
February 19, 2012
3-1/2 stars. I found this pretty well-written piece of chick lit compelling. I call it chick lit, but it's more like woman lit, because the protagonist is a woman in her 30s with a small child and another on the way. She wrestles with settling into the slide towards middle life using a favorite plot device of mine: the second chance. Which life should she lead, the one she has chosen or the road she didn't take? I felt for her. The author did a wonderful job constructing a complex character who felt three dimensional to me. I rated the book only 3-1/2 stars because the quality of the writing and the book's intensity faded by the end, which diminished its impact. But it was an enjoyable read.
January 25, 2013
I really enjoyed this book because it isn't just your typical "what if" story. Quinn is actually able to live in her alternate realities even though she only does for brief periods of time. We all are curious as to what our lives would have been like had we made different choices. This book touches on the issue of abortion due to medical concerns for the unborn baby, and I'm sure anyone who has had to face making the decision to do so always wonders what if i hadn't? My two slight annoyances in the story are that for some reason in her life with Lewis and Isaac, she disappears completely from that life when she slips into a portal but in her life with Eugene, she doesn't. So in her life with Eugene, does she just replace the Quinn from that reality when she comes through?
December 5, 2021
I liked it and I didn't like it. It was an interesting, emotional look at family choices. I didn't like the metaphysics of going between those choices.
The story is about the choices we make and an opportunity for one person to explore both sides of a life-changing decision. It's a very complicated family going through some complicated things. You'd think there would be millions of choices that could create millions of different realities, but this book focuses it down to just one women with the option and about four different pathways to other realities. She takes over the body of her double in a reality, but the other her doesn't go anywhere or interact at all. That bothered me.
The story is about the choices we make and an opportunity for one person to explore both sides of a life-changing decision. It's a very complicated family going through some complicated things. You'd think there would be millions of choices that could create millions of different realities, but this book focuses it down to just one women with the option and about four different pathways to other realities. She takes over the body of her double in a reality, but the other her doesn't go anywhere or interact at all. That bothered me.
June 29, 2011
This book was enjoyable enough, but after I crossed the middle, the longer I read, the less I liked it. For the most part I was okay with the plot points, but I did not find that Meister addresses Quinn's motivations well enough. Sure, she told me what they were and they seemed likely enough, but I certainly didn't feel them. I came to understand that she had a close relationship with her mother, but when the reader needs to feel that closeness to find Quinn's yearning to be compelling, I had the impression that they had a poor relationship.
December 14, 2015
listened to the audio and I'm thinking maybe I should have read it instead. The reader can always make or break a book and I feel the reader in this case gave this book a 2 star status. She sounded as though she was on some type of drug causing her to sound unemotional and"draggy" and I think if you cannot do a child's voice then DON'T !!! The little boy sounds like a constipated drunk. Just a terrible audio.
2 stars on the story only ... sorry
2 stars on the story only ... sorry
February 15, 2012
I loved it! Yes, the whole portal thing was a little strange but I loved the story. I felt Quinn's pain and her difficult decisions. I understand the pain of losing a parent so that part hit home for me. I really enjoyed this book!!
November 27, 2010
My favorite book.
March 8, 2011
Wonderful book about the bonds between mothers and daughters. Quinn knows she has an alternate life out there and the book is about her struggles to remain in the right one.
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