#AskMissPatience's Reviews > The Book of Elsewhere

Why did I pick this book? On a recommend without reading the summary.

Be aware, my inclusion of the spoilers is an attempt to help a reader understand the action. Not ruin the plot. If I had not read reviews would have tossed this one into the DNF pile.

Do not read further if details that explain the plot a bit are gonna ruin the story, for you.

If you are shopping for help to ‘get it’ this might be a helpful review. Carry on.

The book became confusing with time jumps so headed to the summary overview. This was not helpful so visited reviews. What this helped me understand in short, if you have read the comics & know Mr. Reeves personal history might understand the book that is said to become a movie.

The story is difficult to follow from someone who knows zero of the comics or a lot about Mr Reeves. Oh, and he did not write to contribute. Brainstormed ideas mostly from what I read in reviews. MC cant die but wants to at some point is my understanding. Story is a challenge to follow. This said, I did not give up.

The last half dozen sections, about two hours, of The Book of Elsewhere is very good, imo. Made the most sense. By this time I had looked up the story from reviewers so this helped the best.

It’s a very deep meaningful book.

If there is follow through with Reeves being in this as a show or movie I would watch.

It helps to know the MC dies over and over. Reanimates each time. The novel shares lots of his time jumps for this reason.

The journal he keeps shares lessons and info from each time.

Another character to understand is the pig. Had to look this up.

Book tip, sometimes when reading a novel that’s out of the familiar instead of tossing into DNF (did not finish) do a little digging to help me relate to the story. Most of the time the summary helps if I get stuck when I hadn’t preread this.

Here’s the summary I found.

“In The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville, the pig, specifically the babirusa, functions as a powerful symbolic monster representing profound existential themes. The babirusa's unique physical characteristic—its tusks growing back towards its own face—serves as a metaphor for self-inflicted harm, self-destruction, or a form of self-trepanning for enlightenment, potentially interpreted as a self-lobotomy for peace. This image evokes the idea that the real "big bad" is not an external force, but the void, stillness, and the end, which are central antagonists in the narrative. The pig thus embodies the internal struggle between life and death, change and stillness, and the painful, ongoing process of existence.”

If you do a little research when you feel disconnected from the story would help with this one big time.

I might reread because knowing what I do now helps it make a lot of sense.

Remembering books and movies that made little sense or once doing research connected on a deeper level with the story.

Thinking of a comic theme, The Walking Dead. Though not a book or series is a comic. I started watching after the fourth season from the beginning in syndication. When researching the show found a YouTube channel that shared about the comics which developed the characters better than the show could.

The result of this was a better relationship to the show and it was easy to tell the difference between the readers and the show alone folk based on their depth of connection to the characters beyond the television show. It is simpler to empathize with a character like Negan when we know his why, for example.

It is similar to watching a movie before or after reading the book. I find the book is most often better but sometimes only if I read it first.

When my son was growing up we would read the book and see the movie. Do a compare and contrast exercise discussion.

I forgot to pick up Into the Wild from the library before the movie came out. We had to put it on hold again. We watched the movie first. This mistake affected the story when we read it. My son and me expected the story to be about one person but it was about a lot of different people who had similar experiences.

World War Z, the movie inspired me to borrow the book. Sometimes I am late to the party and did not find out about the book before seeing a movie.

Since this experience check if an upcoming movie or show is based on a book and borrow it first.

Anyway, the examples are meant to encourage different ways to get the most out of a read. Like The Book of Elsewhere.

Right now, I am a three star. Due to my lack of understanding to begin with impacted my enjoyment of the book during the first half. With a little research decided to brave it out and finish. Glad I did.

When the show drops will be in line to watch. Because the characters are interesting and the story has merit. We just need to open ourselves up to metaphors and deeper thought to expose the parts of us the book endeavors to inspire.

Hoping the review gives ideas about enjoying this book and other stories that might become confusing or disconnecting. Building a relationship, in my view, is part of our job as a reader sometimes.

Developing a connection is what mythic worlds encourage. Inviting us to new places to meet new people and learn new things.

Though this book does not appeal to everyone it may turn into a cult classic if the show ever drops. Improving its value and meaning to a wider audience.

⭐️⭐️⭐️