ABOUT THE BOOK
A keenly observed depiction of the effects of a mother’s mental illness on her young daughter, Another Life Altogether is a profoundly moving, funny, and ultimately heartrending coming-of-age story.
“Another Life Altogether captivated me from the very first page. Dazzling in its authenticity and utterly absorbing, it is an uplifting story about adolescence, family, and finding one’s place in the world. With the character of Jesse Bennett, Elaine Beale manages to create hope and humor in an otherwise turbulent world. It is a rare, insightful, and gorgeously written novel.” — Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants
“Beale has revealed a mature talent with a sharp eye for both the intricacies of the surface detail and the complexities of the inner life. In “Another Life Altogether,’’ Beale reminds us that writing, always potentially dangerous, also confers grace, and that with the power of the word, we all have the potential to become the heroines of our own lives.” — The Boston Globe
“Elaine Beale is an extraordinary writer, and Another Life Altogether is heartbreaking and hilarious all at once, as only life can be.” — Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street
“Another Life Altogether is an extraordinary true-to-life book, and Beale tells a number of important and poignant stories all at once with great skill.” — Feminist Review
“One of the most satisfying aspects of Another Life Altogether is how well-executed the plot and climax are; the second half of the book… is fast-paced and engaging…. Ultimately, Another Life Altogether is about the power of speaking the truth… Beale handles these moments of truth-telling with grace and aplomb; that is the reason to read, and enjoy, Another Life Altogether.” — Lambda Literary
“There are a lot of truths in Beale’s fiction, and some are the aching, hard-won variety…. It’s a big book cresting at just over 400 pages, but Beale’s storytelling skill is remarkable, and this tale of the young and the restless flows effortlessly.” –Bay Area Reporter
ABOUT ELAINE
Elaine Beale grew up in East Yorkshire, England. She studied creative writing at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and was the winner of the 2007 Poets & Writers California Exchange writing contest in fiction. She lives in Oakland, California where she misses the British sense of humor but not the British weather.