"A stunning story of mental illness and its challenges"
That’s what Kirkus Reviews had to say about Anastasia Zadeik’s beautiful new novel, The Other Side of Nothing. The novel opens with just-turned-eighteen Julia making a decision that will change her life: after only a few days in a rehab facility following a suicide attempt, she decides to leave the facility in secret with her charming and brilliant new friend, Sam. What follows is an increasingly wild ride from coast to coast, with Julia and Sam’s mothers not far behind, trying to anticipate their children’s next moves. As Sam’s behavior becomes more erratic, Julia’s situation becomes more precarious.
There’s an idea, often (mis)attributed to John Garner, that there are two types of stories: a person goes on a journey and a stranger comes to town. Of course, there are many more types of stories, but I thought of this while reading The Other Side of Nothing, because the novel presents us with both. Sam is the stranger, an agent of chaos introduced into Julia’s carefully controlled life. Together, they go on a life-changing journey, one that pulls them deeper and deeper into their relationship with each other and into their own fragile psyches. It’s a coming-of-age story, a road trip novel, and a sophisticated and nuanced portrait of mental illness. I was especially drawn into the burgeoning, complex relationship between Sam and Julia, but all of the relationships — between the mothers and their children, for instance, and between the two very different mothers — contributed to the novel’s depth and effect. As if those weren’t enough successes, the book is also incredibly well paced.
Zadeik is coming to Pacific Grove at the end of the month! On Sunday, June 30, at 6:30pm PT, she’ll discuss The Other Side of Nothing with author JJ Elliott, whose own novel, There Are No Rules For This, also beautifully explores mental illness, suicide, and their effects on family and friends. It should be a riveting conversation.
You can attend the event in person, at The BookWorks bookstore, or online via Zoom. Tickets include either one or both books. Select below from one of three ticket options.
I always leave author events with a heightened appreciation for an author’s work, so I can’t wait to hear Zadeik and Elliott discuss theirs. We’re calling the event Talking About the Hard Stuff, because that’s what these women have done, bravely and skillfully, in their novels. I hope to see you there!
Yours in all things literary,
Jennifer