On the Other Side

Memories of a Past Life

Non-Fiction - Spiritual/Supernatural
332 Pages
Reviewed on 03/17/2024
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Author Biography

My name is Adria Sanders. It’s my literary name and it carries many of the specifics of the path that led me to writing and later to publishing.

I was born during the communist bloc in Eastern Europe and lived in a world where there were strict rules and fear was present at every turn.

I am currently a business woman and a mother and someone who took the chance to open herself to her other inner facets and rediscover herself.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jennie More for Readers' Favorite

On The Other Side: Memories of a Past Life by Adria Sanders explores the memories of the author's past life in the early 20th century. She shares visions of a life she lived in Cuba before her reincarnation as her current self, Adria. The book starts with vignettes that reveal parts of the complete story to follow in the subsequent chapters. Although a memoir of her past life, as experienced through her dreams, the book is also a passionate romance. It is the story of a couple who fell in love and worked daily on discovering and rediscovering each other as they moved through life. The love between Rico and Ani is mesmerizing and the kind of ideal romance that many people can only dream of having. Apart from the romance, cultural and political turmoil also feature throughout, with Ani and Rico at the center of it.

On The Other Side by Adria Sanders is deep, candid, and engaging. Sanders's unique writing style is unlike anything I have read before. There are many short sentences and quick transitions between words thought and words expressed, or transitions in dialogue from one character to another. Initially, this style can be perplexing, but as I became accustomed to it, I appreciated the urgency and emotiveness this added to scenes and dialogue. It helped me envision the picture. The leading characters, Ani and Rico, were spellbinding. Adria did a spectacular job in bringing the leading characters to life. I enjoyed reading this book; the writing is creative, and the story is captivating, tragic, and beautiful.

Courtnee Turner Hoyle

On the Other Side: Memories of a Past Life is a series of vignettes by Adria Sanders. After discovering lucid dreaming and astral travel, Sanders realizes she was Ana "Ani" Mendez Gunther in another life. Living in Latin America with her father and nanny, Ani grows into a bold woman who falls in love with Richard "Rico" Gunther. Their lives are difficult, and they are unable to grow old together. One lover is purposely murdered, sending the other into thoughts of unending grief and revenge. Also, a man with a cane haunts Ani's life, having caused a serious upset in her family. Sanders emphasizes the love, betrayal, and sadness in her story as she interprets them from her dreams.

Intriguing and mysterious, with a romance that stands the test of time, Adria Sanders reveals a story from a past life, luring readers into the early twentieth century. Told in short thoughts, the words and actions resemble dreams in which we only receive a scene at a time. Sanders pieces her experiences together and delivers a unique reading landscape. The author is an active businesswoman who is good at separating fact from fiction, and she knows her interpretations are real. Her story is a confident retelling of her feelings as Ani, and the love story between Ani and Rico is a beautiful connection that has followed her into another life. For those who believe they have been involved in a past life or are curious about the possibility, On the Other Side will give them a reason to investigate their feelings further.

K.C. Finn

On The Other Side: Memories of a Past Life is a work of fiction in the interpersonal drama, metaphysical writing, and cultural fiction subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience. Penned by author Adria Sanders, this captivating exploration of the intertwined lives of Ana and Rico is set against the vibrant backdrop of early 20th-century Cuba. Born from the author's transformative lucid dreams during her pregnancy, the narrative delves deep into the human psyche, blurring the lines between past and present, reality and dreams. What results is a tale where the author interacts directly with readers and the story to produce a highly original journey of emotions.

Author Adria Sanders has crafted a fascinating novel that mirrors and questions much of her own life’s experiences, leading to profound personal transformations that will engage with her readers on multiple levels. Initially met with skepticism, the dreams propel the author into a quest for understanding, culminating in spiritual deepening and insight into fears and behaviors, paralleling Ana's own awakening. Through poetic prose, Sanders delivers a gorgeous, flowing, storytelling adventure, inviting readers into a world where reality clashes beautifully with the story. I think that other writers particularly will resonate with this metaphysical exploration of the connection between author and story, and fans of drama will enjoy Ana and Rico’s tale in its own right. Overall, On the Other Side is a mesmerizing tale that challenges perceptions of reality and invites reflection on the mysteries of the human mind and soul.