My Review: 4.5 stars

The Immortalists is a literary fiction family drama that balances the premise of living by fate or free will. Do we live our lives by circumstance or intention? After four children visit a nomadic gypsy to find out the date of their deaths, this knowing forever torments their lives, a whisper in the recesses of their minds of how much time they have left. Whether it’s true or not, they can’t know, but they wonder if their lives will become self fulfilling prophecies or led by chance alone.

Broken into four distinct parts for each of the four kids, we learn how their lives play out. Some parts were very predictable while others were more surprising. Each character went in vastly different directions both figuratively and literally. I enjoyed Simon’s character even though it was the most predictable. I’ve never read a book that offered such a focused glimpse into the gay scene of the 1960s. Watching him come alive, out of his long hidden sexuality, was well done. Each of the parts were impeccably researched. It must have been quite taxing on the author.

The writing in this book switched from literary, to poetic, to simple, which worked for me. However one thing that turned me off was the random sexual reference that was completely unnecessary. For example: describing Varya by having a “patch of fur” between her legs seemed gratuitous in my opinion. How does that help me know the character? Again, I was slightly jarred during the pointless imagery of penises when Simon was in San Francisco. I’m no prude; these just felt out of place with the tone of the book.

The final part to the book and also the one in which much of the story converges belongs to Varya. Her path and ultimate outcome came with a few twists and a great understanding of why she chose her profession. Most readers will like this part the best I believe.

The book promises an underlying of magical realism and mystical moments, which I didn’t get much of. It by no means hindered my reading experience, it just didn’t fit the PR the novel has been getting. Magic practiced as an art form is present and important, but not as an otherworldly force that I thought would be present.

Kudos to Chloe Benjamin for creating a thought provoking book that will leave book clubs divided as they battle the question of how live is lived…free will or fate?

I’m definitely in the minority in not loving this debut novel. It’s getting lots of attention from the bookish media and love from some bloggers I normally agree with (Ann Marie at Lit Wit Wine Dine and Renee at It’s Book Talk). The beginning felt like The Rules of Magic: 1960’s/70’s NYC, a bit of magic, and young siblings trying to slide things by their parents. From that point on, the story is told in sections, one focusing on each of the four Gold children’s lives. These were hit and miss…I was engrossed in some parts (Simon’s and parts of Daniel’s) and kept tuning out during others (Klara’s and Varya’s). I didn’t care much about the sibling in the final section because he/she had been virtually absent for much of the book. That being said, the writing was great, so I would consider reading whatever Chloe Benjamin does next.

A beautifully braided story of the lives of four siblings after they each learn their death date from a fortune teller. The impact this knowledge has on each of their lives, and the overarching relationships between the siblings leaves the reader much fodder for thought. I will be thinking of this book for a long time to come, and will confidently recommend it often.

I reviewed this book here: http://www.bethfishreads.com/2018/01/stacked-up-book-thoughts-6-books-to.html

I became so attached to the characters in this story that I needed to take breaks in reading to mourn each one. Benjamin wraps the reader up in the emotional drama of the Gold family. I know I will be thinking about this one for a long while.

Benjamin's novel blew me away. Told in five parts, Benjamin's story is the tale of the Gold's, a modern Jewish family. Four siblings, Varya, Daniel, Klara, and Simon, take a trip to visit the town psychic to discover their death dates. What the four siblings don't realize is how much the answer will affect them for the rest of their lives. This book begins in 1969 and unfolds over the next five decades to reveal how each sibling chooses to live their life. Benjamin writes from each sibling's perspective, and each consecutive sibling picks up where the story of the other ends. This style was striking and mesmerizing.

I found connection with each character, although I'm not sure I would have been friends with many of them in life. Each sibling was compulsive in a different way. I didn't feel a deep emotional bond, but rather I was enthralled to discover what tragedy each sibling had in store for them. And this truly is a tragedy, not light-hearted in the slightest. Even the humor felt dark much of the time. However, the whole book was not without hope, but rather decidedly hopeful.

I would recommend this book for anyone who likes family history that spans decades, and for those interested in dark almost existential tales.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The four young Gold siblings live in the Lower East Side of New York in the summer of 1969, and they hear of a woman who is telling people what date they will die. They figure it should be interesting to find out their own death dates, so they pool their savings and meet with the woman, one by one. What they are told rattles each of them, and while they either pretend they don’t believe or what they heard doesn’t bother them, what they hear informs the rest of their lives.

Simon, who realizes he’s gay as a teen, takes off to San Francisco with his little sister, Klara. He is intent on living the life he’s heard about in this homosexual mecca. Klara herself decides to pursue her dreams of being a magician. Their older siblings, Varya and Daniel, go to college and into more scientific careers.

I couldn’t read past a quarter into this book. The stories of the four siblings come one after the other, beginning with Simon’s tale, and it is all about the hedonistic gay lifestyle in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s of San Francisco. I couldn’t read anymore after two explicit gay sex scenes, one that was an encounter between Simon and a total stranger. It may be that the rest of the book isn’t as rough, but I just couldn’t proceed after that.

Rated: DIRT. I really rarely have to give this rating to books I read, but this book, 25 percent of the way in, had probably 10 uses of strong language and then two very, very detailed and lurid sex scenes between two males, and I wished I could have been warned ahead of time myself.

We all want to get the most out of the lives we live. But how might your life’s path change if someone told you the day on which it would end?

That’s what happens to four children living in New York City in the late 1960s in Chloe Benjamin’s novel “The Immortalists.” What follows is a steady journey across the decades, following each of these young people as their choices are impacted by the ever-closing distance between them and their predicted fates.

The Gold children live on the Lower East Side with their parents Saul and Gertie. It’s 1969; Saul owns a reasonably successful small business, but he works incredibly hard for that success. One sweltering summer day, the four young Golds decide to go on an adventure. Daniel has heard rumors of a traveling psychic, a mysterious woman whose mystical powers are whispered about with awe. After collecting their pennies and pooling their meager funds, the adolescent quartet makes their way to the purported fortune teller.

One at a time, they enter the woman’s tiny apartment. And one at a time, they are told the date on which they can expect to die.

As you might expect, the experience leaves the Gold children shaken. Instead of a bit of light-hearted fun, these kids are forced to confront the concept of their own mortality. Yet despite the shadowy nature of the prophecies – or perhaps because of it – they choose not to share their new secrets with one another. Instead, they struggle with their fates alone.

Their methods of coping vary wildly. Simon, the youngest, makes his way to the West Coast in an effort to find himself on his own terms; he seeks love and passion in the San Francisco of the early 1980s. His sister Klara makes that move with him, but her path leads her in a very different direction – her childhood love of magic blossoms. Her work with illusion moves from avocation to vocation as she builds an act that captures the spirit of what she wants to say.

The other two move down much more staid, stolid paths. Daniel studies medicine and becomes a military doctor, one whose duties include determining the fitness of potential recruits even as those requirements shift during the first decade of the 21st century. And Varya delves even deeper into her own life of the mind, devoting her considerable gifts to the study of longevity; she works as a research scientist devoted to increasing the lifespans of primates in an effort to slow and/or extend the aging process in humans.

And through it all, all four seek the human connections that – they hope – will make them happy. Meanwhile, each of them carry within them the knowledge of that singular date, a day over which a sword of Damocles perpetually dangles … and there’s no way for them to know if, when the time comes, it will actually drop.

“The Immortalists” is a decades-spanning family epic, one that follows each of the Gold children as they move through the world. They grow and change and even thrive, but never manage to escape the lengthy shadow cast by that fateful day back in 1969. It seems like a simple conceit – and it is – but there’s nothing simple about the vivid richness of the resulting narrative.

Benjamin throws up the blinds and opens wide the windows on the respective worlds of the Gold children; each of them is brought into sharp focus as the years roll by. All four get their time in the spotlight, but perhaps most compelling are the moments of overlap – some extensive, some incredibly brief – that illustrate the shifting swirl of sibling relationships. There’s an ebb and flow to the dynamic that captures the attention, a tidal force that is familiar and familial. That tug is present on every page – indicative of the author’s keen sense of storytelling and characterization.

All four of the Golds – Simon, Klara, Daniel and Varya – have unique stories to tell, each of them existing as a distinct narrative while also serving as a segment of a larger whole. It’s a compelling and carefully-wrought piece of literary craftsmanship, assembled smoothly and seamlessly by Benjamin, whose prose bubbles throughout with notes of humor and heartbreak.

“The Immortalists” is a story about stories and the power that belief can hold over us. It is a story about the meaning of family and the many faces of love. It is beautifully written, sharp and tender in ways that ring loud with thought and truth. Chloe Benjamin is a dynamic and gifted literary voice, one we should look forward to hearing again and again.

The Immortalists strikes a perfect balance of can't-put-it-down readability and can't-stop-thinking-about-it philosophical concepts. It begins when four siblings visit a traveling psychic who predicts the dates of each of their deaths, and then follows the siblings through the consequences of those predictions. It's cleverly structured in a way that is engaging and fast paced. It also deals with weighty issues like life vs. survival, purpose, family, relationships, and loneliness. I'm not generally much of a re-reader, but this is a book I'll find myself returning to.

I found the idea of this book fascinating. The three siblings find out when they are going to die and we follow each of their respective lives. I loved that there was such a focus on whether they died when they did because of the prophecy or because of their belief in the prophecy.

Interesting characters and themes running throughout the book. The idea of how we believe what someone says to us and it's long term impact. Could something as simple as say a horoscope direct our lives simply because it wiggled I to our brain and we then let it effect our lives? The second major theme is family in general, the ebb and flow of the difference between siblings and expectations. A third theme is illusion, magic and the ability we have to hide our true selves. This books will give its reader a lot to think about. Highly recommend.

This book follows the Gold siblings through their lives after visiting a Roma woman who told them the dates of their deaths when they were children. If you knew the time when you would die, would you live your life differently? All of the Golds were affected by the foretelling, each in a different way.

I enjoyed the different settings - both places and times - in this book. It brought alive the locations and added to the story. The characters also felt very real and made me think about how I would behave in the same situation. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

During a quiet summer day in 1969, the four bored Gold siblings make a trek through New York City’s Lower East Side, on an ill-fated mission that will forever change the course of their lives. Varya, thirteen; Daniel, eleven; Klara, nine; and Simon, seven, seek out a mysterious fortune-teller who is said to have the power to predict the date of an individual’s death. Each Gold sibling enters the woman’s apartment one at a time to hear the date they are destined to die. Afterwards, the Golds decide not to share their dates with one another, and try to shake off the entire unsettling experience.

Yet, this day will follow them for the rest of their lives; the woman’s prophecies creating countless ripple effects that will affect every decision they make from this afternoon onwards. Teenaged Simon runs away to San Francisco, finding an oasis in the flourishing gay community of The Castro neighborhood. The Magic-obsessed Klara is dedicated to fulfilling her dream of working as a magician; creating an act that will allow her audience to view the world in a new light. Daniel attends medical school and takes up a post as an army doctor after 9/11; a role in which he determines the fate and fitness of each potential soldier. And Varya builds her life around scientific research to extend the human lifespan; but what is the point of living a longer life if you’re not actively living?

The Immortalists is written in four parts, each narrated by one of the Gold siblings and covering a different period of time. In this way, we are able to follow Simon, Klara, Daniel, and Varya over roughly fifty years. We are given front row seats to the ways in which the knowledge of the date of their deaths impacts the ways in which they live.

This is an engrossing novel about family, fate, loss, belief, identity, and the choices we make. How much control do we have over our destinies? If you believe something enough does it make it true? Is it better to know or not to know the future? Chloe Benjamin has written an incredibly thought-provoking novel, full of more questions than answers. There’s much here for each reader to contemplate and from which to draw your own conclusions.

The Gold siblings are well-portrayed, yet I never felt as if I got to fully know them as individuals. That’s probably fitting for a novel all about secrets, isolation, and family estrangement however. Over time, the fortune-teller’s powerful words (as well as unimaginable losses) start to eat away at their familial bonds, eroding their sense of unity and leaving each sibling feeling adrift and alone. I did slightly prefer the first half of the novel and the perspectives of Simon and Klara to those of Daniel and Varya. I found the ending to be slightly disappointing, but I did appreciate that not everything is perfectly wrapped up.

The Immortalists is quietly heartbreaking and imbued with a sense of foreboding throughout. I felt a buildup of dread as each character’s perspective neared its end, and their “date” approached. The outcomes often felt unavoidable and yet I could also pinpoint the moments in which the siblings could have altered their fates. Benjamin has brilliantly constructed a novel which holds up to multiple interpretations. I think there is plenty of evidence to support both the theory that the fortune-teller accurately predicted the Gold siblings deaths, and that the knowledge of their deaths created self-fulfilling prophecies. My own interpretation tends towards the latter, but there were also moments throughout my reading in which I more readily believed in the fortune-teller’s claims.

This is a highly readable novel with a brilliant premise and interesting characters. Chloe Benjamin has crafted a vivid story that provokes a lot of reflection and leaves room for debate. The Immortalists explores family dynamics, themes of fate and the power of belief, and questions of how to live your best life. It’s a buzzed about book that is well-worth picking up; an enjoyable and enlightening read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

What an interesting concept, drawn out perfectly. Truly unique and a wonderful read. I may have to buy a copy for my collection.

This review is in exchange for a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

This book deserves 10 stars! I thoroughly loved all the characters, the story & could not wait to read it every day! One of the best heartwarming & best books I’ve read in awhile.

THE IMMORTALISTS by Chloe Benjamin has a beautiful cover and an intriguing premise: if someone could foretell when you would die, how would you live your life differently? This new novel was chosen as the favorite for Library Reads January 2018 and has received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. Unfortunately, I found the content to be too mature for many of our students. Set in 1969, four siblings do in fact learn of their predicted death dates and the first section of the book recounts the experience of Simon, the youngest who runs away to San Francisco before finishing high school and embraces the gay culture there, becoming a dancer in a male only club. Older brother Daniel pursues a medical career; sisters Klara (a skilled magician) and Varya (a scientist) also explore their passions. The story takes place over several decades and the siblings deal with multiple issues (AIDS, alcoholism, mental health) and misunderstandings. Kirkus says "the spell doesn’t quite work" and I agree.

This has been getting so much buzz and is on the cover of the January indiebound. I really enjoyed it, but for some reason it fell a little short of the 5 star mark for me. Still a great read full of interesting people and the BIG question: does knowing the date of your death alter the way you live your life??


https://litpicks.wordpress.com/2018/01/11/and-were-off/

As human beings, we are all confronted with the knowledge that our lives will one day come to an end; that our bodies were not made to last forever. I have had the distinct privilege of spending considerable time with the family members of individuals in two different situations: those whose lives end unexpectedly and those whose lives end after a prolonged struggle with illness; there are pros and cons to each, but neither is easy.

The four siblings in Chloe Benjamin's second novel, The Immortalists, have eliminated the first of the aforementioned possibilities; the Gold children - Varya, Daniel, Klara and Simon - have heard about a woman who has the ability to forecast the exact date of one's death and she practices her craft down the street from their father's business.

"The woman stares at Varya, and Varya stares back. Now that Varya is the appraiser and not the person appraised, something curious happens. The woman’s eyes lose their luster, her movements their elegance. It is too good, the fortune Varya has been given, and her good fortune becomes proof of the seer’s fraudulence: probably, she gives the same prediction to everyone. Varya thinks of the Wizard of Oz. Like him, this woman is no mage and no seer. She is a swindler, a con artist. Varya stands."

What follows is a life review of each sibling, from the early years of their lives, after their encounter with "the woman" in 1969, through adulthood, as they make decisions that are influenced by this experience.

"They began together: before any of them were people, they were eggs, four out of their mother’s millions. Astonishing, that they could diverge so dramatically in their temperaments, their fatal flaws - like strangers caught for seconds in the same elevator."

The first two sections focus on Simon and Klara, the youngest of the four siblings; these sections were the hook. Simon and Klara seem to take on their mortality with an increased zest for life, a desire to make risky, scary choices in an effort to extinguish any chance of future regret.

"Eddie’s hand appeared behind her neck to draw her closer, because he had not heard her or because he had decided to pretend as much, and she allowed herself to be kissed by him for seconds more. In doing so, she could pretend to be a different kind of person: someone who kissed a man because she liked him, not because it made her forget the hard ledge of rock from which she hung, clawing."

Unfortunately, Daniel and Varya allow their knowledge to fester and the sections of the book that focus on their experiences seem to reflect this sentiment; the pace slows and the story becomes a little more predictable. There were portions of Daniel's story that felt very detached from the rest of the narrative; maybe that is intentional, and I can acknowledge some purpose in that, but it changed my overall view of the book.

Nevertheless, I will recommend The Immortalists as a compelling read for those who enjoy well-written literary fiction with an emphasis on uncertainty and loss; in spite of its potential pitfalls, which will certainly not affect the outcome for every reader, this is an intriguing, thought-provoking novel.

If you could be told your future, would you want to know? Well, that's exactly what the Gold children want to know. This book is starts off in 1969 in Manhattan's Lower East Side. It centers around the four Gold children, Varya, Danie, Klara, and Simon. They hear of a fortune teller who can see how you'll live and die. They decide to find out what the future holds for them.

Sometimes, things are better left in the unknown. Sometimes when you know what happens you next you can change the outcome. However, in doing so, you might end up changing how things are supposed to be.

A wonderfully, well written tale of how our thoughts and beliefs can indeed change our destiny and sometimes that may not be a good thing.

In summer 1969, the four Gold kids are still young. Varya is only 13, Daniel 11, Klara 9 and Simon just 7. It is the last summer they spend together before the eldest do not want to play with younger ones anymore. But it is also the summer that will change their lives and determine their fates. Having eavesdropped a couple of boys they head to a house where a gipsy woman is telling the future. The kids all just have one question: when will I die? They each get an answer, an exact date. But instead of just laughing and forgetting about it and not taking it seriously, this information will always loom over them.

The novel received a lot of attention and was highly acclaimed before being published. What starts as a story about four kids and a strange prediction, turns into one of the best novels of the last years. After the opening scene, Chloe Benjamin tells the siblings‘ stories, starting with the youngest who is predicted to die first. Each has a singular life, an interesting character and their story blends perfectly with societal developments of their times. Not only a cleverly constructed plot, but also relevant questions about what is important in life, how much do family bonds count and how free are you in shaping your life -and what is determined by fate?

You always wait in a story staring with the presentation of a group of characters for who will turn out to be the most intriguing, the most interesting and the one with the biggest crisis. Benjamin treats the four kids equally. Astonishingly, the moment when each is taking over, he or she becomes really the centre, the focus of everything. Thus, we do not get the development if the others which makes a lot of secrets revealed only later as well as many situations being judged from one perspective when there are actually several points of view which allow you to see a situation also in a completely different way.

The story is often sad, full of despair and emotion. It is hard to say how Benjamin makes you completely indulge in it, but you feel with the characters, you can sense their loss and thus get a wonderful novel to read. Exceptional writing paired with a cleverly constructed novel, carefully drawn characters and the smooth insertion of important topics – is there anything more a reader could wish for?