THE IMMORTALISTS, A Novel
by Chloe Benjamin
The Immortalists is another fabulous book – this one recommended to me by my friend Linda. I agree with her endorsement. The story begins in the summer of 1969 in New York City. Four siblings, ranging in age from 9 to 13, are trying to escape boredom and decide to visit a mystic who claims she can tell each of them the date on which they will die. To say they are spooked as each meets with the woman individually, would be an understatement. The rest of the book tells the story over five decades of how each of the siblings lives out his or her life with this information, whether or not they believe it is true.
First, there is Simon, the baby, who runs away from home at 16 to San Francisco, where he explores his sexuality, becomes a ballet dancer and never looks back. Klara also flees home to pursue her dream of becoming a magician – freed from her ties to East Coast conventions, but bound by feelings of responsibility toward Simon. Then there is Daniel who follows a more conventional path and becomes an army doctor, post 9/11, and who has the unenviable job of deciding which young men he must send to war. Last is Varya, whose career as a researcher on longevity is all consuming. Each of these characters comes to life on the page under Benjamin’s deft authorship.
Beyond the captivating stories of these four siblings, The Immortalists leaves you thinking about how we might live our lives differently if we knew how much time we had left before we died. It is thought provoking, captivating and completely irresistible. Get your hands on a copy of this book and read it! It will not disappoint. (Liz)
A SECOND HELPING
The Immortalists hangs on another unusual premise: four siblings visit a fortune teller who reveals to them them the dates when they will die. Somehow, Benjamin delivers a gripping and psychologically complex novel based on this idea. The story plays out over many years and follows each sibling in the order that they die. Even though the set-up is crystal clear, I rooted for each of them to survive. (Lily)
