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The Immortalists

368 pages, 2019

fiction

fiction

1382 books
Takeaways
Description

If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life? It's 1969 in New York Citys Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children—four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness—sneak out to hear their fortunes. The prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in 80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality. A sweeping novel of remarkable ambition and depth, The Immortalists probes the line between destiny and choice, reality and illusion, this world and the next. It is a deeply moving testament to the power of story, the nature of belief, and the unrelenting pull of familial bonds. 

The Power of Belief

Chloe Benjamin's The Immortalists explores the idea that our beliefs can shape our lives. The four siblings in the book are told the dates of their deaths by a fortune teller, and this knowledge influences their decisions and actions. It's a fascinating look into how what we believe can impact our reality.

The Importance of Family

The Immortalists is a deep dive into the complex dynamics of family relationships. The four siblings, despite their differences and the secrets they keep, are bound together by their shared experience. The book shows us that family ties can be both a blessing and a curse.

The Struggle with Mortality

The book explores the human struggle with mortality. Each sibling copes with their predicted death date in different ways, showing us the various ways people deal with the inevitability of death. It's a thought-provoking look into our own mortality.

The Influence of Fate and Free Will

Chloe Benjamin's book makes us question the role of fate and free will in our lives. The siblings' lives seem to be dictated by the fortune teller's predictions, but their choices also play a significant role. It's a great read if you're interested in exploring the balance between destiny and choice.

The Impact of Secrets

The Immortalists shows us the destructive power of secrets. The siblings' decision to keep their death dates a secret from each other leads to misunderstandings and conflicts. It's a reminder of how important honesty and open communication are in maintaining healthy relationships.

Quotes 3

The Immortalists is a thought-provoking, sweeping family saga that explores the line between destiny and choice, reality and illusion, this world and the next.

Jenna Bush HagerJenna Bush Hager - TV Host, Author

The Immortalists is a beautiful, tender, and profound meditation on the paradox of life. It is both a page-turner and a deep reflection on the limits of our existence.

People MagazinePeople Magazine - Entertainment Magazine

The Immortalists is a sweeping narrative that spans lives, decades, and continents. It's a book that will make you contemplate the nature of fate, family, and mortality.

NPRNPR - Radio Broadcasting
Jenna Bush HagerPeople MagazineNPR

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Sophie Bakalar

Sophie Bakalar

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