What would you do if you knew when you would die? This is the question at the core of The Immortalists.  Benjamin explores the connection between destiny and choice, our longing to live fully and our fear that death will rob us of that opportunity.

On a hot summer day in 1969, the Gold children made a decision that would impact their lives forever. They didn’t know that at the time, of course, they were just bored and longing to escape the heat in their Lower East Side apartment. They had all heard the rumors of a woman, a traveling psychic, who could tell anyone when they would die. The children, Daniel, Klara, Simon, and Varya, decided this was just the adventure they needed and so they slipped out of their apartment and walked to the building where the woman was giving readings.

It was strange, but after their readings the children barely talked about what they had been told. In fact, it was many years before any of them talked about it much at all, and when they did it was only to reassure one another that it was just a scam, and that there was no way anyone could ever know the time of another’s death.

Time passes. Klara became obsessed with magic and performance art and has pursued a career as a magician in Las Vegas. Simon, uncertain about his sexuality, moved to San Francisco in the 1980s and found love and so much more, Daniel joined the military and became a doctor and Varya pursued the keys to longevity as a research scientist. For each a different path and different choices and yet consciously or unconsciously the prophecy seems to have informed their lives and their choices.

Benjamin has written a wonderfully engaging and profound book. This is a family saga with all the complicated ties and secrets that come with family but Benjamin allows each character to shine individually with their own gravitas and importance. Although she has important things to say about the fine line between destiny and choice, reality and illusion, her message is subtle and measured.  This is a second novel by this young author (only 28!) and I look forward to reading many more books from this accomplished writer!

Brenda’s Rating: *****(5 out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Sharon, Marian, Lauren and Keith.

Book Study Worthy? Yes!

Read in ebook format.