I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher through Bookishfirst.
When I read the first few chapters of this novel on BookishFirst, I knew it was one I needed to read. Knowing the date of your death is such a terrifyingly intriguing concept. And especially the idea that four young siblings--Varya, Daniel, Klara, and Simon--seek out this information from a fortune teller--mostly out of boredom and curiosity--and then let it influence the rest of their lives. After reading The Immortalists, I can say for sure that I have no desire to know the date of my death. Some things are better left unknown.
The author, Chloe Benjamin, does a superb job telling each sibling's story. The novel is broken into four parts, one for each sibling, and each one building off of the one before, slowly revealing more and more information about the family. The story begins in New York in 1969--a time of unrest--and progresses through the years. I enjoyed the glimpses into significant times during America's history--especially San Francisco in the 1980s. There was only one sibling's story that I felt unsatisfied with, but that changed as I read the rest of the book. The Immortalists is a thoughtful book, a tragic tale with a haunting message of unattained contentment.
When I read the first few chapters of this novel on BookishFirst, I knew it was one I needed to read. Knowing the date of your death is such a terrifyingly intriguing concept. And especially the idea that four young siblings--Varya, Daniel, Klara, and Simon--seek out this information from a fortune teller--mostly out of boredom and curiosity--and then let it influence the rest of their lives. After reading The Immortalists, I can say for sure that I have no desire to know the date of my death. Some things are better left unknown.
The author, Chloe Benjamin, does a superb job telling each sibling's story. The novel is broken into four parts, one for each sibling, and each one building off of the one before, slowly revealing more and more information about the family. The story begins in New York in 1969--a time of unrest--and progresses through the years. I enjoyed the glimpses into significant times during America's history--especially San Francisco in the 1980s. There was only one sibling's story that I felt unsatisfied with, but that changed as I read the rest of the book. The Immortalists is a thoughtful book, a tragic tale with a haunting message of unattained contentment.