I was so thrilled to get my hands on an ARC (I had entered every giveaway that I possibly could) because I just found the premise irresistible – “If you were told the date of your death, how would it shape your present?”
This book taps into some deep well of understanding and commonality of the human experience that felt incredibly painful and yet truthful to me at the same time. I so fell in love with each of these VASTLY different characters. Benjamin explores themes of family, mortality, ambition, love in really a unique way. By challenging us to think of our own time left through the experience of these four siblings, the story has the effect of leading us to also examine our relationships to those we love and think on what regrets we might have on how we spend our time if we knew more.
Knowledge – this is her biggest question for us, what does it serve, and if we had more would it be helpful or harmful? Do not expect any warm and fuzzy feel-good feelings out of this story. It is a sobering look at how time gets away from us, and an encouragement to live life fully, and maybe to accept that the “not knowing” can be ok. There is the tiniest element of fantasy or the mystical to this book (which of course, you learn from reading the synopsis), but I honestly didn’t think about it much until the end. Really this is just a sign of Benjamin’s ability to suck you right in and create a reality that is instantly acceptable to your mind. I anticipate this one being a big one for 2018. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Penguin Random House and Chloe Benjamin for the Advance Reader’s Copy.
This book taps into some deep well of understanding and commonality of the human experience that felt incredibly painful and yet truthful to me at the same time. I so fell in love with each of these VASTLY different characters. Benjamin explores themes of family, mortality, ambition, love in really a unique way. By challenging us to think of our own time left through the experience of these four siblings, the story has the effect of leading us to also examine our relationships to those we love and think on what regrets we might have on how we spend our time if we knew more.
Knowledge – this is her biggest question for us, what does it serve, and if we had more would it be helpful or harmful? Do not expect any warm and fuzzy feel-good feelings out of this story. It is a sobering look at how time gets away from us, and an encouragement to live life fully, and maybe to accept that the “not knowing” can be ok. There is the tiniest element of fantasy or the mystical to this book (which of course, you learn from reading the synopsis), but I honestly didn’t think about it much until the end. Really this is just a sign of Benjamin’s ability to suck you right in and create a reality that is instantly acceptable to your mind. I anticipate this one being a big one for 2018. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Penguin Random House and Chloe Benjamin for the Advance Reader’s Copy.