I'm about 4.5 stars here.

If you could know the exact day of your death, would you want to find out? If you did find out, how would knowing that information affect how you lived your life? These questions are at the heart of The Immortalists, Chloe Benjamin's deeply affecting and beautifully written new book.

In 1969, growing up on New York's Lower East Side, the Gold siblings learn that there is a traveling fortune teller in their neighborhood who can tell anyone the day they will die. While not everyone is sure that this is actually true, the four children—straightforward Varya, bossy Daniel, impetuous, magic-obsessed Klara, and dreamy Simon—decide to find out.

What the woman tells each of them that day will greatly affect their lives, none more so than Klara and Simon. Klara, wanting nothing more than to pursue a career as a magician and illusionist, can't get out of New York and away from her stifling family soon enough, and she lets her younger brother Simon convince them that the two should flee to San Francisco after Klara graduates from high school. Simon knows he is different and dreams that San Francisco will be the place he can finally be free to be who he is, to find love and be someone other than the son destined to inherit his family's garment business.

Klara watches as her brother pursues his life with reckless abandon, and while she wants to pursue her dreams as well, she knows she must be the stable one for him. Both are driven by the fortune teller's prophecy, which causes them to be more reckless and impetuous than they should, but also to take chances they might not otherwise pursue, to truly live their lives to their fullest. And when Klara finally meets someone who can help take her to the cusp of the world she craves entry to, she envisions bringing her illusions and tricks to an appreciating public, no matter the toll it takes on her.

"Some magicians say that magic shatters your worldview. But I think magic holds the world together. It's dark matter; it's the glue of reality, the putty that fills the holes between everything we know to be true. And it takes magic to reveal how inadequate reality is."

Meanwhile, Daniel and Varya, both angry and envious that their younger siblings left them responsible for their aging, widowed mother, try not to focus on whether what the fortune teller told them will come true, yet both pursue more grounded, stable careers—Daniel as a military doctor responsible for determining which soldiers are healthy enough to go to war, and Varya as a researcher determined to find the secrets of longevity. But each have secrets of their own, as well as the shared secrets which cause them increasing fear, anxiety, and guilt.

The Immortalists is a fascinating book, one which was both surprising and predictable. Parts are truly moving and powerful—the first two sections, which focus on Simon and Klara, are much stronger than those which focus on Daniel and Varya. Daniel's section veers off-course with the reappearance of a character and a situation that seems entirely too pat, and Varya's section loses a bit of focus when it dwells in-depth on the science of her research, but the conclusion recaptures the passion, emotion, and beauty of the beginning.

Benjamin is a fantastic storyteller and she has created a tremendously thought-provoking book. Is our destiny really predetermined, or can we have a hand in changing what is destined? Does the idea of knowing how long your life might last encourage you to live life to the fullest, or does it instead fill you with more fear and dread than the unknown would?

I don't think I'll be able to get this book out of my mind anytime soon. The characters were so vivid, and even when the plot lost track, I was immersed in the story, which I'm being vague about because I don't want to spoil anything. I can't wait to see what comes next in Benjamin's literary career.

NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

To buy in to the main premise of The Immortalists, one has to suspend her disbelief..

Four siblings from a Jewish-American family--Daniel, Varya, Klara, and Simon--are united by their shared secret, told to them by a fortune teller during childhood. The secret dictates the way each lives and dies. Each large section of the novel focuses on one sibling during a certain era of his or her life. They are also united by their slightly overbearing mother, Gertie. Each sibling is in some way cursed by the prophecy of the fortune teller; it's hard to believe that each would be so affected by it.

Though the writing was average, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. The secret, the fortune teller, and Klara's occupation as a mentalist add a sometimes macabre and fantastical vibe to the story but the events, dilemmas, and sometimes strained familial dynamic will ring familiar to most.

Fans of Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist and Erika Swyler's The Book of Speculation might enjoy this book.

Four siblings ranging in age from 9-13 sneak in to see a fortune teller and ask an odd question. They want to know the date of their deaths. Even more strangely, she tells them, individually, but makes them promise not to share the information with anyone; they agree. The book is then divided into sections by sib in order of death date. The premise of the tale is odd, beguiling and interesting; the execution is uneven. The siblings are not equally compelling; their lives not filled with the same passion. Frankly, none of the siblings lead purposeful lives, they all run amok in different ways, all seeking to outrun their death date. The date no one believed but no one shared.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I couldn't put it down. It fascinated me but I didn't really enjoy large parts of it. It had started out well but by the second sibling it began to falter and then really I struggled. I kept expecting it to get better again. I became frustrated but I didn't want to stop reading. I wanted to see how the story ended. I am still playing with scenes in my mind but I would have liked a different ending. The book has real power. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Immortalists is -- in a word -- outstanding. It is a deeply moving story that challenges and reckons with what it means to love completely and unconditionally and live fully and authentically. There are few books I choose to read more than once, but this will be one of them. I would recommend this book to anyone.

This book visits old questions such as, "What would you do differently, how would you live if you knew when you would die?" and "Are we at the hands of fate or do we make our own?" It has been said that a good book is an education of the heart; I think a good book can also be or inform an examination of the heart, as this one does. How far would one go for family? What lengths would one go to stay alive? The story is simple in its premise, but its development is beautiful. The writing is very good, and so is the character development. From start to finish, a captivating story. I would certainly recommend it.

I cannot even begin to describe how much I love this book. There is an inevitability to the fate of each of the characters, but also the sense that they are responsible for making their fates. In the end, I found this to be a sweeping and emotional examination of how we choose to live and how we choose to love.

This book is an incredible read from the first word until the last. I could not put it down, literally. The title may mislead some into thinking this might be a fantasy genre; no it's just damn good fiction. We start out in 1969 with four kids ranging in age from 4 to about 12, in New York City. Average kids, not poor, not rich, but not really middle-class. Their parents get by with a small garment and tailoring shop that's seen better times. The oldest takes them to see a woman who tells fortunes, and he's heard, will also tell you the exact date of your death. So, do you then live your life because of this information, or despite it. The characters and writing are so very good you'll be swept inside living every moment with them. You'll try and question their every decision, every move; all four of them. Exceptional read. Highly recommend.

That day in 1969, when the four Gold children went to see the psychic in their Lower East side neighborhood, their lives changed forever. Simon, Varya, Daniel and Klara all wanted to know how long they would live and the woman told them.

Soon after their father's death, Simon & Klara decided to travel across country to San Francisco. Simon was able to explore his gay tendencies and even joined a male dance troupe. Klara perfected the magic tricks she learned from an older magician and ended up as a Las Vegas performer. Daniel went off to medical school and Varya became a researcher studying longevity.

The book is divided into 4 sections, one section for each of the siblings as they approach the predicted day of their death.

The author has created a cast of memorable characters in her debut novel.

This book is SO GOOD! None of that annoying, you are waiting and are really excited about reading this one, and you want so badly and try so hard to like it, but it sadly disappoints you by being just not that great. Oh, that terrible letdown. That did not happen here with The Immortalists at all. This book is refreshing with its unique, original premise; it's something that hasn't been done a million times before. And you guys...you can't read this novel without feeling something. These are not characters that you can mindlessly gloss over while reading. You will read their stories eagerly, think about them when you're not reading, and be on edge until you find out what happens to them. Well done, Chloe Benjamin. I am a fan.

So here's what is going on in this book: In the prologue, four siblings together decide to visit a fortune teller they've heard about in their New York City neighborhood. This woman tells each of them separately the date of their deaths. There are four sections of the book, each dedicated to a sibling, so you can see how the prophecy plays out. Benjamin's writing is impressive to me--the girl knows how to stick to a theme. The strongest theme in this case being familial relationships. The siblings' stories are so separate and so different, but they are so connected.

This book took me two weeks to read. One, because we went on vacation and I could hardly hold my eyes open at the end of long days of hiking, sightseeing, and swimming in Tennessee. (So fun, y'all. Get yourselves to the mountains.) But two, because I kept stopping to research what was happening in the book. I spent hours reading about the onset of the AIDS epidemic in the 80's. So fascinating...I mean, I knew that it happened but I'd never really learned anything about it. Then during Varya's part of the story, I got distracted finding out more about animal research and rhesus monkeys. I think I drove my husband crazy--my exhaustive discourse trying to discern my feelings on this topic.

If you're looking for something a little more serious, not quite light reading, something that will make you think, this is an excellent choice. I'm so glad I read this one!

The Immortalists di Chloe Benjamin è uno dei romanzi più attesi del prossimo anno e in giro iniziano a spuntare le più entusiaste recensioni.

Io ho rimandato a scrivere due righe sul libro a lungo, perché in sostanza non mi ha detto molto.

La storia inizia nel 1969, Lower East Side di New York, quando si diffonde la voce dell'arrivo di una donna che pratica una magia particolare, una viaggiatrice psichica che sostiene di poter predire a chiunque il giorno della morte.
Quattro adolescenti, Varya, Daniel, Klara e Simon, particolarmente sensibili ed evoluti interiormente, decidono di incontrarla, tra mille reticenze e dubbi (conoscere quando si morirà quanto può influenzare la vita?).

La trama li segue nei successivi cinque decenni: Simon fugge sulla costa occidentale alla ricerca dell'amore nella San Francisco degli anni ’80, la sognatrice Klara diventa una maga a Las Vegas, ossessionata dal confine tra realtà e immaginazione, Daniel cerca la sicurezza e diviene medico, sperando di poter controllare il destino, infine Varya si lancia nella ricerca della longevità, testando il confine tra scienza e immortalità.

Il romanzo ha ambizioni notevoli per quanto riguarda i contenuti ed è qui che per me ha in parte fallito.
Di assoluto interesse il tema fondante, sottile e sempre presente, tra destino e scelta, libero arbitrio e fato, realtà e illusione, nonché quanto una profezia, un timore, o comunque qualcosa che riguarda il futuro, vero o meno che sia, possa guidare o cambiare le nostre scelte.

Purtroppo l’autrice ha voluto metterci dentro mille altri argomenti, dai legami familiari, all’amore, alla discriminazione, all’AIDS, ecc. – tutti molto gettonati nella narrativa di questi ultimi tempi, ovviamente con esiti diversi a seconda degli autori –annacquando così la tematica portante e risultando un po’ artificiosa (e noiosa) nel voler per forza parlare di tutto con una serietà per nulla genuina.

Lo stile è sicuramente apprezzabile e i personaggi ben costruiti, benché Simon su tutti mi sia sembrato quasi patetico da un certo punto in poi.
Ecco, torna quel senso di esagerazione, di voler sbandierare “sto scrivendo un libro serio! tutto deve essere melodrammatico, pesante, tristissimo!” che non mi piace, perché ha il gusto di qualcosa di finto – per quanto ami anche le storie serie, cupe, deprimenti, queste devono risultare naturali e credibili.

Per questi motivi il libro non mi ha lasciato nulla ed è un peccato perché la tematica portante è eccezionale, molto interessante e se l’autrice si fosse concentrata su quella, lasciando vivere e respirare i propri personaggi, invece di renderli così rigidi e innaturali, ne sarebbe uscito qualcosa di davvero pregevole.

Almeno per me; dato che la mia voce è in assoluta minoranza, potrei essere io a non aver colto il quid in più nella storia.

In the midst of a long hot summer, four siblings hear of a fortune teller hanging around town that can tell people the exact day they will die. The siblings go see her and all find out the day they will die, some very young, others not so young. The reader then gets to follow each sibling throughout their life to see how it all transpires. Great book on relationships, and makes you wonder if fate really is real or if they made the decisions they did because they knew they'd be dying soon.

I loved 'The Immortalists'. I couldn't put it down. What if you could know the date of your death? Would you want to know? How might knowing shape the rest of your life?

'The Immortalists' has a fascinating premise, but the best thing about the book are the wonderful, flawed and complex characters. Every section of the book is from the point of view of a different sibling, and I loved each one more than the last.

I truly wonderful book. Highly recommended.

A beautiful and poignant tale about 4 siblings who venture out an old woman who can foretell when you will die. We share the turmoil of Simon, Klara, Daniel and Varya as they navigate their lives despite the burden of what they know. The writing is solid, the characters fleshed out. You will devour this novel from beginning to end. It is unflinching and transparent. It brings to light what a life entails--living and pursuing, always trying to make the most of what feels important and the value of family.

It is a fascinating idea - If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life? Clearly the moral of this story is that we are better off as we are - not knowing!

I found myself deeply involved in each of the siblings' lives as we went along, and was intrigued to ponder the question for each of them - did they bring about their own death because of the prediction or was the fortune teller correct? I was very interested in their familial relationships the dynamics of those relationships. The author left me with some very poignant thoughts on how regret & guilt impact the quality of your life.

I enjoyed the book and will recommend at the library. My one comment would be that the book may have tried to cover too many things lightly rather than concentrating on fewer things and covering them more deeply. Still - a great page turner!

A remarkable, moving, beautiful book, that asks the question, what is a life well lived? Do we have a choice in how we live our lives or is it all fate or destiny? This book will stay with me for a long time. Thanks Netgalley.

The Immortalists gripped me from the first sentence and didn't let go. Chloe Benjamin has written a gorgeous book! The Immortalists follows the lives of the four Gold children - Varya, Daniel, Klara, and Simon. Daniel hears rumors of a fortune teller who can predict when ypubwill die. The kids sneak out of their apartment one hot summer day and see this fortune teller. This one afternoon changes all of them, forever. How would you live your life if you knew when it would end? Would you live with heedless abandon? Would you plan every step carefully? Would you believe the prophecy was real?
Chloe Benjamin weaves big ideas about destiny, choice, and faith into a compelling, relatable, heartbreakingly beautiful story. The Immortalists is the best book I have read this year.

Developed characters, elegant and description prose, The Immortalists is a text that will stand the test of time. The issues Benjamin addresses are ones that everyday ordinary people will relate to which is why the novel works so well.

A fascinating look at what knowing (or thinking you know) the date of your death can do to you. Great premise and it kept me turning pages. I was so interested in how things concluded. Some people may find the shifts in time during each characters' section to be confusing but I had no problem following what was going on. A very enjoyable read!

This is a very smart book that explores the idea of whether we would be changed by knowing the date of our own deaths. The Gold children visit a fortune teller in the late 60s who tells each of them when they will die, and they are irrevocably scarred by the information. Their relationships are tested and shattered and rebuilt as each sibling both builds their own prison out of the knowledge and seeks freedom from it.