Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

The premise of this book is intriguing, and the prologue absolutely hooked me. On a hot summer day in the late 60s, four siblings visit a mystical woman who tells each one the precise date of their death. This knowledge comes to define each sibling's life in various ways; each section of the book traces the arc of one sibling's life. Simon and Klara move to San Francisco in search of acceptance--Simon is gay and Klara wants to become a stage magician. I found these two sections to be the most compelling. The following two sections following Daniel and Varya are a little less dynamic, but still good.

In the end, the reader is left wondering if the prophecy is true, or if the siblings take actions to make it true.

Chloe Benjamin addresses the difficult topic of "knowing our fate" in The Immortalists. We don't always see the loose thread that begins the unraveling of our world but Benjamin gives us a ring side seat in the story of four siblings woven together by a shared fate. This tale of family secrets seems realistic until you back up and look at the whole picture-then it becomes surreal. Another book with a similar feel is The Night Circus.

In Chloe Benjamin's affecting family saga, four siblings visit a fortune teller who predicts the day each will day.
full review Minneapolis Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/review-the-immortalists-by-chloe-benjamin/468083123/

I loved the idea behind this book and it is what drew me to want to review it. What would you do with your life if you knew the exact day you would die? If you knew exactly how much time you had to live? Also, that cover? It's gorgeous!
This story revolves around the four Gold children and how each of them lived their lives after finding out exactly how long they had to do so. I don't want to go into any details and spoil any of their stories but I will say they are varied and troubled, each in a different way.
I cannot say that I particularly liked any of the characters as they were all rather selfish and self absorbed. Simon was especially but his story is the one that touched me the most and the only one I could truly forgive for his selfishness. All of the stories are touching in their own way and each gives you a different perspective on life and teaches you something. This is the exact reason I read this book.
I will say that the last story did drag a bit and felt less emotional and cold to me but I think that that was Ms. Benjamin's point. While this may not be my favorite book ever, I think the story and lessons inside the story are important and I would recommend The Immortalists if this premise intrigues you at all.

Great premise and characters! I loved each individual story.

I enjoyed this book! While it never quite packed the emotional punch I was hoping for, I'm interested in the themes of fate and mortality this story explores.

This book had a great premise, but it never really panned out for me. It is a thought provoking book and would be great for a book club. Maybe I just have read too many books about siblings growing up in New York?

In the haze of the late 70's, four siblings see a woman who claims to tell them the exact date of death. Unsure of whether or not to believe her, their lives twist and turn into unforeseeable paths, separating and reuniting them over and over again. Each sibling grapples with their identity and place in the world in lovely prose and simmering faith.

I don't know how I feel about this one! It's often a depressing look at how the knowledge of death shapes how we live our present. Each section narrates the life of one of the Gold siblings, who visited a fortune teller when they were children and found out the dates of their deaths. Instead of dismissing or forgetting the fortune, they become obsessed with the knowledge - each in their own way - and that obsession leads them to embrace living in very different ways, depending on how soon or far their deaths are.

I love the premise, and some of the abstract thoughts and how they're delivered. Probably my favorite character was Ruby, who plays a very minor role in the novel, but whose personality seemed the most interesting. Each of the siblings fell a little flat for me. Klara, a magician, was both my favorite sibling and the one I found most disturbing, and I almost would've rather read an entire novel about her and her life than that of the other Gold siblings. Although that would've left me very depressed.

Recommended for readers of family drama and who enjoy novels told across generations.

Thanks to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Reviewed on Goodreads 1/26]
[Reviewed on Amazon 1/26]
[Review will appear on blog in February]
[May review on Book Riot]

The premise of the book instantly snagged me because, of course, it made me wonder how I'd react if I found out, as a child, the date of my death, and I was intrigued to see how this information would affect our four protagonists.

The blurb, though, is a slightly misleading. It hints at a definite, for-sure, unchangeable thing -- a bit of magical realism -- but the four Gold siblings are told their death dates by a Gypsy fortune teller, not exactly a prediction most of us would take seriously. Regardless, the knowledge lives in the backs of each of their minds, haunting them and subtly and (and sometimes not-so-subtly) affecting their lives in heartbreaking ways.

The book is divided into four sections, which are basically interconnected vignettes starring each sibling. The first section, about Simon, the youngest, was FANTASTIC, and I was pretty sucked into the last section, about Varya, the oldest, who works as a scientist. Unfortunately, the middle two sections -- about Klara and Daniel -- did not hold my attention as well.

I liked that the story spanned several decades, from 1969 when the Golds receive their fortunes to 2010; while this was most definitely a character-driven story, the author did include some atmospheric period details here and there. I also appreciated that this was a thought-provoking work of fiction. How much effect do your thoughts have on your reality? Is it better to live longer of fuller? And, of course, how would the reader be affected by the knowledge of his or her own death?

For some reason, though, I didn't expect this book to be quite as heavy as it is. It deals with many weighty issues (way more than you'd guess from the blurb), and it's pretty darn depressing. There are bright spots here and there, and I liked the ending, but it was a dark ride to get there. I also only liked one of the four Gold children (Simon) -- the others, while I was interested in their stories, were not necessarily characters I was rooting for.

While The Immortlalists ended up being a rather different book than I went in expecting, I did enjoy it overall. Despite the clunky middle, it was a fast read, it was well-written and it made me think.

*I received a free copy for review from the publisher via NetGalley.

Several of the sections of the book would work well as a short stories, but the connections and successes are unrealistic when taken as a whole.

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin introduces the four Gold siblings as they dance on the edge of reality when they visit a rumored fortune-teller who can predict the dates of their deaths. Each sibling must visit the woman alone, choosing only after to share with the others her prediction. As they grow, the secret of her telling will influence them in ways they have yet to understand. Benjamin has created a moving narrative that expertly examines the myriad ways in which our past and our beliefs influence our choices.

So this is how it started: as a secret, a challenge, a fire escape they used to dodge the hulking mass of their mother, who demanded that they hang laundry or get the goddamn cat out of the stovepipe whenever she found them lounging in the bunk room.
The individual narratives of each Gold sibling are told, in ascending birth order, against the backdrop of influential segments of American history. We learn to appreciate the unique lives each one leads while still remaining connected to their family- though in some cases only by degrees.

Simon, the youngest, finds himself engulfed by the sweat and lust of San Francisco where he is finally able to exist as a gay man. He works for a nightclub and eventually as a ballet dancer where his life is reflected like a prism- each angle bring something beautiful and unexpected though ultimately fragile. Having travelled on a whim to San Francisco with his closest sibling Klara, we next learn about her journey.

In the early days of reconnaissance about the famed fortune-teller, Klara discovers a book of magic and is excited by its mystery and subterfuge. Her exceptional talent brings her across the United States where she hustles everyday with her husband and daughter to share her brand of magic with the world while simultaneously fighting against losing herself in the process. The very requirement of a magician to toe the line between truthfulness and falsehood muddles her spirit and exacerbates her emotional torment.

Daniel is the next eldest Gold and second only in his pragmatism to his eldest sister Varya. His life is dictated by the routine and control of the Army- something he craved following the death of his father and the abandonment he felt when his two younger siblings absconded to California. When his performance as an Army doctor in charge of medical readiness exams is questioned, for reasons subtly rooted in fraud, the careful balance he cultivated shifts and his world spirals out of control.

Varya appears to be the only Gold sibling who is remotely comforted by the fortune-teller's prediction. Nonetheless, she devotes her life to longevity research through caloric restriction in primates. This restriction emulates her own life and, like her brother Daniel, she has compartmentalized her life to near sterile proportions. Her narrative serves as the capstone of the novel, summarizing how varying degrees of the presence or absence of control can dictate a persons well-being- but can it preserve their life?

She feared that fate was fixed, but she hoped-God, she hoped-that it was not too late for life to surprise her. She hoped it was not too late for her to surprise herself.
The Immortalists is at first glance a family saga, but as the pages turn is quickly becomes clear that it is also a meditation on the emotional fragility of the individual. Benjamin's imagination shines, as well as her deft control of the individuality of characters she has wrought. There is something here for everyone, which can be found at times in the most surprising of places.

The definitely was an odd but interesting book. It does make you thing what would you do if you knew what the future held?

I wasn't sure how Ms. Benjamin would pull off the plot without absurdity, but she did-- I quite liked the story, though none of the characters was especially relatable to me, and read at breakneck speed to see what was going to happen. The sadness inherent in the premise is tempered, so it's not a bleak book at all. I will be eager to read more by her.

Wow, such a great premise for a novel - If you knew the details of your death, and the date, how would you live the rest of your life? I went with 4 stars on this novel from Chloe Benjamin because I so thoroughly enjoyed the first three quarters of the story. The last section seems to run out of steam a bit, but I still enjoyed the story. Ms. Benjamin offers readers 4 distinct characters in the children who visit a psychic and find out the details of their deaths. I appreciated the complexity of their character profiles, the way they interacted and reacted to instances in the novel and the impact their parents (also quite well dimensioned characters) had on the children's lives as single and as unit. If you like a well written family saga, and want to explore fate and free will, this might be a good read for you. I think it will be strong as a book club selection, as there are many opportunities for discussion and debate contained within The Immortalists.

The Immortalists draws you in from the first page and keeps you wanting more. I loved this book and could not put it down. This book tells the tale of siblings that go to visit a psychic who claims to be able to tell you the day of your death. I loved this book.

One day, Daniel Gold overhears a couple of other boys talking about a strange woman who can tell you the date of your death. She relocates frequently, advertises nowhere, and can only be discovered through word of mouth. Driven by the mystery of it all, Daniel compels his brothers and sisters - Varya, Klara, and little Simon - to join him in the pursuit of this woman. When they do find her, they each get an answer to that burning question - when will I die? Now what will they do with the information? Will their lives be transformed? Is it even true?

There is so much to say about this book, I hardly know where to begin. The base premise of the book - if you thought you knew the date of your death, how would it affect the way you lived? - is captivating and a little terrifying. Would you even want to know? Could knowing (or thinking that you knew) actually make the prediction come true? Would the answer free you or imprison you? All of these questions are explored through the lives of each of the four children, the book broken into each of their individual stories.

The first is about Simon. Poor, dear, beautiful, tragic Simon. His story brought me to tears at the end. I'd love to dig deep here, but I don't want to give anything away. I only have two things to say. The first is that the sex scenes which seem to have offended some people, while shocking to some, are probably also greatly misunderstood. They were not gratuitous, they were telling. If you read all of Simon's story, if you consider them in context of his whole life, you might realize they serve a purpose. There are no other scenes like it in the book. The second thing is, I loved Simon. I've known many Simon's and loved them dearly, so his pain was particularly visceral for me.

The second story is about Klara. Not my favorite story of the four (that would be Simon's), but I liked Klara, loved her spunk and daring, her determination to answer what called to her. But truthfully, I love stories about real magic (wizards and witches and faeries and goblins and dragons), but I have a strong distaste of fake magic, shows like Penn & Teller. Klara's love for that kind of life didn't appeal to me, and probably prevented a deeper connection on my part. And while I respected the hell out of her dogged pursuit of that life, there are so many choices she made that I didn't understand, in particular her choice in partner (business and romantic), and more importantly, her ending. There was nothing in the story that led me to believe that is where she was headed, which made it less than believable for me.

Daniel's story comes next, and I'll admit, I liked him least of all. There were moments when I empathized with him, where I could see the defense mechanisms he put up, but he was the most distanced from his siblings, the most selfish, the most hypocritical, the most arrogant. And yet he had this amazing wife, a happy marriage, and for a moment, we get to see his desire to be closer to his family. While there were blatant indications of what was to come, it was also a bit difficult to believe. How very un-Daniel of him. But maybe that's the point. Fearing your impending death, as the date creeps closer, leaves you with little to lose, I suppose.

And finally, Varya. Oh, Varya. You were so very difficult to love. Given all that you lost, empathy should have been seeping from my pores, but you were a tough nut to crack. Eventually, I understood better, though I didn't like you a lot better. But in the end, I cried the most for you.

This was a solid 4.5 stars for me. Such a unique story, and a fascinating exploration of the provocative question: what would you do if you knew when you were going to die? A book I'll buy for my collection because I loved it.

The premise for this book made it quite an interesting read. Four siblings, Varya, Daniel, Klara & Simon, at a young age go to a fortune teller who tells each of them separately the date in which they will die. What does one do with that information? Live life to its fullest whether you believe it or not? The kids grow up never really talking about that day or revealing to each other the dates they were told they would die. The story is then told in sections, each section focusing on one of the siblings. In some parts it did slow down a bit for me, but there were some heartbreaking and shocking moments that I didn't see coming. Overall, I felt the writing was very well done.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

And if there’s magic in the world, there’s magic beyond it.”

Chloe Benjamin’s novel, The Immortalists begins in 1969 with the four Gold children Varya, 13, Daniel, 11, Klara, 9, Simon, 7 who head out, pressured by Daniel to have their fortunes told by a travelling psychic. Daniel has heard that the fortune-teller can predict death dates.

The practical minded Varya asks “What is it’s bad news? What if she says you’ll die before you’re even a grown-up?”

“Then it would better to know, ” said Daniel. “So you could get everything done before.”

But would the knowledge of the date of your death ‘help’ or hinder you? You won’t know if the date is correct or not until it arrives. I was intrigued by the premise of the novel as many years ago I had a friend who had a similar experience. He refused to tell me the date he was given, but it haunted him. After seeing how traumatized he was by this experience, I would rather not know. Of course, we all come with a hidden expiration date, and the novel asks whether or not knowing (or thinking you know) the day of your death makes a difference as to how you choose to live your life. What if the date is wrong? How does this knowledge, true or false, impact behaviour?

In a tatty apartment building, the children are each, separately, told the day of their deaths. Although they keep the information initially secret, it impacts their behavior in the years to come.

the immortalists

Simon Gold as a teenager who is facing joining the family’s “Tailor and Dressmaking” business, instead opts to run off to the heady freedom of San Francisco in the late 70s-early 80s. There, underage Simon finds work as a dancer in a gay bar, and he meets an older man. Meanwhile his sister Klara who runs off to San Francisco with Simon gets a job as temp. while dreaming of becoming an illusionist. Klara turns to magic in a dangerous and obsessive attempt to cross the barriers between the living and the dead.

The second brother Daniel, quiet, steady and serious becomes an army doctor post 9-11 and Varya becomes a scientist whose area of expertise/interest is longevity research. (This involves Rhesus monkeys, so reader beware). In her longevity research, quantity becomes more important than quality.

The Immortalists, beginning with Simon, follows the siblings on their life paths. Each sibling keeps the death date in his/her head, always conscious of it, even if they disbelieve it. Simon, who is told that he will die young, certainly takes this information and runs with it. Hurls himself towards it might even be a better description.

What if the woman on Hester Street is right, and the next few years are his last? The mere thought turns his life a different color; it makes everything feel urgent, glittering, precious.

I liked the novel’s premise and the mystical elements, and I loved Klara and Varya’s stories, possibly because they tried to understand life in alternate ways. Daniel’s section stretched credulity, and readers should be aware that in Simon’s story, there’s a considerable amount of sex. This is described rather clinically, not salaciously, but still, anyone intending to read this should know what they are in for. IMO, it added nothing to the book. That’s not meant in a puritanical way, but these scenes did nothing for me whatsoever, and seemed, frankly, rather gratuitous.

The Immortalists asks how much we really control our lives. Would the Gold children have acted differently if they’d never met the fortune-teller? If you were told you were going to die young, would you dive right into life and to hell with the consequences or would you try to avoid disaster? Character is fate, right? Can you escape fate? We see each of the Gold children tackle those questions differently.

If you like The Immortalists, you will probably also like Daniel Kehlmann’s F (or vice versa)

Review copy