In 'The Immortalists,' Chloe Benjamin weaves a compelling tale that follows the lives of four siblings who visit a fortune teller in their youth, who predicts the exact dates of their deaths. This revelation shapes their choices, relationships, and destinies in profound ways, leading them to explore themes of fate, family, and mortality. As each sibling grapples with the burden of knowing their death date, the narrative delves into deeply personal and universal questions about how we live our lives. The story unfolds across decades, illustrating the tension between free will and predetermined fate. Can knowing when you will die change how you truly live?
By Chloe Benjamin
Published: 2019
"In the end, it's not about when we die, but how we choose to live that truly matters."
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Washington Post • NPR • Entertainment Weekly • Real Simple • Marie Claire • New York Public Library • LibraryReads • The Skimm • Lit Hub • Lit Reactor AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “A captivating family saga.”—The New York Times Book Review “This literary family saga is perfect for fans of Celeste Ng and Donna Tartt.”—People Magazine (Book of the Week) If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life? It's 1969 in New York City's Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children—four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness—sneak out to hear their fortunes. The prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in '80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality. A sweeping novel of remarkable ambition and depth, The Immortalists probes the line between destiny and choice, reality and illusion, this world and the next. It is a deeply moving testament to the power of story, the nature of belief, and the unrelenting pull of familial bonds.
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“In the end, it's not about when we die, but how we choose to live that truly matters.”
The Immortalists
By Chloe Benjamin
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Chloe Benjamin is a bestselling author renowned for her poignant explorations of fate, family, and the intricacies of human existence. Her notable works include 'The Immortalists,' which delves into themes of mortality and choice, and 'The Anatomy of Dreams,' a captivating tale that intertwines love and ambition within the realm of dreams and consciousness. Benjamin's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose and emotional depth, often blending elements of magical realism with profound philosophical questions. She holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been featured in various literary journals, establishing herself as a significant voice in contemporary literature.
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