I did have some trouble with the plausibility or probability of certain events in the story, but looking past that, I was fascinated by the psychological effects obtaining information about the future had on the characters. It’s an interesting proposal and discussions about these concepts could be very deep, which would make this novel a fantastic book club read. Can we help dire predictions along- force them to happen when they may not have otherwise? Is too much information advantageous or does it work against us in the end? Simon’s story sets the stage for a riveting family saga that prompts the reader to wonder just how much of our lives are controlled by elements such as pure luck or destiny and how much control we have over our own future. However, it is also very authentic and captures the era, the fear, the location, and atmosphere of the era perfectly.

Getting through Simon’s story, the outcome of which is easy to predict, could make some readers a bit uncomfortable, as it is quite explicit. How will they decide to live their lives? By throwing caution to the wind, living every moment like it counts, or will they become a slave to the fortune teller’s predictions? What would you do if you knew the exact date of your earthly departure?Įach of the siblings will have a segment dedicated to their life story, beginning with Simon, the youngest of the four. In a novel, so centered on death, there is a tremendous amount of life and living within these pages.īeginning in 1969, the four Gold siblings boldly knock on the door of a fortune teller who then proceeds to impart to them the one thing nobody knows when they enter this world- the exact day you will die.įor better or worse, Varya, Daniel, Klara and Simon cope with this heavy information, but, their approach to life, their attitudes and actions could not be more different. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin is a 2018 G.P.