The Immortalists

who have all obediently slit their clothes above the heart, and though Rabbi Chaim explains that it is not he who can make her but God, it seems that God can t, either. In the end, the rabbi gives Gertie a black ribbon to cut, and she takes her seat with wounded victory.

Simon has never liked coming here. As a child, he thought the synagogue was haunted, with its rough, dark stone and dank interior. Worse were the services: the unending silent devotion, the fervent pleas for the restoration of Zion. Now Simon stands before the closed casket, air ­circulating through the slit in his shirt, and realizes he ll never see his ­father s face again. He pictures Saul s distant eyes and demure, almost feminine smile. Rabbi Chaim calls Saul magnanimous, a person of character and fortitude, but to Simon he was a decorous, timid man who skirted conflict and trouble a man who seemed to do so little out of passion that it was a wonder he had ever married Gertie, for no one would have viewed Simon s mother, with her ambition and pendulum moods, as a pragmatic choice.

After the service, they follow the pallbearers to Mount Hebron Cemetery, where Saul s parents were buried. Both girls are weeping Varya silently, Klara as loudly as her mother and Daniel seems to be holding himself together out of nothing more than stunned obligation. But Simon finds himself unable to cry, even as the casket is lowered into the earth. He feels only loss, not of the father he knew but of the person that Saul might have been. At dinner, they sat at opposite ends of the table, lost in private thought. The shock came when one of them glanced up, and their eyes caught an accident, but one that joined their separate worlds like a hinge before someone looked away again.

Now, there is no hinge. Distant though he was, Saul ha

The book spans decades, touching on the AIDs crisis, 9/11, race, and marriage. But, at its core, it s an examination of free will and fate. The New Yorker

The reader will likely be thoroughly taken by the world of the Gold siblings, in all its shades of brilliant color. It's not a totally comfortable realm, since we know all too well how this tale's going to end, but getting there is lovely. NPR.org

Search no further for your inaugural 2018 book club pick. Elle
 
Thrilling. Marie Claire

A compelling family drama. Esquire

Centered on four siblings and spanning decades, The Immortalists asks a seemingly simple yet unimaginably complex question: If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life? The search for the answer makes for a sprawling, enchanting family saga. Entertainment Weekly (Must-List)

Chloe Benjamin's family saga deftly explores destiny versus choice. US Weekly

A family saga about love, destiny, living life and making choices that will cause readers to consider what to do with the time given them on this earth. Huffington Post

Benjamin s tale is propulsive and colorful, capturing moving truths about the way we handle the knowledge that we all eventually die....The premise...is brilliant and simple. Chicago Tribune

Chloe Benjamin is a novelist to watch....The Immortalists weaves together philosophy and fortune-telling, to great effect....As deft and dizzying as a high-wire act...the reader is beguiled with unexpected twists and stylish, crisp prose....Unwittingly, this ambitious, unorthodox tale may change you too. The Economist

Compelling. InStyle 

As you follow [the siblings] toward their fates in this magical family saga, you ll appreciate the unexpected in your own life. Redbook

A moving novel about the deep bonds of family. Southern Living

Beautifully written and intricately detailed, it's impossible to put down and sure to be one of those books you've got to re-read again and again. Popsugar 

Intriguing premise...Beautifully written story. AARP

Suspenseful, compassionate, inquisitive, and wholly captivating. Bustle

"Continually ratcheting up the tension...A Jewish-American family saga. Newsday

"[A] captivating family saga...Each of these four narrative strands is a mini marvel, but together they form a hauntingly beautiful tapestry of familial love and loss." Lit Hub

Magical...There are moments as taut as a thriller, where time disappears as you turn pages; and passages of quiet compassion. The Seattle Times

"[A] gorgeous, sweeping novel." American Banker

[Benjamin] casts a spell with...her affecting family saga. Minneapolis Star Tribune

A sweeping epic that will enchant you from cover to cover. Paste Magazine

A page turner, as addictive as it is emotionally searing...Captivating, moving and addictive. It makes you think, feel, fall in love, and question how to best live your days left on earth. Lambda Literary 

An intriguing setup for an immersive family saga. Toronto Star 

Chloe Benjamin s The Immortalists is the very best kind of literary thriller, its suspense deriving from characters we care about deeply and surprises that feel embedded in our shared humanity. As profound a meditation on destiny as readers are likely to encounter. Richard Russo

For someone who loves stories about brothers and sisters, as I do, The Immortalists is about as good as it gets. A memorable and heartfelt look at what might happen to a family who knows too much. It's amazing how good this book is. Karen Joy Fowler

A beautiful, compassionate, and even joyful novel. Chloe Benjamin has written an inspiring book that makes you think hard about what you want to do with the time you re given. This is not really a book about dying it's a book about how to live. Nathan Hill, author of The Nix