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The Immortalists

Chloe Benjamin

Finish date: May 16, 2018

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May 13, 2018 Kristel rated it liked it

Shelves: f2f-bookclub-books

The Immortalists is a book that I read for f2f bookclub. I disliked somethings and I liked somethings but I think this book will make for a great book discussion so was perfect as a bookclub choice.

The author, Chloe Benjamin, is San Francisco Native, and this is her second book. She recieved recognition for her debut novel The Anatomy of Dreams. The Immortalists is a New York Times Bestseller, #1 Indie Next Pick for January 2018, Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection, #1 Library R The Immortalists is a book that I read for f2f bookclub. I disliked somethings and I liked somethings but I think this book will make for a great book discussion so was perfect as a bookclub choice.

The author, Chloe Benjamin, is San Francisco Native, and this is her second book. She recieved recognition for her debut novel The Anatomy of Dreams. The Immortalists is a New York Times Bestseller, #1 Indie Next Pick for January 2018, Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection, #1 Library Reads pick, and Amazon Best Book of the Month. This book has a touch of San Francisco, the east coast, and the midwest with honorable mention of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The book is the story of 4 siblings who in boredom and adventure seek out a fortune teller who tells them when they will die. The book is told in four sections featuring each sibling and how they chose to live their lives, how this information effected them or did not effect them. From the first to die to the one that will live to nearly 90.

Quote: ...home was in the rhythm of the halakhah: the daily prayer, the weekly Sabbath, the annual holy days. In time was their culture. In time, no in space, was their home.

First what I did not like because really that is only a small part. I thought the first life of the youngest was the descriptive sexual content. I do not think descriptive content is necessary to tell stories and I try very hard to avoid erotica and this section, while it addresses an important part of history was too descriptive. I do think the author caught the urgency of youth to experience life and to be sexual without thinking of consequences was done very well. This part of story was very descriptive of time and place.

The other thing I felt was that the author may have put too much effort into placing her book in time and place. It felt overwritten, like she didn't want to miss anything so she was covering everything. I had just read A Little Life where the author chose not to tie her book to the culture, to avoid that was to create a timeless work. That made such a contrast with this book. I also found one glaring statement that is not true. The author states that it is possible to know a persons risk for mental illness through genetic testing. There is no genetic tests that our diagnostic for schizophrenia or other mental illnesses. We can know genetic loading by looking at family history, but to find a gene, that does not exist. We can find neurological disorders like Huntington's but that is a neurological disorder.

What I liked; this is a bit harder to flesh out. I liked the Jewishness of the book. I thought the author really brought that to life.I did like the addition of the Rom's. I've had some personal encounters in my life with this people group. So I found that interesting, too. I liked the end, I liked the emphasis on "live in the moment", enjoy life. We all die, don't let that get in the way. Love people, don't let time interfere with relationships because you can't get it back.

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Jun 22, 2019 Barb rated it it was ok

May 13, 2018 Annice rated it really liked it

Nov 18, 2017 Vickie marked it as to-read

Feb 05, 2019 Vickie marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Mar 14, 2018 Gabe Benson rated it it was amazing

Jan 18, 2019 Haana Vander Vorst marked it as to-read

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