The Immortalists - Chloe Benjamin [Book Review]

Book - The Immortalists
Author - Chloe Benjamin
Genre - Literary Fiction
Year Published - 2018

Does knowing about your death change the way you live your life?

☆☆☆

The Immortalists regales the story of four siblings: Daniel, the stoic oldest brother; Klara, the rebellious magician; Simon, the repressed youngest child and Varya, the pragmatist who seek out a fortune teller in 1969 and the fortune teller tells the children individually the exact dates they are going to die. The novel follows the story of each sibling - with their wildly different personalities - how they live knowing full well exactly when they are going to die. The major question the novel asks is whether it was fate that led the children to their prophesied demise or did they self-fulfill the prophesy.
The story-telling is rivetting, all the Gold children are super interesting, their disparate goals and lifestyles fun to read about (except the death part). The book is divided into sections, each one following different siblings. The first section is about Simon, who is to die at the age of 22 according to the prophesy. He goes to California and decides to make some risky choices and later contracts AIDS because of them and meets his demise on the prophesied date. Likewise, the theme of whether they were destined to die or was is their choices that self-fulfilled the prophesy is recurrent with every sibling hereon after. Despite not believing the prophesy, it still affects how they live their lives.
The book is an easy read, the pacing quick, the premise interesting nothing I can complain about those though I still felt up until the last page that this book was going to give me an answer stringing the siblings' death together through something - be it science or the supernatural or something. I found the ending provided by the author very lacking and misleading altogether, especially after the first chapter about the gypsy seer.

Kasari Bhanu – Swoopna Suman - Samsakaran (2017) [Lyrics and English Translation]

Andhyaro Chha Yo Raat Aaja Kina Laamo Lagdai Chha?

Sanyau Kolte Feri Sake Tara Nindra Aaudaina

Sadhai Jhai Aajapani Juna Chamki Rahexa

Tara Badal Pari Luki Malai Jiskauchha Kina?

The night is dark today and feels overlong

I’ve tossed and turned a hundred times

 but sleep still eludes me

As always the moon is sparkling overhead

But why does it tease me from its 

hiding place behind the clouds?

Ho… Aaja Dherai Pachhi Timi Sanga Boleko

Tara Juni Bityo Hola Maile Mutu Sumpeko

Sadhai Jhai Aaja Pani Kura Adhuro Nai Rahyo

Bhanchhu Bhane Man Ka Kura Tyo Mutu Mai Lukyo

Yes... it had been a while since we last spoke

But perhaps it’s been an age that I’ve lost my heart to you

Like always our conversation today was incomplete

What I planned to say never escaped my heart

Kasari Bhanu Timilai?

Timro Aankha Ma Euta Jaadu Chha

Timro Muskuraune Parama Euta Beglainai Aavaash Chha

Khai Ta Timle Bujeko?

Kina Mutu Mero Choreko?

Ajhai Yaad Chha Timile Pahilo Palta Malai Chhoyeko

How do I say it to you?

Your gaze holds a surreal magic

Your smile elicits a novel tranquil feeling in me

Why wouldn't you get it that it is you who has stolen my heart?

I still remember the first time you touched me

Thaha Chhaina Timi Ko Hau Mero

Thaha Chhaina Kasari Aayou

Tara Samjhera Timilai Haraune Garchhu Ma

Sochera Timilai Nindaune Garchhu Ma

I don't know what you are to me

I don't know how you came around to be (what you are to me)

But I keep getting lost in your thoughts

My sleep is only fantasies about you

Laa…Laa…Laa…Laaa…

Chiso Chiso Mausam Tara Yo Mutu Nyano Chha

Sirani Lai Angalera Tolauchhu Kina?

Chaldai Chha Batas Herana Badhai Chha Yo Dhadkan

Aankha Ko Saamu Timi Dekhdai Chhu Kina?

The weather is cool but my heart warm enough

Why do I space out clutching my pillow?

The wind is blowing and my heartbeat racing

Why am I conjuring you infront of my eyes?

Hoo. Aaja Dherai Pachhi Timi Sanga Boleko

Kina Timi Dekhdai Nau Maile Mutu Sumpeko

Kasari Pokhu Timilai Mero Man Ma Lukeka Kura Chhan

Jati Tadha Huna Khojchhu Uti Maya Badhai Janxa Chhan

Khai Ta Timle Bujheko Timile Nai Mutu Chhoreko

Ajhai Yaad Chha Timile Malai Herdai Muskurayeko

  

Yes... it had been a while since we last spoke

Why cannot you see that I’ve lost my heart to you?

How do I divulge my heart’s true confessions?

The more I try to distance myself from you,

my love for you grows even stronger

Why wouldn't you get it that it is you who has stolen my heart?

I still remember you smiling when you looked over at me

Thaha Chhaina Timi Ko Hau Mero

Thaha Chhaina Kasari Aayou

Tara Samjhera Timilai Haraune Garchhu Ma

Sochera Timilai Nindaune Garchhu Ma

I don't know what you are to me

I don't know how you came around to be (what you are to me)

But I keep getting lost in your thoughts

My sleep is only fantasies about you

Composition/Lyrics/Vocals - Swoopna Suman

Abum: Samsakaran (2017)