In 1969 New York, the four Gold siblings—Varya, Daniel, Klara, and Simon—visit a psychic who predicts the exact date each will die. This knowledge dictates their choices over the following five decades. Simon flees to San Francisco’s gay scene during the 1980s, Klara pursues a career as an illusionist in Las Vegas, Daniel becomes a military doctor, and Varya seeks longevitiy through scientific research. The narrative tracks how their individual beliefs in the prophecy drive them toward self-fulfilling outcomes, scientific obsession, or reckless hedonism as they reach their designated years.
Readers interested in the tension between fatalism and free will look to this work to examine how biological destiny conflicts with personal agency. The story appeals to those who enjoy family sagas that span historical eras and major social shifts. By the end, a reader understands how the certainty of death alters the way a person prioritizes family loyalty and short-term risks. It provides a look at the psychological toll of treating time as a finite, pre-determined resource.
Inward-looking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2018
- Language
- EN
