Why Is 'The Immortalists' Considered A Philosophical Novel?

In 'The Immortalists', the four Gold siblings—Varya, Daniel, Klara, and Simon—are shaped by a childhood prophecy that predicts their exact death dates. Varya, the eldest, becomes a scientist obsessed with longevity, locking herself in sterile routines only to face her mortality in a lab accident. Daniel, the rigid military doctor, dies in a freak accident after a lifetime of denying fate. Klara, the magician, chases illusion until her final trick on a Vegas stage goes fatally wrong. Simon, the youngest and free-spirited, embraces his predicted early death by living fiercely in San Francisco’s queer scene, succumbing to AIDS as foretold. Their fates intertwine with themes of destiny versus choice. Varya’s cold rationality cracks too late. Daniel’s need for control makes his death cruelly ironic. Klara’s artistry blurs reality until it consumes her. Simon’s acceptance lets him live fully, though briefly. The novel questions whether the prophecy doomed them or their belief in it did—each sibling’s path feels inevitable yet painfully avoidable.

I’ve dug into this a lot because 'The Immortalists' is one of those novels that feels ripe for a cinematic treatment. Right now, there’s no official movie adaptation, but the buzz is real. The book’s premise—four siblings hearing a prophecy about their death dates—has that perfect blend of drama and existential tension that filmmakers love. There were rumors a few years back about a potential deal, but nothing concrete surfaced. The story’s structure, jumping decades between each sibling’s arc, would be a challenge to condense, but it could make for an epic miniseries too. Fans keep hoping, though. The novel’s vivid characters and moral dilemmas would translate so well to screen, especially with the right director. Until then, we’re left imagining how those haunting scenes—like Simon’s dance in San Francisco or Klara’s magic tricks—would look in film. Interestingly, author Chloe Benjamin has mentioned in interviews that she’s open to adaptations but wants them done right. The book’s themes of fate and free will need a delicate touch. Maybe that’s why studios are cautious. For now, the closest thing we have is fan art and book club debates about who should play the Gold siblings. A visually stunning indie director like Sofia Coppola or Barry Jenkins could nail the tone—melancholic yet luminous.

I remember picking up 'The Immortalists' because the cover caught my eye, and I ended up loving every page. The book was published by Penguin Press, and it hit the shelves on January 9, 2018. It's one of those novels that stays with you long after you finish it, blending family drama with a touch of magical realism. The story follows four siblings who visit a fortune teller as kids, learning the dates of their deaths. The way Chloe Benjamin explores fate and free will is just brilliant. I couldn't put it down, and I've recommended it to so many friends since then.

In 'The Immortalists', the fortune teller isn’t just a plot device—she’s the catalyst that fractures the Gold siblings’ lives. Her prophecy about their death dates forces each sibling to confront mortality in wildly different ways. Simon flees into hedonism, Klara chases magic as escapism, Daniel clings to control, and Varya buries herself in science. The irony? Their obsession with the prophecy shapes their fates more than the prediction itself. The novel asks: Does knowing your death date liberate or imprison you? The fortune teller embodies that question, her cryptic words haunting every page. The siblings’ choices reveal how belief bends reality. Simon’s reckless joyride through life mirrors his ‘short’ timeline, while Varya’s sterile longevity research mirrors her ‘distant’ death—yet both are trapped by the prophecy’s shadow. The fortune teller’s role is genius: she’s barely a character, just a voice, yet her influence lingers like a ghost. The book suggests that maybe destiny isn’t fixed—it’s the weight we give to predictions that makes them real.

I recently read 'The Immortalists' by Chloe Benjamin, and the main characters are the four Gold siblings: Simon, Klara, Daniel, and Varya. Each of them visits a fortune teller who predicts the exact date of their death, and the book follows how this prophecy shapes their lives. Simon is the youngest, a gay dancer who moves to San Francisco in the 1980s, embracing life recklessly. Klara becomes a magician in Las Vegas, obsessed with illusion and the supernatural. Daniel is a military doctor who struggles with control and morality. Varya, the eldest, dedicates her life to longevity research, isolating herself emotionally. Their stories are deeply moving, exploring fate, free will, and family bonds in a way that haunted me long after I finished the book.

'The Immortalists' dives deep into destiny by showing how the Gold siblings' lives unravel after learning their predicted death dates from a mystical fortune teller. The novel cleverly explores whether destiny is fixed or shaped by our choices. Simon, the youngest, embraces hedonism, believing his short lifespan justifies reckless living. Klara chases her dream as a magician, defying her fate through sheer will. Daniel, the skeptic, clings to control, only to spiral into paranoia. Varya, the scientist, tries to outsmart death through research, sealing herself in a cage of fear. The book doesn't just ask if destiny is real—it shows how the idea of it can consume us. Each sibling's path reflects their relationship with time: some race against it, others surrender, but all are haunted by that prophecy. The irony? Their beliefs about destiny become self-fulfilling. The prose is sharp, blending magical realism with raw human drama, making you wonder: do we chase fate, or does it chase us?

I recently finished 'The Immortalists' and was struck by how deeply it explores the idea of fate versus free will. The book follows four siblings who, as children, visit a fortune teller that predicts the exact dates of their deaths. This prophecy shapes their entire lives in different ways. Some become reckless, believing their time is limited, while others try to control every aspect of their existence to outrun their fate. The novel also dives into themes of family bonds, the weight of secrets, and how the knowledge of death influences how we live. It’s a poignant look at whether knowing our future would liberate or paralyze us.

I recently dived into 'The Immortalists' by Chloe Benjamin and was completely captivated by its exploration of fate and family. After finishing it, I was desperate for more and did some digging. Turns out, there aren’t any direct sequels or spin-offs, which is a shame because the characters and their stories left such a lasting impression. The book stands alone, but if you’re craving something similar, I’d recommend 'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness' by Arundhati Roy or 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Both have that rich, character-driven depth that made 'The Immortalists' so special. While no follow-up exists, the original novel’s themes resonate so powerfully that it’s worth revisiting on its own.