If you were told the date of your death, how would it shape your present?

It’s 1969 in New York City’s Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children—four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness—sneak out to hear their fortunes.

Their prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in ’80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11, hoping to control fate; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality

How would you live your life if you knew the exact timing of your death?

The Gold children are living in New York and are bored to death! When they hear of a mysterious woman, who can tell you things. Mysterious things. Such as when you are going to die.

Knowing changes them all. Four siblings who shape their futures on the word of a palm reader. The youngest off to San Francisco to live life the way he wants. Along with him goes Klara who dreams of being a magician or illusionist. While Daniel studies to become a doctor and Varya becomes a scientist pushing the boundaries between science and immortality.

This book was nothing like I expected. It is so many small stories rolled into one big story. There are the individual stories of each member of the family along with the story of them as siblings. It’s about science, religion, family, dreams and the reality of life.  About what is expected of us as family while remaining true to our own dreams and hopes.

Excellent Book!

Netgalley/January 9th 2018 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons