Who Would Like This Book:
Looking for a witty, thoughtful spin on immortality? Dara Horn's "Eternal Life" is a time-traveling, centuries-spanning love story that doesn't take itself too seriously - until it does. You'll meet Rachel, a Jewish mother who's been alive since ancient Jerusalem, and connect through Horn's sharp humor, clever historical detail, and deep reflections on family, faith, and memory. If you love literary fiction that's both smart and readable, enjoy philosophical musings mixed with real history, and appreciate characters you can both laugh with and cry for, you'll enjoy this book. Fans of inventive, character-driven stories (think "The Age of Adaline" or "Life After Life") will be hooked.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the novel's pacing a bit slow, and wished for a grander sense of transformation or revelation - it’s more introspective than action-packed. If you’re attracted to epic fantasy with major worldbuilding or want a tight plot with explosive twists, this might feel a little too meandering or melancholy. Rachel herself is occasionally frustrating as a protagonist: some found it hard to connect with her emotional state or wanted to see more growth after 2,000 years. The blending of theology, folklore, and everyday minutiae might not work for everyone.
About:
Eternal Life by Dara Horn follows the story of Rachel, a woman who has lived for over 2,000 years due to a vow made to save her son's life in Roman-occupied Jerusalem. The novel explores themes of immortality, family, and the impact of changing technologies and gender roles across centuries. Through a blend of historical detail, Jewish humor, and philosophical questions, the book delves into Rachel's journey through multiple lifetimes and her desire to find a way to escape her eternal existence.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include childhood illnesses, death, and discussions of grief and loss, which may be challenging for some readers.
Has Romance?
While the romance between Rachel and Elazar is a significant element, it's intertwined with deeper philosophical questions, making the romance medium in intensity.
From The Publisher:
A New York Times Notable Book of 2018
What would it really mean to live forever?
Rachel is a woman with a problem: she can't die. Her recent troubles-widowhood, a failing business, an unemployed middle-aged son-are only the latest in a litany spanning dozens of countries, scores of marriages, and hundreds of children. In the 2,000 years since she made a spiritual bargain to save the life of her first son back in Roman-occupied Jerusalem, she's tried everything to free herself, and only one other person in the world understands: a man she once loved passionately, who has been stalking her through the centuries, convinced they belong together forever.
But as the twenty-first century begins and her children and grandchildren-consumed with immortality in their own ways, from the frontiers of digital currency to genetic engineering-develop new technologies that could change her fate and theirs, Rachel knows she must find a way out.
Gripping, hilarious, and profoundly moving, Eternal Life celebrates the bonds between generations, the power of faith, the purpose of death, and the reasons for being alive.
Ratings (5)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (3) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (19):
Read It (4) | |
Want To Read (11) | |
Not Interested (4) |
What can you read after
Eternal Life?
About the Author:
Dara Horn is the author of five novels and one of Granta's Best Young American Novelists. She has taught Jewish literature at Harvard, Sarah Lawrence College, and Yeshiva University. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and four children.
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