"So it goes."

This one was entirely different than I'd imagined it would be, and that was fine. I like to be surprised. What was slightly lacking for me was why the Romani fortune teller had such an effect on these four kids. They were raised steeped in Judaism, at least by their father. They were first generation Americans, children of the Holocaust. They were intellectuals, despite the fact that the family had a background in magic. I couldn't get my head around why they were all so sure one visit with a fortune teller had power over them or why she would have knowledge about them. Whether it was real magic or not was never really examined.

As kids the characters were likable but as adults they were sorely lacking, and I can't just believe it's because of a prediction from childhood without a reason to suddenly believe in Romani fortune telling. I never got the reason, so while it was interesting and an OK read, it just didn't get over the top ever, nor did it dip low. It was an steady read that lovers of historical fiction (from very recent history) and family sagas will probably like. There were moments where I thought the Kabbalah (sp?) or Jewish mysticism would play more solidly into the plot, where medicine and science would prevail, where family ties might win out, but instead it was all about a date and death. I suppose the lesson, if we go with Simon, if we must have a lesson (I go looking for lessons when the story leaves me questioning I'm learning), is live life to the fullest while we can.