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Flora, young and pregnant, stands before the Heavenly Court, nervously waiting for a judgment call on the length of her life. Although calmed by the presence of deceased relatives, they make no effort to speak on her behalf. The verdict is decreed. Twenty five years to go before her expiration date, just enough time to raise her daughters into adulthood. This dream, or perhaps premonition, haunts her as she approaches age 60, the end of her life term.

Our story starts with the trial and fast forwards twenty-four years later.   Flora, the wife of a rabbi and mother to two daughters, immerses herself with issues of death: visiting the doctor, spending time with old people, rallying against the death penalty. She searches for a way to understand death and perhaps cheat it. While this is clearly Flora’s dilemma, this book is almost more of her mother’s story. Muriel, a new widow in her late 80’s, is spirited and life-embracing. Surrounding herself with new acquaintances and experiencing new adventures she seeks to enhance her life as her daughter simply moves through it. Despite some disastrously close calls, she, like the energizer bunny, keeps on going.   As Flora is clearly obsessed with dying, Muriel is obsessed with being alive.

There is something very exciting about knowing one’s fate but also very frightening. Like a library rental, when your date is up, you must be finished with your book. Does having that expiration date cause you to be fatalistic or encourage you to be proactive in creating change?   Do you take advantage of each day to make each moment count or just helplessly mope and muddle through life?

The subject is depressing despite some comic relief provided by Muriel’s outrageous escapades. It is however thought provoking and lays the ground for interesting discussion. This book could have been further enhanced by a multi-generational study of grandmother, mother and granddaughters. I would have liked to have had more insight to the whole family dynamic through more familial interaction.

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