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The Familiar


From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo comes a spellbinding...
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What are your thoughts about immortality? Would you want to live forever?

Created: 04/24/24

Replies: 17

Posted Apr. 24, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 1011

What are your thoughts about immortality? Would you want to live forever?

Santángel thinks that his life has been “both long and remarkably boring.” What are your thoughts about immortality? Would you want to live forever?


Posted Apr. 25, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sweeney

Join Date: 05/24/11

Posts: 196

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

At some level the thought of not dying is attractive, but on a deeper level, if I were the only immortal, it would be shattering to continually lose those that you care about. Nothing would be permanent.


Posted Apr. 25, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
beth annem

Join Date: 12/14/23

Posts: 16

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

immortality would not be appealing to me. it always comes at a price. isolation, sacrifice, morality and you inevitably lose those you love. doesn't feel like the upside is worth the downside.


Posted Apr. 25, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 1011

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

Oh, I'm certain I absolutely would NOT want to live forever. Annem mentions the cost, and I agree with her that the price is too high. And I'd add that death is part of life, and to try to deny or circumvent that to a great extent just isn't Nature's design. (Not that I'm in any hurry to shuffle off this mortal coil, mind you!)


Posted Apr. 25, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Maggie

Join Date: 01/01/16

Posts: 454

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

No I would not like to live forever. There is a time to be born and there is a time to die.


Posted Apr. 26, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
donnas

Join Date: 03/06/24

Posts: 14

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

I agree with Maggie. Just think what the world would turn into if everyone lived forever? If we have wars now then what would we have?!!!!!


Posted Apr. 26, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
gloriam

Join Date: 03/19/23

Posts: 59

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

Hmmmm... interesting question......my initial reaction is no. However, I feel that when death gets closer to me-I might reconsider. I would probably want to try being immortal for a bit-as long as there was a way "out"- as Santangel turned to ash overnight and was restored every morning by Luzia-so that if I found I no longer wished to live there would be an option to end it......


Posted Apr. 27, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
LindaMonaco

Join Date: 04/13/22

Posts: 49

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

Immortality might seem appealing if all your family and friends could be immortal with you, and you were always young, healthy and living a great life with everything you could possibly want. But to wander the world alone as time marches on doesn’t seem so appealing. Fortunately, it’s not a real worry.


Posted May. 01, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lorrained

Join Date: 12/04/20

Posts: 151

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

Immortality as Santangel experienced is not at all appealing. I do, however, think that life is a continuum that permeated all living things, and that beyond this realm there is another. I'm not espousing any particular "next" , such as a heaven, and definitely not a hell, but some form of continuation to be discovered at the appropriate time. So, in that sense, one can be considered immortal.


Posted May. 02, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kdowney25

Join Date: 01/25/16

Posts: 189

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

Immortality is not something I would want, although the idea of being able to see the world as it changes, with new technology, etc. is very appealing. (Perhaps time travel? Now that is a different story. Yes, please. lol) I do want to live a long life, however. From the time I was a very small child I always felt, I knew, that I would live to be over 100 years old. I’m fine with that.


Posted May. 02, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
siprar

Join Date: 04/13/24

Posts: 2

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

Human beings crave for immortality ,though he knows that immortality is unachievable .
I personally believe that mundane body is perishable but our soul or /spirit is immortal .


Posted May. 07, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joannej

Join Date: 09/02/21

Posts: 28

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

No, I agree with Sweeney. Losing friends and relatives is heartbreaking, a we all know, but imagine if death is never-ending for others but not for you! In the movie Highlander, the protagonist Christopher Lambert is immortal, as is Santangel, and neither one can have children. Our children and are children's children are OUR immortality. Perhaps that's the reason that these OLD movie stars drop their formerly-long-lasting loves to marry young women.


Posted May. 07, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mimimw

Join Date: 05/20/22

Posts: 44

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

No - I’m not interested in a life of immortality. My faith is such that I know my time on earth is a distinct period. I want to make the most of the dash between my birth and death, but I look forward to the reunion I believe I will have with those I have lost in a place that will not be burdened with wars, famines, and other forms of heartache.


Posted May. 07, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jos

Join Date: 03/14/21

Posts: 156

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

I’m not sure, probably would not want to live forever, but it would be nice to see what happens next in the world, plus I might get my 4000 TBR list done! 😂


Posted May. 07, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
siprar

Join Date: 04/13/24

Posts: 2

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

I am hooked by the definition of human being as :"All men are mortal. " So no question about the mortality of me as human specie.
But with age ,maturity dawned in me : Our material body is mortal ,but spirit is immortal . If "spirit " is the real Essence of life , then we all are immortal in a sense ; it does not depend on my choice or any other individuals choice . I am the last person to be immortal and dependent to others PHYSICALLy.
As we change our old dress and put on a new one , our soul enters a new body (I.E.),leaving the old one .


Posted May. 08, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Patricia Ann

Join Date: 05/24/21

Posts: 90

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

Although it would be interesting see how the world unfolds, I would not like to live forever. As others have mentioned, it would be heartbreaking and lonely to see all of your loved ones die, and it is comforting to live with others who have experienced some of the same times and events. Also, I would have to constantly learn new technology to navigate successfully in the world.


Posted May. 08, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
vickys

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 73

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

I would not want to live forever but I'd opt for a longer life if I could remain healthy and keep my mind. I feel like I might try more things in life - other careers, other hobbies if there was more time


Posted May. 09, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ScribblingScribe

Join Date: 02/29/16

Posts: 205

RE: What are your thoughts about ...

Immortality has its appeal on certain levels, but the loneliness and suffering that comes along with it is a high price to pay. It's death that gives life its meaning.


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