what happened to Ben

[Maggie]

I was just wondering what were people thoughts about the ending regarding Ben. Do you like how it wasn't all tied up or do you wish we had a definite scene about what happened.

[Debbie]

He died rescuing someone he loved - he went to the world to come to join his father and mother. He felt so strongly that he needed to tell her that he had lied that he was willing to die for her.

[Robin]

Ditto with Debbie.
I did like the ambiguity of the ending- its refreshing that the author did not tie up all of the loose ends and left room for interpretation.

[Jessica]

I did enjoy that there were loose ends, but I have to disagree with Debbie and Robin. I think that Ben actually rescued Erica, otherwise he would have been with pre-natal Daniel, acting as one of his guides.

[Debbie]

Jessica raises a good point....so since he is not present in the scenes with prenatal Daniel (he isn;t is he?) he lived?

[Melody]

Yes, after thinking about it for a while, I realized that in the whole last section of the book she's highlighting this world as the world to come - the one all of the prenatals are preparing to enter. I think that she said Ben entered the world to come because, in rescuing Erica, he was stepping into real life for the first time, finally into his world to come.

[Christia]

I agree with Jessica. Ben lived, because if he had died, I think Sara would have included his name as part of her not yet born son Daniel's full name. Also I think there would have been some reference to Ben along with Boris, Daniel and Rosalie. I too like the uncertain ending. Do you think Erica survived? This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.

[[deleted user]]

Wow -- terrific points about what Sara would have named her son had Ben died. I must admit to being frustrated/sad not to have a resolution between Ben and Erica (I could not believe when the book ended at the end of the pre-natal Daniel section!) but it certainly is a powerful way to end it. I think Horn is saying that Ben stepped into real life when he opens the door -- she writes "Later, in the time she had created for him", which is her way of saying that reality derived from being in love has begun, as it did for Ben's father when he fell in love with Rosalie.

A very beautiful and haunting book. It makes me want to sift through my current relationships and find what trust exists in them...

[Judie]

I also think Ben and Erica survived. One of the basic themes of the book was that this is the "world to come" and we shouldn't look to a kingdom in heaven, but make our kingdom here on earth.

[Carol]

I had to reread the end of the chapter when Ben goes to find Erica, and believe that he entered "the world she made for him", love, and that his life really begins when he finds her, as she asked him to do.

[Mouska]

The World to Come is down there, “the world, to come” Already-was Rosalie tells Not-Yet Daniel. It’s the real world where living happens. Ben joined the World to Cone by stepping into this life and saving Erica. They lived and were part of the “all” who awaited Daniel on his birth.

[Mari-Claire]

I agree with Carol and Marisa. He was not with the Not-yet Daniel and there was the earlier part that said that finding love one enters the World To Come. I liked the ambiguity, but I also wanted to know that Daniel and Erica found each other alive and this way both entered the World To Come. Beautiful book.