The Elixir of Immortality

This lengthy novel is crammed with history and ideas, yet readers may find the weightiest thing about it is the poundage of the actual volume. The narrator, Ari Spinoza, is a direct descendant of the great philosopher Baruch Spinoza. His great-uncle Franz “Fernando” Scharf (related by marriage) is a prolific storyteller with a vast repertoire of tales about past Spinozas. There is Israel, personal physician to the king of Portugal; his son, Chaim; Moishe the cabalist; and French writer Hector, among others. Many, many famous people from history who are not Spinozas make fleeting appearances as well: Freud, Voltaire, and Goya are but a few. On top of this, the more recent histories of Ari; his twin brother, Sasha; and Franz are recounted, such as Franz’s testy relationship with Ari’s grandmother. Little is ever fully developed, though, leaving this book feeling less like a single, satisfying novel than a summary of many other potentially interesting ones. There are plenty of rich ingredients, but somehow they make for a bland broth rather than a rich stew. (Oct.)