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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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...