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maryhannawilson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is such a great book to cultivate discussion for a book club. I am grateful that a friend read it simultaneously so we could discuss it.
Overnight, every adult (over 22) receives a mysterious box on their doorstep. Inside the box is a string and the length of that string represents the number of years you have left to live. The boxes send the world into an overnight frenzy. No one knows where they came from and people are left wondering if they want to know the length of their string. Soon society begins to fraction as people disagree on how to handle this knowledge. Friends and family have to find ways to handle the big questions that come with knowing when your life is going to end.
The book follows 8 individuals as they make their choices to handle this bizarre and unique situation. I enjoyed all of the characters and the various ways they handled the decision about whether or not to look at their string. Each of the 8 individuals has unique circumstances and it allows for the story to show a variety of ways people are impacted.
Eventually, politicians begin to use the strings to "other" the short-string individuals. They begin to question how safe it is to hire a "short-stringer." Media outlets began to publicize stories of short-string owners who hurt themselves or others. Suddenly the owners of short strings become "dangerous."
This entire storyline reflects how easily we dehumanize the "other" in our society - for whatever reason they are different than us. It shows how quickly and easily we default to this as individuals and as a society. YET, there was hope as well. People begin to band together to fight the dehumanization of the other group. They encourage others to look at every human life as valuable again.
I loved the way this book made me think - about what I would do, about the value of every person, and the importance of every single day. Highly recommend it, especially to read with a friend or in a group.
Overnight, every adult (over 22) receives a mysterious box on their doorstep. Inside the box is a string and the length of that string represents the number of years you have left to live. The boxes send the world into an overnight frenzy. No one knows where they came from and people are left wondering if they want to know the length of their string. Soon society begins to fraction as people disagree on how to handle this knowledge. Friends and family have to find ways to handle the big questions that come with knowing when your life is going to end.
The book follows 8 individuals as they make their choices to handle this bizarre and unique situation. I enjoyed all of the characters and the various ways they handled the decision about whether or not to look at their string. Each of the 8 individuals has unique circumstances and it allows for the story to show a variety of ways people are impacted.
Eventually, politicians begin to use the strings to "other" the short-string individuals. They begin to question how safe it is to hire a "short-stringer." Media outlets began to publicize stories of short-string owners who hurt themselves or others. Suddenly the owners of short strings become "dangerous."
This entire storyline reflects how easily we dehumanize the "other" in our society - for whatever reason they are different than us. It shows how quickly and easily we default to this as individuals and as a society. YET, there was hope as well. People begin to band together to fight the dehumanization of the other group. They encourage others to look at every human life as valuable again.
I loved the way this book made me think - about what I would do, about the value of every person, and the importance of every single day. Highly recommend it, especially to read with a friend or in a group.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Gun violence
katiejohns's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: War and Medical trauma
Minor: Car accident and Gun violence
lorit1227's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
karolinez's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Car accident, and Death
khaben31's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness
Minor: Terminal illness, Outing, Gun violence, War, Suicide, Car accident, and Cancer
annamay1021's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Grief, Death, and Gun violence
aparker89's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Gun violence, and Terminal illness
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The opportunity to create a new category of othering arrives overnight for anyone over the age of 22 and prejudices flow amidst the panic.
I wish that there was some closure on some of the (what I consider) plot holes, as well as a couple of characters we grew to know over the 15 years that pass in the book, though I was given enough to be satisfied. It was a bit predictable and cliche, but I teared up a couple times and definitely cried at the end because thinking about life and death and found family gets me in the feels.
I wish that there was some closure on some of the (what I consider) plot holes, as well as a couple of characters we grew to know over the 15 years that pass in the book, though I was given enough to be satisfied. It was a bit predictable and cliche, but I teared up a couple times and definitely cried at the end because thinking about life and death and found family gets me in the feels.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Grief, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Cancer, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Violence, Emotional abuse, Medical content, War, Car accident, Confinement, Murder, Suicide, and Xenophobia
lonelylooper's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Hate crime, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
sandysmith's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
What a book, such an interesting concept that gives massive food for thought. It would make for great discussions at a book club. Written from 8 characters points of view, which normally I would find too many, but not in this case. I fell in love with all the intertwined characters apart from the power-hungry politician Anthony. The rest, Hank, Maura, Nina, Amie, Ben, Jack, and Javier, were all loveable in their own ways, adding depth to the differing points of view to the books premise. Potentially knowing when you might die via a box delivered when you are 22, containing different lengths of string, which indicates length of life. Long and short stringers and those who choose not to open their box, so a new and interesting look at discrimination. The size of the text in the book I was reading was smaller than normal and uncomfortable, so this was the main negative for me. I didn't mind that I didn't get to know where the boxes came from, and it's had to place this book into a particular genre. In summary, I love books that make me think, and this one does in spades. Excellent stuff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Grief, and War
Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, and Outing
Minor: Car accident and Pregnancy