Scan barcode
emilywemily6's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was incredible. I could not put it down! This book contains many deeper themes that are reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which made this book feel very personal for me and almost triggering as I remembered the strife of that global event. So if the pandemic is a hard topic for you still this book might be difficult emotionally because of the parallels. But this book was reflective and meaningful and emotional, and I have no regrets that I went on this journey. Told through multiple POVs that intersect at moments throughout the book, this book made me feel for and love every character. This book was surprisingly human and realistic; I forgot I wasn’t living the string reality they faced. The societal issues related to the divisive nature of the strings were portrayed really well through the lens of the multiple POVs. I loved the discussions on discrimination and prejudice and the ties with both history and current examples of discrimination. This book was beautiful and heartbreaking and gave me a lot to think about my own life and what it would mean to know how long I have to live, or how long my family has. If you need a good cry with some hope, this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Terminal illness, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Blood, Violence, Death of parent, Bullying, and Cursing
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Suicide, Alcohol, Racism, Sexism, and Hate crime
Minor: Classism, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
tagger's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
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
jamiee_f's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
This book was sad and beautiful and wonderful. The premise is, one day, everyone gets a box with a string in it, where the string represents the length of your life. Immediately, society stratifies. People pick sides, make assumptions, panic. Some choose to look at their strings, and some choose to never look. This divides families and friends. This book follows the interconnected lives of a few of these people and examines how they choose to live with the time they have left. Even though I saw some of the twists/character deaths coming, the emotional impact was not lessened. I love a book that does glimpse into the future stuff and ends up wrapping things up satisfyingly, and this one did that. It makes you think about what you would do if you knew how much time you had left, and emphasizes how love and family are worth it no matter the length of time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Terminal illness
cheye13's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This one fell apart for me early; the strings were not presented/narrated in a way that I could buy in. I didn't understand immediate global ramifications, I didn't believe things would move that fast, I didn't understand why it was such an intense and sustained "big deal." And with this being written post-covid, it felt even more egregious.
It's one of those books that reads like a straightforward MFA thesis. It's trying to say something big and poetic and falls short. It's stuck between a global storyline and a small personal one (when choosing one or the other would've been stronger). There's a "gotcha" set up and predictably executed. It's like the author got some big pieces of feedback and worked them in instead of sitting down and deciding what story to tell first.
I would've preferred a small, central story with Nina, Maura, Amy & Ben, exploring how life precedes with this added knowledge, maybe with some of the big deals amounting to "on the tv in the background" peeks. As is, once it grows to a bigger scale, it raises more questions about the conceit of the strings themselves. All of the deaths on-page are direct results of the strings existence. There's on-the-ground data about the strings (they're not recognizable material, they fog out surveillance). All pointing to in-world answers that we simply never address.
Not a popular comp title, but if you're interested in this, I'd recommend Hank Green's The Carls duology instead.
It's one of those books that reads like a straightforward MFA thesis. It's trying to say something big and poetic and falls short. It's stuck between a global storyline and a small personal one (when choosing one or the other would've been stronger). There's a "gotcha" set up and predictably executed. It's like the author got some big pieces of feedback and worked them in instead of sitting down and deciding what story to tell first.
I would've preferred a small, central story with Nina, Maura, Amy & Ben, exploring how life precedes with this added knowledge, maybe with some of the big deals amounting to "on the tv in the background" peeks. As is, once it grows to a bigger scale, it raises more questions about the conceit of the strings themselves. All of the deaths on-page are direct results of the strings existence. There's on-the-ground data about the strings (they're not recognizable material, they fog out surveillance). All pointing to in-world answers that we simply never address.
Not a popular comp title, but if you're interested in this, I'd recommend Hank Green's The Carls duology instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Car accident, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, War, and Xenophobia
some depictions of desperation (characters fearing for their lives) may be upsettingkelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Title: The Measure
Author: Nikki Erlick
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: June 28 , 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Intriguing • Original • Uplifting
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.
It seems like any other day. You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out.
But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live.
From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?
As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?
💭 T H O U G H T S
Of course, I'd seen The Measure on so many 2022 favourites lists, yet it wasn't until it was recommended to me as part of my 12 recommendations from 12 friends project for 2023 that I really paid attention to this debut. And in short, from the very first pages I knew I was going to love this book!
I loved all of the characters (except maybe one...) and each of their distinct, yet interconnected lives. While the cast is vast, Erlick does a fantastic job at giving each character a distinct arc, so the reader is able to keep the plotlines straight. Getting to explore different reactions to the strings through a variety of POVs was an absolute gift. There's an underlying political aspect (that I know many won't love) weaved into the story, and I thought it was interesting to see the perspective of how people in power would handle such huge life questions.
This novel gave me way more than just entertainment. It dives deep into the meaning of life and what makes a good life. It explores priorities, the value of connection, and the importance of both the big and the small moments, while also contemplating hope and destiny. It is just so wholly human. Additionally, there were so many parallels to things that have happened or are ongoing (war, COVID, etc.) that it sparked even more deep thought and reflection on my part. This book is the reason I love reading.
I cannot finish my review without mentioning the anonymous letters been Ben and Amie. It was one of my favourite aspects of the book, an absolutely beautiful portrayal of interconnectedness and the power of strangers. Their communication and support of one another made me believe in the kindness and good of people. When there is so much doom and gloom, getting an uplifting (even if fictionalized) account of kindness brought tears to my eyes.
An ambitious debut, I simply could not put this book down! While it tackles themes of death and immortality, it does so in a very human and hopeful matter. I went back and forth between whether I'd want to open my box or not, and came away still unsure. As someone who has bared witness to the death of my person (himself a 'short stringer'), I honestly cannot say whether I'd have wanted to know or not. I don't think anything could ever prepare someone who such a loss. What I do know for sure is that no matter what I'd still feel the same - love would always be a constant. The Measure has found its way onto my favourites list and I will come back to it as a comfort read in the future. I cannot wait to see what Nikki Erlick writes next and I know I'll definitely be pre-ordering it.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• everyone!
• fans of The One and/or The Midnight Library
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"The poster was covered with wrinkled photos of famous figures, all of whom has passed prematurely: Selena Quintanilla, Kobe Bryant, Princess Diana, Chadwick Boseman. A meaningful life, at any length was written across the top in cursive lettering."
"But you asked if everyone deserves happiness. I certainly think so. And I don't think having a short string should make that impossible. If I've learned anything from all the stories I've read - of love and friendship, adventure and bravery - it's that living long is not the same as living well."
"'It's easy to look at our time together and think that we were so unlucky. But isn't it better to spend ten years really loving someone, rather than forty years growing bored or weary or bitter? When we think of the greatest love stories ever written, we aren't judging them by their length. Many of them were briefer than my marriage with Maura. But our story - mind and Maura's - it felt deep, and it felt whole, despite its length. It was an entire, wonderful tale in and of itself, and even though I've been given more chapters than Maura, her pages were the ones you couldn't put down. The ones that I'll keep rereading, over and over, for the rest of my life. Our decade together, our story, was a gift.'"
"Dear B,
No matter what happens, I still feel the same.
-A"
Author: Nikki Erlick
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: June 28 , 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Intriguing • Original • Uplifting
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.
It seems like any other day. You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out.
But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live.
From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?
As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?
💭 T H O U G H T S
Of course, I'd seen The Measure on so many 2022 favourites lists, yet it wasn't until it was recommended to me as part of my 12 recommendations from 12 friends project for 2023 that I really paid attention to this debut. And in short, from the very first pages I knew I was going to love this book!
I loved all of the characters (except maybe one...) and each of their distinct, yet interconnected lives. While the cast is vast, Erlick does a fantastic job at giving each character a distinct arc, so the reader is able to keep the plotlines straight. Getting to explore different reactions to the strings through a variety of POVs was an absolute gift. There's an underlying political aspect (that I know many won't love) weaved into the story, and I thought it was interesting to see the perspective of how people in power would handle such huge life questions.
This novel gave me way more than just entertainment. It dives deep into the meaning of life and what makes a good life. It explores priorities, the value of connection, and the importance of both the big and the small moments, while also contemplating hope and destiny. It is just so wholly human. Additionally, there were so many parallels to things that have happened or are ongoing (war, COVID, etc.) that it sparked even more deep thought and reflection on my part. This book is the reason I love reading.
I cannot finish my review without mentioning the anonymous letters been Ben and Amie. It was one of my favourite aspects of the book, an absolutely beautiful portrayal of interconnectedness and the power of strangers. Their communication and support of one another made me believe in the kindness and good of people. When there is so much doom and gloom, getting an uplifting (even if fictionalized) account of kindness brought tears to my eyes.
An ambitious debut, I simply could not put this book down! While it tackles themes of death and immortality, it does so in a very human and hopeful matter. I went back and forth between whether I'd want to open my box or not, and came away still unsure. As someone who has bared witness to the death of my person (himself a 'short stringer'), I honestly cannot say whether I'd have wanted to know or not. I don't think anything could ever prepare someone who such a loss. What I do know for sure is that no matter what I'd still feel the same - love would always be a constant. The Measure has found its way onto my favourites list and I will come back to it as a comfort read in the future. I cannot wait to see what Nikki Erlick writes next and I know I'll definitely be pre-ordering it.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• everyone!
• fans of The One and/or The Midnight Library
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"The poster was covered with wrinkled photos of famous figures, all of whom has passed prematurely: Selena Quintanilla, Kobe Bryant, Princess Diana, Chadwick Boseman. A meaningful life, at any length was written across the top in cursive lettering."
"But you asked if everyone deserves happiness. I certainly think so. And I don't think having a short string should make that impossible. If I've learned anything from all the stories I've read - of love and friendship, adventure and bravery - it's that living long is not the same as living well."
"'It's easy to look at our time together and think that we were so unlucky. But isn't it better to spend ten years really loving someone, rather than forty years growing bored or weary or bitter? When we think of the greatest love stories ever written, we aren't judging them by their length. Many of them were briefer than my marriage with Maura. But our story - mind and Maura's - it felt deep, and it felt whole, despite its length. It was an entire, wonderful tale in and of itself, and even though I've been given more chapters than Maura, her pages were the ones you couldn't put down. The ones that I'll keep rereading, over and over, for the rest of my life. Our decade together, our story, was a gift.'"
"Dear B,
No matter what happens, I still feel the same.
-A"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Hate crime, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, War, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Death of parent, Cancer, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Bullying, and Terminal illness
Minor: Ableism, Pregnancy, Outing, Classism, Cursing, Drug use, and Car accident
death of partnerwhimsykat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Gun violence, and Grief
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death of parent, Car accident, and War
katrinarose's review
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? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, it was heavy on character development and I think it was done really well. All the main characters felt real and I cared about them all. It was heavy on political messaging and while the author and I clearly have the same political affiliation, I felt like at times she wasn’t giving the reader enough credit to read between the lines, and it was a bit overdone. I think the moral messages would be completely lost on someone who didn’t share political ideologies for this reason. However, the premise really makes you think about the far reaching effects of these strings would have in our society and I enjoyed how the author’s incorporated her speculations about this. It’s something I think I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
One thing that I felt like was never addressed which seemed obvious to me is determinism vs free will. The strings seem to mean determinism is the way the world works, yet no one in the book seems to think this, or has any sort of existential crisis about it. Everyone just seems to come to the conclusion that they still have free will even though they can’t stop their death (or life). I think this topic should have been explored more, or at least discussed.
Overall, a fascinating premise (just don’t expect a sci fi novel) which delivers on character development and societal commentary.
One thing that I felt like was never addressed which seemed obvious to me is determinism vs free will. The strings seem to mean determinism is the way the world works, yet no one in the book seems to think this, or has any sort of existential crisis about it. Everyone just seems to come to the conclusion that they still have free will even though they can’t stop their death (or life). I think this topic should have been explored more, or at least discussed.
Overall, a fascinating premise (just don’t expect a sci fi novel) which delivers on character development and societal commentary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Murder, Terminal illness, Violence, and War
booksandmagic's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Classism, Violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
Minor: Car accident