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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: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
wellreadmegs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Murder, and War
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
sad
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
So many people seem to love this book, but I found it so close to reality and depressing. I loved the premise of the book, the question of what would happen if everyone suddenly found out how long they would live. In this case, we meet a few individuals/couples who are each tied to someone with a short string. The world immediately begins a prejudice against short stringers, and we see how these individual’s lives are affected.
So much of the book focuses on all of the difficulties of what happens in this situation. (Mass suicide, shooting, bombings, hospital issues) So many things reminded me of the parts of life that hurt right now - politicians and political processes that hurt people and have to be the right way while taking away freedom from other people. A few years ago, I would have thought people would rise above bad news and chose kindness, but right now, maybe this is closer to the truth. Not to say, there are a few examples of kindness and the idea that kindness keeps trudging forward and making progress (while evil is enjoying the win).
Nonetheless, there is a lot to discuss.
“…sometimes overwhelmed Nina to think that she could spend an entire lifetime reading and never keep up.” Ch 1
“The mystery was only a few hours old, but some people were already interpreting the message to mean that the string inside your box foretold the ultimate length of your life. But how could that possibly be true? Ben thought. That would mean the world had flipped around, like the ceiling above him, the humans now seeing from God’s perspective.” Ch 2
“And yet no one could find concrete evidence to trust that these strings were anything more than strands of ordinary thread.” Ch 3
“…there was something almost . . . thrilling . . . about the strings’ arrival. Frightening and confusing, of course, but also, perhaps, wondrous?” …
…this was the first time the world outside of her books had ever rivaled the stories with its very own plot twist.”
Ch 8
“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” —Matthew 7 - Ch 9
“Maybe it didn’t matter anymore where the strings had come from. Even if they were sent from heaven, or beamed down from outer space, or traveled back in time from the distant future, it was people who decided what to do with them now.” Ch 15
“…what might have happened if the strings had appeared before WWII?” Ch 18
“And maybe it isn’t even really about children. Maybe it’s the fact that now I can’t stop thinking about all the other doors that might be closing, too.” Ch 24
“Keep fighting, keep holding on, no matter what. But sometimes I think we forget that it also takes strength to be able to let go.” Ch 26
“The president just created two classes of citizens, based on strings.”
““But this is what humans have always done,” Maura said, her anger swelling inside. “We segment ourselves based on race or class or religion or whatever f-ing distinctions we decide to make up, and then we insist on treating each other differently. We never should have allowed them to start labeling people as ‘long-stringers’ and ‘short-stringers.’ We made it too easy for them.” Ch 30
“The measure of your life lies within. Sure, it’s pointing to the string inside, but maybe that’s not the only measure we have. Maybe there are thousands of other ways we could measure our lives—the true quality of our lives—that lie within us, not within some box. And, by your own measure, you can still be happy.” Ch 54
“…this woman’s life had been lengthened simply because Hank had been alive, and Ben realized that there was more than one way to live on.” Ch 61
“…grateful, to live as much life as possible. And I think that’s as good a measure as any.” Ch 62
“What about all the choices that we make, each day? Who we choose to be, and how we choose to love? Every choice that was made to look, or never look, inside the box.” Ch 72
“The Tree of Knowledge. The reminder that we will all find our ultimate rest beneath the soil, nourishing the life that grows above us.” Ch 73
3.5 stars rounded up
So much of the book focuses on all of the difficulties of what happens in this situation. (Mass suicide, shooting, bombings, hospital issues) So many things reminded me of the parts of life that hurt right now - politicians and political processes that hurt people and have to be the right way while taking away freedom from other people. A few years ago, I would have thought people would rise above bad news and chose kindness, but right now, maybe this is closer to the truth. Not to say, there are a few examples of kindness and the idea that kindness keeps trudging forward and making progress (while evil is enjoying the win).
Nonetheless, there is a lot to discuss.
“…sometimes overwhelmed Nina to think that she could spend an entire lifetime reading and never keep up.” Ch 1
“The mystery was only a few hours old, but some people were already interpreting the message to mean that the string inside your box foretold the ultimate length of your life. But how could that possibly be true? Ben thought. That would mean the world had flipped around, like the ceiling above him, the humans now seeing from God’s perspective.” Ch 2
“And yet no one could find concrete evidence to trust that these strings were anything more than strands of ordinary thread.” Ch 3
“…there was something almost . . . thrilling . . . about the strings’ arrival. Frightening and confusing, of course, but also, perhaps, wondrous?” …
…this was the first time the world outside of her books had ever rivaled the stories with its very own plot twist.”
Ch 8
“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” —Matthew 7 - Ch 9
“Maybe it didn’t matter anymore where the strings had come from. Even if they were sent from heaven, or beamed down from outer space, or traveled back in time from the distant future, it was people who decided what to do with them now.” Ch 15
“…what might have happened if the strings had appeared before WWII?” Ch 18
“And maybe it isn’t even really about children. Maybe it’s the fact that now I can’t stop thinking about all the other doors that might be closing, too.” Ch 24
“Keep fighting, keep holding on, no matter what. But sometimes I think we forget that it also takes strength to be able to let go.” Ch 26
“The president just created two classes of citizens, based on strings.”
““But this is what humans have always done,” Maura said, her anger swelling inside. “We segment ourselves based on race or class or religion or whatever f-ing distinctions we decide to make up, and then we insist on treating each other differently. We never should have allowed them to start labeling people as ‘long-stringers’ and ‘short-stringers.’ We made it too easy for them.” Ch 30
“The measure of your life lies within. Sure, it’s pointing to the string inside, but maybe that’s not the only measure we have. Maybe there are thousands of other ways we could measure our lives—the true quality of our lives—that lie within us, not within some box. And, by your own measure, you can still be happy.” Ch 54
“…this woman’s life had been lengthened simply because Hank had been alive, and Ben realized that there was more than one way to live on.” Ch 61
“…grateful, to live as much life as possible. And I think that’s as good a measure as any.” Ch 62
“What about all the choices that we make, each day? Who we choose to be, and how we choose to love? Every choice that was made to look, or never look, inside the box.” Ch 72
“The Tree of Knowledge. The reminder that we will all find our ultimate rest beneath the soil, nourishing the life that grows above us.” Ch 73
3.5 stars rounded up
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kelseyr713's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
2.0
Too schmaltzy for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Outing
marareading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
What would you do if one day you woke one day to find out that every single adult in the world could know the length of their life? As you can imagine the world could easily fold to chaos. Wow. This book will stay with me.
Eight people. All wake one day to a world who all have a small chest with a string inside showing how long they'll live. Governments, religions, families, jobs, friends, marriages, all changed overnight. Looking at everything differently. The value of life changing and being argued.
The different perspectives, and human experiences. The way people's experiences were intertwined. I was gripped, and touched. This reflects SO WELL the world we live in. I'll be thinking of this book for a long time to come. Absolutely brilliant. 10/10 recommend.
Eight people. All wake one day to a world who all have a small chest with a string inside showing how long they'll live. Governments, religions, families, jobs, friends, marriages, all changed overnight. Looking at everything differently. The value of life changing and being argued.
The different perspectives, and human experiences. The way people's experiences were intertwined. I was gripped, and touched. This reflects SO WELL the world we live in. I'll be thinking of this book for a long time to come. Absolutely brilliant. 10/10 recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Car accident, and War
cheyrohm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed this book. It's so realistic to how the world would actually react if something of this nature occurred (and you'll probably even find yourself drawing some similarities to our world since 2020). Also just a genuinely great story about life and human connection. Definitely recommend checking this one out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Physical abuse and Racism