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astoriareader's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
SYNOPSIS
- All over the world, every person over the age of 22 receives a wooden box with a mysterious string inside. The length of the string = how long you’ll live.
- We follow eight people, and how the strings impact them.
MY THOUGHTS
- Excellent premise, but not a fan of the execution.
- The writing felt very basic to me, and I was annoyed how the characters kept popping up across stories & having some random connection.
- Very plot driven & no real character developments
- I didn’t care for any of the characters.
- Ending is mehhh.
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent plot, but not a fan of the execution. Read this one instead: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and War
Minor: Car accident, Pregnancy, and Outing
rae5tar's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.5
I cried multiple times in this book so I guess I’d say I cared about the characters. Or maybe I was just identifying with their feelings. In any case I enjoyed this book for the way it made me think about life, relationships and mortality but the ending was so sad to me. I guess I wanted things to magically work out. I mean Amy dying too!?! 😫 But I guess that also was to impart a lesson, maybe the main lesson of the book - we don’t know what’s coming in life so live it with purpose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
migalu23's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
What would you do with your life if you knew exactly how much you had left? The premise of this book (A debut novel! Imagine!) hooked me immediately, promising an introspective reflection on eight different people grappling with one of life's greatest mysteries. A masterclass in parallel storytelling, it was such a joy to see how these stories, of short strings and long strings alike, became intertwined in beautiful and unexpected ways as time unfolded. I can't remember the last time a book moved me to tears. Perhaps heightened by my reading experience - racing against the clock of a soon-to-expire digital library loan - I was struck with such an urgency to hold onto this story for as long as I needed to reach a fulfilling ending. How lucky am I to have stories, to have art, that reminds me of the uncertain, fleeting promise of life, and of humans' capacity to squeeze every last drop from it?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
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
klabardee's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Classism
Moderate: Mass/school shootings
Minor: Death of parent
kshertz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
Wow! It’s a fascinating concept about life and learning about how long you will live. I thought it was a great commentary on the world and how we’d handle it. I was blown away by the analysis of what rules would be made, who would win the presidency and how the world would continue. It’s a must read. I think anyone who even slightly enjoys dystopian worlds would love this book !!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Death, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
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
3.0
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: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Classism
kelly_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, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Drug use, Car accident, Pregnancy, Outing, and Classism
death of partnermaggiekate's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Grief, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Cursing, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Death of parent