by Nikki Erlick
SYNOPSIS
It’s the decision of a lifetime. It seems like just another morning. You make a cup of tea. Check the news. Open the front door. On your doorstep is a box. Inside the box is the exact number of years you have left to live. The same box appears on every doorstep across the world.
The Measure is a transfixing contemplation of fate, a piercing exploration of how we value our lives, and a soaring story of love and heartbreak. When the world shifts irrevocably overnight, each character is faced with an immense decision. As boxes open across the world, their lives intertwine in moving, unexpected ways. An unforgettable story of love, resilience, and hope. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, David Nicholls, Matt Haig and Stuart Turton.
REVIEW
On a completely normal morning, a box appears on the doorstep of every adult over the age of 22 in the world. Confused, bemused, scared, curious... the owners of the boxes firstly have to decide whether to open them, and then are then faced with the sobering realisation that the boxes contain the 'measure of their lives' - literally a piece of string which measures how long they will live.
The story then follows Nina, Ben, Maura, Amie, Jack, Javier, Anthony and Hank as they all navigate this new era where people are divided into two camps - long strings or short strings - and have to deal with the consequences of living their lives knowing exactly how long they have to do so.
When I read the synopsis for The Measure I thought it sounded like an interesting idea, quite quirky with a dystopian vibe but I was completely unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster that developed throughout the story as I began to get to know, hate and/or love the eight main characters. Splitting the chapters between these eight characters was the real brilliance of the novel, with each character being so different in their circumstances and also they way they dealt with their individual situations, there is someone here for everyone to relate to.
I don't think I've ever read a book before that conjured up so many questions or made me think about so many different things. If you knew how long you had to live would it change the way you led the time you had left? Would you be able to start a relationship with someone knowing that your time together would be limited? How much of a part does fate play in our lives? If everyone knew when they were going to die would it change the way we do everything - distribute jobs, elect politicians, introduce laws - and if so, why? What difference would it make, we wake up every morning not knowing what will happen, so would it be better to be prepared? I could go on...
The Measure is a fascinating and profound story which is relevant to absolutely everybody, exploring life and death, and how the world would change if we all knew how long our lives would be. It was unexpected and heartfelt. It was also very different to the types of books I normally read, so I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this story, it was totally original and I loved the way the eight characters lives were all interconnected. I still don't know if I would open the box. That question is going to stay with me for a long time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nikki Erlick’s writing has appeared on the websites of New York Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Newsweek, Cosmopolitan and The Huffington Post. She graduated Harvard University summa cum laude and is a former editor of The Harvard Crimson. She earned a master's degree in Global Thought from Columbia University. The Measure is her debut novel. @nikkierlick @BoroughPress
Thanks to Anne Cater @RandomTTours, Borough Press @BoroughPress and Nikki Erlick @nikkierlick for the opportunity to read and review.
Publisher: Borough Press
Fiction: Dystopian
ISBN: 978-0008491512
Pages: 368pp
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