An interesting concept, I found this slower than I usually prefer but set the scene perfectly.
Interesting characters which are well developed.

Almost a 5-star read. Fantastic premise.

This book kept me awake at night wondering about short versus long threads and what it would mean if this really happened. What if we all knew when we were going to die? You could ponder the question for a lifetime.

It's also well written, with engaging characters and good dialogue. It's emotional and moving -- I think this is one (Like Halperin's The Truth Machine) that will always stay with me.

I think it will be a massive bestseller in 2022. It deserves to be. Erlick is a skilled writer and it's hard to believe it's a first novel. Here's hoping and wishing that there's more to come!

I took off one star because I was a tad disappointed by how the story developed and ended (trying to avoid spoilers!).

All over the world, every adult aged 22 and over, outside the doorstep finds a box. The source of boxes is unknown and mysterious. In the box is a string correlated to their lifespan.

And then the moral dilemma; would you like to know how long you had left to live and would it change the way you live your life?

The book follows the events in the lives of some who decided to open their boxes and the impact that the decision had on them and all around them.

Agonizing, full of interactions and with deeper meaning for all the society, this is a brilliant debut novel that will undoubtedly stir up many discussions in the future.

Wow, I don't think I have ever talked about a book that I am reading so much before, but the Measure is definitely worth discussion, The question is simple, What would you do if you received a box with a piece of string in it, denoting how long you had to live, would you look or would you live life in ignorance ?
But what Nikki Erlick has managed to do is write an amazing story that has really made me think and at times it was uplifting and sometimes so sad that I wanted to cry. the characters within are so realistic and to think this is a debut novel is amazing although a lot to live up to.
This will certainly be a book to remember.

Whilst this first seemed a little dystopian the way in which the story develops from individual perspectives with all characters being affected by the changing world in different ways made it personal and relevant. After the changes that we've seen to our daily lives and the general acceptance of these during COVID it was easy to feel a connection to the world that the author has created and rather than focusing on the event itself seeing it within the wider social and geographical context. A very different, engaging and thought provoking book that I would recommend to anyone looking for something a little less usual. I read it within a day and have found myself mentioning it to lots of friends since reading.

This was an unusual book and is well worth reading. I got it because I love dystopian novels, but although this one seems to be that on the surface, it is more a book about people and relationships.
As a first book, it is a good one, written by a US author and definitely aimed at a US audience, although of course everyone can read it. I only found a few bits that annoyed - when referring to older people, there seemed to be astonishment that people in their fifties could be hale and hearty, and retirement ages were an issue. But that is a very minor criticism, in what is mostly a very good book.
I did enjoy the ways that the different people eventually meshed together - it was obviously going to happen, but it was interesting and enjoyable to see how it came about. There were some characters that I enjoyed more than others, so it was true to life in that respect.
I nearly took a star off for the lack of really meaty problems, and I didn't totally enjoy the way it leapt forward at the end to resolve some outstanding issues, I would have preferred those to have been dealt with in another way. But overall I did enjoy the book, and some sentences were well crafted, so I decided to overlook these minor niggles for a book that was a very interesting read.

What if you know when you were going to die? How would it change your life, your plans, your relationships? The Measure asks these questions, and looks at how it might change society too. It’s a really interesting premise for a book and the characters are so lovely. I really enjoyed this and think it could be very popular when it’s released. Had a similar feel to the Time Traveler’s Wife.

Impactful book that has resonated with me and everyone that I’ve talked to about it. It may not be the best prose or the most accomplished book I’ve ever read but its power is in the message. People are discriminated against for all sorts of reasons and once that’s ingrained it’s almost impossible to shift. Think unconscious bias, but not unconscious and very visible. Corporate and governmental bias if you like.

Then also the message that you should live your life freely, and be true to yourself. These aren’t spoilers but strings that you can draw from a box that tells you how long you can live.

But yes frustratingly there are unanswered questions and a few loose ends. I enjoyed the intertwining of the characters’ lives and the seemingly parallel stories that come together almost seamlessly.

An ordinary book with this style of writing and accomplishments would have been a solid 3.5* … but this raises so many questions in my mind and is a real talking point so for that reason I think it’s worthy of a much better rating. Excellent and would be a brilliant book club read.

A brilliant story that is different to other things you have read. You buy into all the characters and how they entwine without realising is well written. The topic is fresh but relevant with the discimination piece.

The Measure

Oh no. What a disappointment.
I had very high hopes for this book!
The concept is very different and could have been so good.
What if, a box was dropped in your doorstep and it would tell you how long you have to live. Would you open it?
Everyone the world received a box…..

The possibilities for this book was endless!


Unfortunately, it was dreary and very repetitive.
The same points over and over again. It could have opened up and went down so many interesting avenues.
The characters, whose stories that were followed were dire. The story and characters lacked substance and meaning.

What a shame.

Simply put, this is a stunning debut - so much more than the reather dystopian pitch might make it seem. Full of heart, a cast of characters you'll never want to leave your side, and a compelling what if scenario that will keep you up into the night, contemplating the choice that you would make in the face of that box... five stars from me, and I cannot wait to see what Nikki Erlick writes next.

What a wonderful idea for a book, and so thought-provoking. It began so well, and the novel raises so many questions and moral dilemmas that I thought it would be a wonderful title for a reading group. Unfortunately these questions are not explored in depth. After a few excellent chapters, the book reached a plateau and stayed there. I enjoyed the 'Several Years Later' section at the end, but unfortunately for the long time in the middle I felt that I didn't get to know the characters much better than when I first met them and it felt a bit of a plod.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this Advanced Review Copy.

The title and premise of this story caught my attention completely. I am so thrilled to have received an ARC of this book. Absolute dynamite that addresses so many social and cultural issues that plague our modern world. At first, I feared this was going to be a retelling of the 2019 movie "Countdown" but was soon disabused of that notion.

"It was difficult to imagine a time before them, a world in which they hadn't come."

From this opening line, we meet one character after another faced with whether or not to open the mysterious and indestructible box that arrives on each and every person's doorstep around the globe. Even those who don't have doorsteps, such as the homeless or nomads who live in tents, receive their own box. Everyone, that is, aged 22 and over. The boxes bear the legend, "The measure of your life lies within" and contain a string of a certain length, which tells you how long you have left to live.

The changes that come rock the world. This is a shocking read because it is all too believable. The book contains so many great lines that I struggled to choose only a few to highlight in this review. Here goes ...

"When your sample size is the entire world, you're bound to find anecdotes that support any theory."

And ...

"Ben tried to maintain eye contact with the floor."

And ...

"Did a patient receive less care because her string was short, or was a patient's string short because she received less care?" ... A wonderful take on the classic chicken-and-egg question. Although the author undid this achievement in the very next sentence by then telling us it's "a wonderful chicken-and-egg question". Argh.

One character I found incredibly naive. Amie, a woman in her twenties, who teaches 10-year-olds at a private school. This character brings us nonsense such as: "Amie smiled at the thought of her parents, still active in their late fifties" ... erm, I should think so!!!!

Also, in the same vein: "... Still working full-time and filling their weekends ..." they're in their 50s for heaven's sakes! Amie is only a couple of decades or so younger. I might expect this kind of mistaken ageism from a kid or a teen but not from someone in their mid-to-late twenties. Obviously, this character is blissfully unaware of retirement ages despite being employed herself.

Okay, mini rant over with. That was the only place in the book that pulled me up short and had me asking, WTF??? The rest of the read was brilliant. One final quote I loved: "Even if we can't affect someone's longevity, at least we can still impact their quality of life."

This read gets 4.5 stars from me, rounded up to five for rating purposes. I connected with all the characters and found the plot entirely believable and plausible. I finished this read in two sittings, and some of the questions it raises will stick with me for a while.

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

It seems that everyone loves this book but me, so I expect it to be a big hit. I had high hopes for this one as the premise of the story hooked me in; people all around the world wake up to find a box on their doorstep with a piece of string inside that determines how long they are going to live. From that point on it just goes through various short string characters, or friends of short stringers all wondering when they were going to die. The characters weren't particularly memorable or interesting, and overall the storyline fell flat for me. Nothing transpires about where the boxes came from, or why. To be honest I felt like a short stringer reading it and struggled to keep going through this one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book.

The Measure is based on such an interesting concept, that I took the question with me long after I finished reading the book - if the exact length of your life were contained in a box before you, would you look? And how would you deal with that decision, whatever it was? I really appreciated how Erlick explored all the different combinations of decisions, emotions and global reactions. The writing was compelling and easy to follow, even with the multiple narratives.

I think at time of writing pretty much every review of this book is five stars. So I guess I'm an outlier!

The Measure has an interesting high concept pitch... What if everyone could find out how long they had left to live? It does feel like this idea MUST have been done already (?) but if not credit to the author for a nice hook.

However, the execution for me just fell flat. I gave up around a third of the way through the book. I just wasn't interested. The characters literally felt like just names to me with no depth or interest.

And after the initial kick off of the plot, when people find boxes with strings in them which indicate how long they have to live, nothing much has happened. Its just a bunch of people agonising over having a short string or knowing someone with a short string.

Maybe it picks up as the book continues but I'd read enough to know the style wasn't for me.
I think at time of writing pretty much every review of this book is five stars. So I guess I'm an outlier!

The Measure has an interesting high concept pitch... What if everyone could find out how long they had left to live? It does feel like this idea MUST have been done already (?) but if not credit to the author for a nice hook.

However, the execution for me just fell flat. I gave up around a third of the way through the book. I just wasn't interested. The characters literally felt like just names to me with no depth or interest.

And after the initial kick off of the plot, when people find boxes with strings in them which indicate how long they have to live, nothing much has happened. Its just a bunch of people agonising over having a short string or knowing someone with a short string.

Maybe it picks up as the book continues but I'd read enough to know the style wasn't for me.

Overnight mysterious boxes have appeared on the footsteps of people's homes, apartments, caravans, tents. All over the world. Within the box lies a string that reveals the length of time you have left before you die. Some people receive a long string and now know that they have many happy years left. Others are left wondering if they should even open the box, scared of the fate that lies within.

It tackles the age-old question: would you want to know how long you have left to live? Would you quit your job, go travel the world, make sure to spend your last few years with loved ones?

Based on the many five star reviews, I was expecting to LOVE this book. The concept itself is incredibly exciting and something that I found very unique. The author handles many different perspectives in alternating chapters between characters. Some have short strings and are married to partners with long strings, some are refusing to look into their boxes, and others are working in professions where they will soon be forced to look into the box and find out what fate will befall them.

What the author handles very well is the impact the arrival of the boxes have on society and how quickly things begin to fall apart. The way different governments of countries handle the arrival of the boxes (again, this is a global thing) and the way that people begin to divide into "short stringers" and everyone else. That is done incredibly well and in a way that is startlingly believable. Especially in our current lives affected by a global pandemic.

The switching of perspectives and characters makes it very hard to follow the different storylines. Unfortunately all of the characters are written so similarly and aren't fully developed, so I found it very difficult to follow their storylines and truly care about them. With so many characters destined to die, based on their strings, you would expect to feel more sadness. But because I didn't really care for any of them, I couldn't be bothered about their fates and deaths. Which is unfortunate. It reminded me in many, many ways of "The End of Men" which tackles a pandemic and also flips between different voices and characters. I would almost say that if you enjoyed that book, you're likely to enjoy this one too.

I almost DNF'd this one because I struggled so much to care about any of the characters. Full marks for an incredible idea and concept though.

One morning the world wakes up to find boxes on their doorstep. Only those under 22 are spared. The rest have boxes with 'The measure of your life lies within' inscribed on them. It doesn't take long for the world to realise that the string that is in the box shows whether you will have a long or a short life. Is it an elaborate hoax? Do you choose to open the box and find out or do you leave it be?

I thought this was a really exciting concept and couldn't wait to read the book. However, I didn't think it was particularly well executed. We follow the lives of various long and short stringers (as they come to be called), Some are in relationships where one partner has a long string and the other a short, some where at least one hasn't opened the box and one where they exchange strings. I didn't care much about any of the characters and felt that they weren't well developed. This meant that although some of them inevitably die, I didn't feel for them as they hadn't come to life for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is a really interesting concept for a novel. Imagine waking up to a box on your doorstep and nestled within is a piece of string. The length of string is equivalent to how long you have left to live. This tale covers a few characters and follows the impact the string has on their lives.
This book really covers well how society would respond and how people would act in these circumstances. The segregation between long and short stringers is really powerful throughout this book and the consequences of knowing your future isn't always an advantage.
I did feel it began to drag a bit in the middle and I did wonder how a story could be made out of it all. The author however made it work and it was a really interesting and thought provoking read.

This is the 182nd book I have read in 2021 and I can comfortably say it is the best. I don't even know where to begin in my review.

In this novel, all adults aged 22 and over awake to find a box outside their homes. The boxes differ in only two ways, the name of the recipient and the length of string inside the box -the length of string being indicative of how long the recipient will live.

We follow a number of characters throughout this story as they grapple with the decision as to whether to open the box or not. Would you want the relief of knowing you will live a long life or would you be unable to cope with the heartbreak of uncovering a short string? These are the dilemmas which our characters face and they all make their own choices.

Erlick deals not only with the personal choices of the main characters as they struggle with this momentous decision but also the impact on society. We see "short-stringers" pitted against "long-stringers" with the former facing harassment and discrimination in many aspects of their normal daily lives.

The novel is told from multiple perspectives and the characters interweave with each other. Often times, with multiple character perspectives, a novel can become confusing however the characters here are so real you will have no trouble keeping everyone straight.

Of course, I will not ruin any aspects of their stories however be prepared to laugh, cheer, empathise and cry as you follow these ordinary yet remarkable people dealing with knowing (or not knowing) their eventual fate.

As I have said above, I read a LOT of books. Like most of you, I read them, I enjoy them but if you were to ask me about them six months later, I would likely struggle to recall the details of it. Books like The Measure come along rarely....a book which will linger with me over the coming days, weeks, months and probably years. A book that changes your thoughts on life and makes you question how you are living, whether you are making the most of the time you may have left or wasting it away.

This will be a certain hit when released and I would not be surprised to see a Hollywood film or Netflix series follow. A must read and a great novel for any book clubs out there.

Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.