Readers' rating:
Published Jun 2022
368 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
A luminous, spirit-lifting blockbuster that asks: would you choose to find out the length of your life?
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?
The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn't have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.
Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is an ambitious, invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.
"Narrator Julia Whelan's placid tone is enchanting and sincere, drawing listeners into the character-driven narrative, and her steady pace will contrast and compound their urgent need to know what comes next. The original and inspiring premise will appeal to listeners seeking magical realism blended with uplifting, emotionally intense literary fiction. Recommended for fans of Emily St. John Mandel and Chloe Benjamin." —Library Journal (starred review)
"[P]redictable...Still, the scenes of grief and love are poignant. There's plenty of drama, but overall, it's a bit too anodyne." —Publishers Weekly
"Perfect for book clubs, Erlick's The Measure is equal parts charming and thought-provoking. It takes a philosophical question—what if everybody on earth knew exactly how long they had left to live?—and explores, with compassion and pragmatism, how the implications would trickle down into every area of modern life, from politics to intimacy." —Marie Claire
"Despite its chilling premise, Erlick's novel is an escape from—rather than a window into—our own terrifying reality." —New York Times
"I doubt I will ever use the term 'life-affirming' when describing a novel again. No other book could ever measure up to what Erlick has done with this tender, original and gripping debut. I cannot think of a reader of any genre who would not find something to love in The Measure." —Bookreporter.com
"Late-breaking connections between the characters feel more schematic than revelatory, and details of diverse supporting players such as Jack's Latino college roommate, who "couldn't afford to be seen as [a] failure," read like paint-by-numbers. Still, the scenes of grief and love are poignant. There's plenty of drama, but overall, it's a bit too anodyne." —Publishers Weekly
"The Measure is an utterly original and hugely compelling story, which drew me in from the very first page with its beautiful writing. Weeks after reading it, I'm still thinking about this smart, uplifting novel and its wonderful characters." —Freya Sampson, author of The Last Chance Library
"Nikki Erlick has created an irresistible hook about a question that everyone asks but no-one ever wants to answer. With thoughtful and compelling detail, she crafts a strange—and strangely familiar—world full of new moral and political conundrums. And while the novel is full of ideas, The Measure has a strong emotional heart—with an array of characters exploring their frightening, but sometimes beautiful new worlds. Ultimately, The Measure is about the power of human resilience, a new world where people get to choose their own kind of freedom." —Luke Allnutt, author of We Own the Sky
This information about The Measure was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Nikki Erlick is a writer and editor whose work has appeared online with New York Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Newsweek, Cosmopolitan, Indagare Travel, The Huffington Post, and Vox. She has a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a master's degree from Columbia University. The Measure is her debut novel.
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