The Measure by Nikki Erlick


 

Would you open your box? 

The Measure follows the intertwining lives of eight people who must decide —and then deal with the consequences. For inside each box is a simple string that represents the length of their lives. Of course, all the best minds pounce on the mysterious strings, trying to determine: Are they real? Where did they come from? What values do the measurements represent? 


As the story unfolds, more questions arrive than answers. Should “short-stringers” hold office? Get married? Have children? Are “long-stringers” invincible? 


Two elements stuck with me as I read: 1) How scarily authentic the worldwide reaction to the strings was portrayed, and 2) The way the lives of the characters were artfully woven to show the impact that each individual has on the world around them. 


And then there were the small things (without spoilers): the girl with the pink-tipped hair, the engraving on the bench, the rescued doctor, the prayer card. 


When I give a 5-star rating it is either because I could find no flaws or because a book has changed the way I view the world. This read was the latter, and while it could’ve been trimmed in places, its message will stay with me: What is truly the measure of a life? 


The Measure: ★★★★★

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