The Measure, Nikki Erlick’s debut novel, asks the question: how would we live if we knew how long our lives would be? In the introduction, Erlick lays out the premise that gives shape to the novel — overnight, across the world, every person over the age of twenty-two receives a wooden box that bears the inscription, “The measure of your life lies within,” and contains a single piece of string. No one knows where the strings came from, why the strings were delivered, or what to do with them, but as time goes on and officials discover that the length of the string accurately predicts a person’s lifespan, chaos ensues. The strings affect everyone in different ways; some people quit their jobs while others determinedly pursue their calling, some end relationships while others get married in the time they have left, some face discrimination while others live with newfound abandon. Regardless, no one escapes unscathed, bringing to mind other unprecedented moments throughout history. Told in a multiple narrator format, The Measure follows an engaging cast of characters — a presidential candidate, a young couple, a teacher, and others — as they grapple with a changing world.
From page one, I could not put this book down. Erlick’s writing is quiet yet propulsive, and she creates a sense of intimacy with the characters that pulled me in fast. I sometimes get lost in books with multiple narrators, or become invested in one perspective but not the rest, but I found all equally compelling here. And my favorite moments were when one narrator would pop up in another’s chapter; I loved seeing their stories gradually overlap in group therapy sessions and pen pal exchanges, romances and friendships. At first, I assumed the book would focus mainly on the strings — their origins, their mystery, and maybe some hidden consequences — but as the book progressed, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the book instead focuses on the people and how they gradually learn to measure a life by its depth and not its length. The Measure takes an epic, science-fiction-y concept and, out of it, creates a life-affirming story about relationships, community, and connection. I absolutely loved it.
I’d recommend this book to…
- Anyone who loves a compulsively readable story told from multiple perspectives… it’s similar in style to Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult
- Anyone pondering existential “what if…” questions about life and time… it’s similar in theme to This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
- Anyone looking for a contemplative, uplifting novel… it’s similar in tone to The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
