Genre Fiction
![Nikki Erlick - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_nikki_erlick.jpg)
The Measure: A Novel
"PERFECT FOR BOOK CLUBS."-MARIE CLAIRE
A luminous, spirit-lifting blockbuster for readers of The Midnight Library.
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 a sweeping, ambitious, and invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.
A luminous, spirit-lifting blockbuster for readers of The Midnight Library.
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 a sweeping, ambitious, and invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.
Editorial Reviews
"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
"So often, high-concept novels are all conceit, no heart, but Nikki Erlick gives us both in spades, a fascinating and timely setup buttressed by a compelling cast of characters finding their hard way through unprecedented times. It makes The Measure a heartfelt parable for our own unprecedented times but also its opposite: a lesson in what doesn't change even when everything else does." - Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of One Two Three
"What an incredible book! It's truly original with an intriguing premise that's beautifully executed. I loved the fact that it was written from so many POVs, each adding depth and perspective to the overall narrative which made it a rich and satisfying read. I found it gripping, poignant, and intensely thought-provoking." - Ruth Hogan, bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things
"A compelling, heart-breaking story of life and love with a perfect, elegant premise." - Bridget Collins, bestselling author of The Binding
"The Measure is utterly original and wonderfully mysterious. Through Erlick's deft prose and clever logic, I threw away all disbelief and fully plunged into the unsettling but life-affirming world she creates." - Jessica Anya Blau, author of Mary Jane
"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 questi...
"So often, high-concept novels are all conceit, no heart, but Nikki Erlick gives us both in spades, a fascinating and timely setup buttressed by a compelling cast of characters finding their hard way through unprecedented times. It makes The Measure a heartfelt parable for our own unprecedented times but also its opposite: a lesson in what doesn't change even when everything else does." - Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of One Two Three
"What an incredible book! It's truly original with an intriguing premise that's beautifully executed. I loved the fact that it was written from so many POVs, each adding depth and perspective to the overall narrative which made it a rich and satisfying read. I found it gripping, poignant, and intensely thought-provoking." - Ruth Hogan, bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things
"A compelling, heart-breaking story of life and love with a perfect, elegant premise." - Bridget Collins, bestselling author of The Binding
"The Measure is utterly original and wonderfully mysterious. Through Erlick's deft prose and clever logic, I threw away all disbelief and fully plunged into the unsettling but life-affirming world she creates." - Jessica Anya Blau, author of Mary Jane
"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 questi...
Readers Top Reviews
Kelly Gottschalk
The Measure presents a simple act of knowledge in such a profound way. One day, everyone over the age of twenty-two wakes up to the delivery of a string, a string that tells them just how long their life is going to be. While this concept may seem a little corny, the implications it shows of people being able to know their lifespan plays out in both unexpected and expected ways. Perhaps I've become more than a little bit disillusioned with society today, so it was easy to anticipate all the negative that come to fruition. Long stringers begin distancing and discriminating themselves from short stringers. A politician sees an opportunity with his long string to stoke fear, create dissension - and naturally his own approval ratings. People begin to look at their relationships and decisions in different ways. Should a couple stay together when one has a short string and the other a long one? Should someone be excluded from pursuing their dream because of a short string? Should someone decide not to have children because they know they won't be there to see them grow up? These are all questions that the various narrators in the story face and are forced to confront. It's easy to look at a long string and think it's okay to be reckless because apparently you're going to survive it. But it's also pretty amazing to be reminded that brief lives can be tremendously impactful. There are also characters in the book that never want to know the length of their string, including Amie, one of the narrators. Why? Why know that your life is predetermined no matter what you do? After losing one of the most important people in my life to a short-string life, the thought of knowing life could be short is somewhat unbearable - but also means living your life with meaning and without regrets. The most important lesson of this book to me is that if you had the opportunity to know how long your life is going to be, it should be your choice to know or not, and to live your life to the fullest, however long it's going to be. I really loved this book and the messages it sent. It is one of my favorite books so far this year! Erlick doesn't hesitate to show the problems that come (and discrimination is inevitable any time you can divide the world up into the 'haves' and 'have nots') and the silver linings that are there when you choose to see them.
