The Measure by Nikki Erlick (2022)
A thought provoking concept driven by a cast of characters.
Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Plot: One day, as people all over the world wake up, they find small wooden boxes at their front doors. The boxes contain strings symbolizing “the measure of your life”. In other words, how long the receiver will live. The world is thrown into chaos as people race to discover the origin of the boxes, the meaning of them, and the accuracy of the string lengths. Would you want to know how long you will live?
Analysis: I really enjoyed all of the philosophical questions posed by the book regarding string lengths. Should you look at your string? How should your length affect your career, insurance, or even military status? How does dating change with the knowledge? What role should the government have, if any, in tracking string length?
While having a short string is obviously distressing to many, the strings also bring a bit of perspective to life. Many people leave work to travel, be with family, and spend their days meaningfully. On the flip side, a long string can bring peace of mind, especially to those with illnesses or injuries. A transplantee remarks that every unexpected day granted to them feels so sacred after finding out they have a long string.
The introduction of the strings also highlights cultural differences and attitudes towards pleasure and leisure. A woman in Italy remarks that “We already put the art first, the food first, the passion first. And we already put the family first, we did not need the strings to tell us what is most important.”
There is a cast of characters that the story follows, giving the reader different, personal perspectives. While each of these stories served a purpose, I didn’t necessarily connect with all the characters. Regardless, I thought the overall concept made up for some narrative shortcomings. I would recommend the book.
The Measure includes a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote that perfectly sums up a lesson from the novel: “It is not the length of life, but the depth of life. You don’t need a long lifetime to make an impact on this world.”
Comentários