The Measure

May 23, 2022
How would people behave if they knew the length of their lives, asks the moving but predictable debut novel from Erlick. One night, mysterious wooden boxes appear outside every door on Earth, each holding a string, the length of which corresponds to how long its recipient will live, which the recipients begin to figure out and share on social media. Erlick introduces seemingly unconnected characters as they grapple with the news. There’s Hank, a physician who joins a support group for “short-stringers”; Jack, the long-stringed scion of a Kennedy-like political family; and Maura and Nina, a couple two years into their relationship, whose contentment is ruptured when they find that Maura’s string is half the length of Nina’s. Some people, like Nina’s sister, Amie, choose not to look at their strings at all, but even conscious abstainers cannot deny the strings’ devastating impact. Then, a charismatic and villainous presidential candidate looks to capitalize on an older generation’s fears over the short-stringers and the hell they could raise. 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 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. Agent: Cindy Uh, CAA.

Starred review from August 1, 2022

What if you woke one morning to find the measure of your life sitting in a box on your doorstep? In Erlick's debut novel, every adult in the world receives these inexplicable, indestructible omens and faces unimaginable decisions. Some gain a new lease on life; others take it as a death sentence. The novel focuses on eight individuals, seemingly set apart yet indelibly intertwined, who must decide whether they want to live a long life or a deep one. Erlick compellingly and captivatingly explores each facet of human nature, from hatred to heartbreak to hope. 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. VERDICT 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.--Lauren Hackert

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