The Measure

What would happen if one day each adult over 22 years of age found out exactly how long they would live? This book explores the impact that knowledge would have on individuals, their relationships, and society as a whole.

Coming from someone who is not a big fan of science fiction, or speculative fiction as this may be better categorized, I am surprised how much I love this book. The premise is intriguing and pulled me into the storyline immediately. In addition to the engaging premise, the beautiful prose and character development make this story stand out.

As the story begins, everyone over the age of 22 receives a box with a string in it. The string is either short or long in correlation to the length of each person's life. The storyline follows several different perspectives of individuals to reveal how different people react to the situation. It explores how the knowledge of one's lifespan could affect one's choices and relationships. It shows both the positive and negative ways people might behave if they had this powerful knowledge.

One of the best aspects of this novel is the characters. The author creates such vivid characters that are relatable and lovable. The reader becomes invested in their storylines.

I particularly enjoyed the exploration of how the leaders of a country would respond in a situation like the one in this book. It left me thinking about how our society would behave and how it might impact my life if it were real. To me, that is the sign of a good book. I cannot wait to recommend this one to people I know so I can talk about it with them.