The Measure by Nikki Erlick

It seems like just another morning.

Around the world, people wake up, check the news, open the front door.

On every doorstep is a box. Inside that box is the exact number of years that person has left to live.

Whether they open it or hide it under their bed, each person must learn to live in this new world: a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush their life together, a doctor who cannot save himself from his own fate, best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything…A very clever, thought-provoking examination of society on many levels. 

Whilst the premise is one which affects the world, we follow eight individuals and their particular stories which highlight how extreme situations bring out both the best and the worst of humanity.  A novel that provokes discussion and raises lots of questions but is not judgemental, allowing the reader to respond individually. What is a good life well-lived? Would you open the box? Would it make a difference to how you live your life? Would it affect how you treat others? A well-crafted novel which makes you consider how we treat others and what influences those relationships, how honest we are with each other and how sometimes it is easiest to be most truthful with those you don’t know. Well-paced, well-written, relatable and lots to think about. A great book club choice.