From the day he is five-years-old and dropped off at his foster home of the next eleven years, Stephen is mentally and physically tortured. No one in the system can help him. No one can tell him if he has a family. No one can tell him why, with obvious African-American features, he has the last name of Klakowicz.
Along the way, a single faint light comes only from a neighborโs small acts of kindness and caringโand a box of books. From one of those books he learns that he has to fight in any way he canโfor victory is in the battle. His victory is to excel in school.
Against all odds, the author succeeded. He attended college, graduated, became a successful corporate executive, and married a wonderful woman with whom he established a loving family of his own. Through it, he dug voraciously through records and files and found his history, his birth familyโand the ultimate disappointment as some family members embrace him, but others reject him. Readers wonโt be the same after reading this powerful story. They will share in the hurts and despair but also in the triumph against daunting obstacles. They will share this story with their family, with their friends, with their neighbors.
I was invited to a CASA charity event most likely due to my love of reading and because there was an author speaking about his first book. As noted all around my site, Iโm a full-fledged author stalker, so, of course I was in for the event. From the minute I sat down to listen to Steve Pemberton, I was mesmerized. Not only because he was handsome as the devil himself, but also because his story, his presence, and the way he shared it was us, was overwhelmingly sad and hopeful at the same time. I dashed through the book the next day and am amazed that this young boy was not only able to survive, but that he also drew the ability to persevere when the odds were continually against him. His natural ability to read and the lessons he learned from the few books he was able to read/keep/get ahold of, were truly the only positive prayers, influences and morals that he was exposed to. This book will keep you cheering and fearing at the same time. It makes you want to grab your kids and squeeze the bejeezus out of them. It makes you realize that every time you smile at someone, offer a hand or share a bit of yourself; you really, truly could be offering him or her a new lifeline.
Quotes I liked:
Books for me were what the ocean is to the fearless explorer-deep and mysterious, boundless and soothing. I loved the smell of books, the feel of their weight in my hands, the rustle of the pages as I turned them, the magnificent illustrations on the covers that promised hidden treasures within.โ
– โLike food, books were hard for me to come by. If I were caught reading without permission, a merciless beating would follow (Robinson Rule #12).โ
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control โ from the author of The Laws of Human Nature. I... read more
Review:The Measure by Nikki Erlick was a book I waited far too long to read. I just couldnโt stomach the idea that everyone in the world would find out their relative life span. The whole idea of this scared me but when my book club chose to read it, I dug in with enthusiasm.Iโm so glad I did. This book is more about life and how we live it, rather than about dying. Itโs told by a cast of eight characters who are deeply affected by the strings they received. The length of the string parallels the length of your life. All the characters are struggling with their results because even if he or she gets a long string, there will still be people they know will be gone soon.How the world at large handles the strings was so well done. People are switching boxes hoping it could change their destiny. Support groups are offered. Protests occur. The world is in a very different place. Much of this book made me think about the differences between fate and destiny. This story offers many intertwined connections between the characters that makes for a powerful and meaningful ending. Iโm so looking forward to whatโs next from this author. @nikkierlick @williammorrowbooks William Morrow ๐ Would you open a box that told you how long your lifespan is?#themeasure #scifilight#bookreader #bookclubpick #goodbookfairy... See MoreSee Less