EARLY REVIEWS:
Nancy Burke has an uncanny sense of family dynamics. I love this wise, original, and nervy collection of her stories. – Hilma Wolitzer, author of Today a Woman Went Mad at the Supermarket (2021)
“Nancy Burke’s witty, warm stories go to the heart of relationships and family life with honesty and compassion. The sisters in the wonderful opening set of linked stories return in later pieces, and it is a pleasure to watch them grow and also remain recognizably the same as they were as girls. Other stories deal with contemporary dilemmas and problems between adults in surprising ways. Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measure shows another aspect of Burke’s range as an author who speaks to the concerns of our times with great wisdom.” Alice Elliott Dark – Author of Fellowship Point, Think of England, In The Gloaming, Naked to the Waist
“Nancy Burke reminds us of how much we need stories in her exquisite collection Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measurement. Whether its love gone missing, family heartache, or the resurrection of hope, Burke hits the right note every single time. Searing and heartfelt, her storytelling will knock you out but bring you back whole when you need it most.” – Julie Maloney, award-winning author of A Matter of Chance
Nancy Burke’s DEATH CLEANING is a moving, beautifully-crafted and exceptionally relatable collection of stories featuring an unforgettable trio of sisters gripped by sibling rivalry and fear, tales of infertility and hidden pregnancies, the secret desires of wives, mothers, husbands and more, written with exquisite detail that highlights the quotidian terror, beauty, and redemption of our daily lives. – Laurie Lico Albanese, author of HESTER
“Nancy Burke’s Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measure is a wide-ranging, moving work which focuses with great sensitivity on the intersection between the inner lives of ordinary people and their daily experiences. Told from multiple points of view––young, old, men and women––it deftly captures the long-held secrets, misunderstandings, and bonds, however fraught, that make up any relationship. In Burke’s world, no matter the distance between people, whether a generational or a religious divide, or a tenuous bond between neighbors, one never doubts their connection. Her wise insights about mothers and daughters, siblings, and romantic partnerships give these memorable characters weight. Stylistically, the collection encompasses linked stories, stand-alone ones, and a piece entirely in dialogue. For readers looking to dive into a rich exploration of the seasons of women’s and men’s lives, this is a book to treasure.” ––Roselee Blooston, author of the novel, Trial by Family, an IPBA Gold Medal Winner, A Chocolate Jar & Other Stories, the memoir Dying in Dubai, a Foreword INDIES Book of the Year, and Almost: My Life in the Theater
“Nancy Burke’s stories open the treacherous ground of marriage and family relations with fearless intimacy. Her clear, everyday language and realistic dialogue take us deep into the dark recesses of envy, revenge, sibling rage, guilt, and missed connections. The personal touches on the universal when we suffer the heartbreak of infertility or the ambivalent results of failed suicide along with Burke’s seemingly ordinary characters, who have much to show us about our own foibles and ingrained resentments. Units of Measure is a collection for our times, our history, our pain.” – Marina Antropow Cramer, author of the novels Roads, Anna Eva Mimi Adam, and Marfa’s River
The title “Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measure” and the inspiration behind it is an indication of how utterly insightful and relatable this collection of short stories is. The author describes the Units of Measure used by everybody in every part of their lives, amount of kindness given, amount of effort, how we compare ourselves to others to name a few and the book explores how not everybody measures up the same way.
Burke writes about situations the majority of us have experienced and can relate to with such stark accuracy, it is difficult to put the book down. There will be stories that resonate deeply with your own life experience, but Burke gives comfort in giving the power of understanding and reassurance that you are not alone, you are not the only person to experience these things, while empowering you with the resilience within This is an author that I can certainly get behind and I look forward to reading more Thank you to Netgalley, Apprentice House and Nancy Burke for this exceptional ARC of short stories. My review is left of my own volition and all opinions are my own. – InkR Reviewer on NetGalley
Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced reader copy. This is a wonderful collection of short stories with characters so real it’s no surprise when a child shows up later as a teenager and you think, “Oh, I remember you. I knew you when you were a little girl.”
Nancy Burke does not wrap her stories up and tie them with a neat little bow. Like life, the stories end where they will, leaving the reader wondering what will happen next. They are stories that will stay with you. – Eileen V on NetGalley
“Nancy Burke’s stories enable you to really understand the people you thought you already knew all about. Her writing delves into situations like sibling rivalry, parent and child conflicts and marital disputes, and uncovers veins of unique viewpoints. Whether she’s exploring a day at the Jersey shore, love hate relations among sisters, or the deep personal bond between a man and his GPS, Burke will keep you interested, amused, touched and wondering why you never thought of things that way before.” – Jean Ende, Short Story Author
Death Cleaning & Other Units of Measure by Nancy Burke is an initimate collection of short stories about family connections and perspectives on life in segments. Each narrative, while perhaps not directly relatable, provoke a certain feeling that is so innately human, it leaves you thinking about your own life in a way. Burke is very skilled in creating all-encompassing narratives in so few pages, it feels as if readers are dropped right into the middle of lives of characters they’ve been reading about for chapters. I don’t typically opt for short story collections, but I am glad I chose to read this one. I enjoyed my time reading it, and it even piqued my interest in writing a few short stories of my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Apprentice House for providing a copy for advanced review. – Librarian on NetGalley
Oh, my goodness. This was such an amazing read. I was first intrigued with the title and the cover but it did not disappoint me at all. As someone who is a big fan of short stories as well, this book was just fabulous. – Vanetta R. on NetGalley
I enjoyed this collection of short stories, especially how many of them dived into the complexities of womanhood (being a girl, being a sister, being a daughter, being a wife, etc.). – Anna D. on NetGalley
I really enjoyed this short story collection about relationships between people and the complexity of womanhood. The first thing that intruiged me was the title and the book definitely didn’t disappoint. I’ll recommend it for those who enjoy silly and very human characters, and a sweet & simple writing style. – Gry K. on NetGalley
Save the Date: Thursday, June 13th at 6:30 PM at Little Falls Public Library, 8 Warren Street, Little Falls – with Jon Corcoran, author of No Son Of Mine.
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