What do you think?
Rate this book
Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measure: Short Stories
You will laugh, weep and roll your eyes at these unreliable characters... Among them a man in love with the voice of his GPS, a teenaged couple hiding flaws as they discover love, and a young wife inspired by a dead seagull to do what she needs to do. These stories deal with the vulnerability of well-intentioned people and the ephemeral ‘units of measure’ that create conflict, particularly interior ones.
292 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2024
4 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Burke
4 books105 followersNancy Burke's fourth book, Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measure is available for pre-order and is forthcoming from Apprentice House Press in May, 2024. Earlier work includes: Only the Women are Burning, From the Abuelas’ Window and If I Could Paint the Moon Black. Her short fiction has been published in literary journals and her plays performed at festivals. At the Pool, was a finalist for the J.F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing at Rutgers University, Newark in fiction with a concentration in dramatic writing. She lives in Little Falls, NJ.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 14, 2024
In a Nutshell: A short story collection set around various “units of measure” that we use in our life. Loved the concept. Liked the stories. But something felt missing. Still recommended, as the variety of the stories in terms of plot and genre is great.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The author’s note at the start of this short story collection clearly explains the intriguing theme underlying the seventeen stories herein. (Well, sixteen stories and a novella.) Her definition of “units of measure”, as mentioned in the title, does not refer to the mathematical or scientific standards of measurement but to the way we measure everything in our lives. Whether generic choices or professional decisions or personal commitments or long-term goals, whether our behaviour with others or our treatment of ourselves, there is always some evaluation involved, consciously or subconsciously. And these are the “units” explored in this collection.
The theme is very compelling. I’ve never looked at life choices as having units of measure, but it makes so much sense! These units might be taught or instinctive, but they are still applicable to every human on the planet. What we get in the collection is thus a set of characters battling very real issues, many of which might also be what we have faced in our lives or know someone who has gone through the same. We get an interesting peek into human behaviour, but not necessarily of the kind typically seen in fiction. The decisions in these stories are often complex, involving greater contemplation and riskier outcomes.
The execution of the above intent though was a slightly mixed bag to me, though I am not exactly sure why. I love short stories, I enjoy character-oriented fiction, and I relish thought-provoking content. All of these are applicable to this collection. But somehow, there was nothing that gripped me. I could easily keep the book aside and never felt tempted to read “just one more”, which often happens when I read a good anthology/collection. The stories weren’t bad; they just didn’t reach the ‘fabulous’ mark for me.
That said, I loved the variety of the genres and characters, Some of the narrators are just kids while others are senior women. But they are captured equally well. Many characters go through a life-changing experience, and their responses – based on their personal units of measurement – lead to a range of emotions being captured in these pages. The writing is quite descriptive, so the stories are slightly longer.
The initial three stories feature the same set of characters at different stages in their lives, and these were quite good, lending an episodic sort of feel to the start of the book. The same characters then popped up in one story towards the end of the book. As I usually read only 1-2 stories a day when I read such books, I forgot all the “who was who” and hence the final story about these characters didn’t work for me at all. I wish these four stories had been positioned together.
The endings of the stories are suitable to the plots. Many of these stories are slice of life in style, so the endings are not typical HEA finales, but they also don’t leave us hanging.
One of the stories has horrifying animal cruelty. I had to zoom over those parts because I simply didn’t expect such disturbing content. Animal lovers, beware.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Most of the stories were good but stopped just short of being great for me. About half of the stories thus earned exactly 3.5 stars from me. These were the exceptions that surpassed that score:
All in all, I did like the stories, and I do appreciate the writing and the characters. But the collection as a whole won’t create a long-lasting impact on my mind.
Recommended to readers who like character-oriented introspective stories about humans and their oddities.
3.4 stars, based on the average of my ratings for the stories.
My thanks to Apprentice House and NetGalley for the DRC of “Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measure: Short Stories”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The author’s note at the start of this short story collection clearly explains the intriguing theme underlying the seventeen stories herein. (Well, sixteen stories and a novella.) Her definition of “units of measure”, as mentioned in the title, does not refer to the mathematical or scientific standards of measurement but to the way we measure everything in our lives. Whether generic choices or professional decisions or personal commitments or long-term goals, whether our behaviour with others or our treatment of ourselves, there is always some evaluation involved, consciously or subconsciously. And these are the “units” explored in this collection.
The theme is very compelling. I’ve never looked at life choices as having units of measure, but it makes so much sense! These units might be taught or instinctive, but they are still applicable to every human on the planet. What we get in the collection is thus a set of characters battling very real issues, many of which might also be what we have faced in our lives or know someone who has gone through the same. We get an interesting peek into human behaviour, but not necessarily of the kind typically seen in fiction. The decisions in these stories are often complex, involving greater contemplation and riskier outcomes.
The execution of the above intent though was a slightly mixed bag to me, though I am not exactly sure why. I love short stories, I enjoy character-oriented fiction, and I relish thought-provoking content. All of these are applicable to this collection. But somehow, there was nothing that gripped me. I could easily keep the book aside and never felt tempted to read “just one more”, which often happens when I read a good anthology/collection. The stories weren’t bad; they just didn’t reach the ‘fabulous’ mark for me.
That said, I loved the variety of the genres and characters, Some of the narrators are just kids while others are senior women. But they are captured equally well. Many characters go through a life-changing experience, and their responses – based on their personal units of measurement – lead to a range of emotions being captured in these pages. The writing is quite descriptive, so the stories are slightly longer.
The initial three stories feature the same set of characters at different stages in their lives, and these were quite good, lending an episodic sort of feel to the start of the book. The same characters then popped up in one story towards the end of the book. As I usually read only 1-2 stories a day when I read such books, I forgot all the “who was who” and hence the final story about these characters didn’t work for me at all. I wish these four stories had been positioned together.
The endings of the stories are suitable to the plots. Many of these stories are slice of life in style, so the endings are not typical HEA finales, but they also don’t leave us hanging.
One of the stories has horrifying animal cruelty. I had to zoom over those parts because I simply didn’t expect such disturbing content. Animal lovers, beware.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Most of the stories were good but stopped just short of being great for me. About half of the stories thus earned exactly 3.5 stars from me. These were the exceptions that surpassed that score:
✤ The Fissure: How a scraped knee leads to a life-changing realisation and decision. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✤ Charade: The only novella in this collection, focussing on three characters who've played various charades with each other, and how all comes tumbling out one day. A good reflection on the human psyche here. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✤ Muffled Voices: Two muffled voices, but not exactly in the way you would expect. Loved the way this story went from the typical to the atypical to the right ending. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
✤ Mother of the Bride: Looking at the title, I thought this would be a warm and fuzzy story. Well, it is so, but not the way I imagined. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
All in all, I did like the stories, and I do appreciate the writing and the characters. But the collection as a whole won’t create a long-lasting impact on my mind.
Recommended to readers who like character-oriented introspective stories about humans and their oddities.
3.4 stars, based on the average of my ratings for the stories.
My thanks to Apprentice House and NetGalley for the DRC of “Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measure: Short Stories”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
March 22, 2024
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 dissapoint.
I'll recommend it for those who enjoy silly and very human characters, and a sweet & simple writing style.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
I'll recommend it for those who enjoy silly and very human characters, and a sweet & simple writing style.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
Read
March 4, 2024Early 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
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 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’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
“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 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 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
“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
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 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’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
“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 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 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
Read
March 21, 2024Death 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.
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.
March 19, 2024
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.).
February 14, 2024
The title "Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measure" and the inspiration behind it is an indication of how utterlyinsightful and relatable this collection of short stories is. The author describes the Units of Measure are 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 situtations 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 reding more
Thank you to Netgalley, Apprentice House and Nany Burke for this exceptional ARC of short stories. My review is left of my own volition and all opinions are my own
Burke writes about situtations 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 reding more
Thank you to Netgalley, Apprentice House and Nany Burke for this exceptional ARC of short stories. My review is left of my own volition and all opinions are my own
April 24, 2024
This is one that I didn’t end up finishing (stopped around 25%). The stories are well-written and the characters are well-developed, but I never felt invested in the book as a whole (there was nothing that “hooked” me to feel the need to keep reading).
Death Cleaning & Other Units of Measure is a collection of short stories following a variety of characters facing different life circumstances, some relatable and some not-so-much. There’s a little bit of everything in these stories; coming-of-age, vulnerability, humor, and romance.
While this wasn’t quite the right fit for me, I do think others would really enjoy it!
Thank you to Nancy Burke, Apprentice House Press, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
Death Cleaning & Other Units of Measure is a collection of short stories following a variety of characters facing different life circumstances, some relatable and some not-so-much. There’s a little bit of everything in these stories; coming-of-age, vulnerability, humor, and romance.
While this wasn’t quite the right fit for me, I do think others would really enjoy it!
Thank you to Nancy Burke, Apprentice House Press, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
June 6, 2024
Thank you to the author, Apprentice House and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting this review, I had a bit too much going on.
This collection of short stories is a gem. The units of measure the author refers to in the title are not mathematical, but rather those we all use in our lives: amount of effort expended, love received, grace given, hurt caused - an unusual concept, but so very relatable. The stories of relationship and being are very well-written, insightful and resonate - to varying degrees, some deeply and some less. Overall not a gripping read, but a quiet and thoughtful one that I enjoyed.
This collection of short stories is a gem. The units of measure the author refers to in the title are not mathematical, but rather those we all use in our lives: amount of effort expended, love received, grace given, hurt caused - an unusual concept, but so very relatable. The stories of relationship and being are very well-written, insightful and resonate - to varying degrees, some deeply and some less. Overall not a gripping read, but a quiet and thoughtful one that I enjoyed.
Read
February 27, 2024Oh, 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.
April 13, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley for an 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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews