Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measure: Short Stories

“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 reminds us of how much we need stories in her exquisite collection Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measurement. Whether it's 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 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’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