Two people in two days told me to read The Midnight Library, and I’m rather glad they did. I’m also glad that I listened to them.
This unique, thought-provoking novel by Matt Haig takes a “road not taken” approach — a suicidal woman, Nora, is magically transported to the “midnight library,” a place where each book contains the story of the life she could have lived, if she had only… [fill in the blank here]. Nora then emarks upon various choose-your-own-adventure journeys, popping in and out of possible lives that she thinks she missed out on.
The interesting premise of The Midnight Library caught my attention, and the many twists and turns throughout the novel kept it going. At first, I was like, “how many times can she jump in and out of different lives before I get bored?” Luckily, Haig mixed things up pretty early on, for which I was grateful. Although we all can kinda figure out where the end of the story will lead us (and Nora), it’s fun to watch her get where she’s meant to be all along.
Reading The Midnight Library left me feeling grateful. This book is all about having regrets. A lot of them. So many that they weigh you down and make you wish for a different life, any life, if it just takes you out of the one you’re in.
Like all people, there are things in my life I regret, both doing and not doing — but, honestly? Not many. And definitely none are so big that I’d trade what I have now to wander down any of those roads not taken. Nora and her library full of books makes you incredibly aware of your own life and choices. I feel fortunate enough to not need a midnight library. Nora’s an important reminder that, sadly, that’s not the case for everyone.
The magical round of lives in The Midnight Library gave me flashbacks to The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, and Nora’s character and backstory reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant. I think it’s safe to say that the The Midnight Library will intrigue you if you liked either of those two books.
Another novel this reminded me of was Sophie’s World (not to be confused with Sophie’s Choice, and which probably only a handful of people have heard of, let alone read). Since Nora was a philosophy major, there’s lots of philosophy weaved into the story — what is happiness?, what makes it?, what are the best chances of getting it?, etc. Haig makes everything very relatable and understandable, and the philosophical parts are actually what I ended up liking most about The Midnight Library.
This bestsellling novel is a solid read. I give it major points for originality, as well as for addressing the important issue of mental health awareness — but I also deduct a few points for being majorly depressing. Overall, The Midnight Library is not a happy or comforting read. This book is meant to make you think, make you reflect. To make you FEEL. As long as you’re okay with that, then pick this one up.
I liked “The Midnight Library” … up until that absolutely TERRIBLE, trite ending, which I was hoping beyond hope Haig wouldn’t use (obviously I hoped in vain). I did enjoy his novel prior to this, “How to Stop Time,” which doesn’t suffer from a bad ending and is a fun read.
Sigh. I know. I didn’t love the ending, either. But at least the journey to get there was fun! Thanks for the recommendation about his other book. He’s written so many!
This is on my TBR pile. I’m excited to read it! Thanks for the review.
I hope you enjoy it! It was nice to read something outside my “comfort zone” for once.
This sounds so intriguing! I’d definitely be interested in reading it although it might be one big trigger warning for me.😅 I sometimes think about a career decision I made or actually just a silly mistake that kept me from trying out this particular path. I could have been a PA on law and order SVU!! 💯(Not a FT offer, more like a freelance thing)
So yeah I do think what I might be doing now had I gone down that path. But I would have missed out on a lot of incredible experiences I’ve had in what ended up being my chosen profession. So yeah I guess I wouldn’t change it but I still wonder?🤔
Thanks for your review!
I would argue that this might be a good book for you to read, then. 🙂 And I can’t believe you could have been on Law and Order! Freelance or whatever, that’s still an awesome opportunity. You will have to tell me more about that one sometime. 🙂