Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?
In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig’s enchanting blockbuster novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library …
Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?
In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig’s enchanting blockbuster novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.
One for the shelves of my home. This was a lovely lovely warm read like a cup of cofee on a damp evening. So much joy and so much love pouring out. No book made me feel this way in a really long time. This book is going to stay with me for a very long time. Wonderfull read!!
One for the shelves of my home. This was a lovely lovely warm read like a cup of cofee on a damp evening. So much joy and so much love pouring out. No book made me feel this way in a really long time. This book is going to stay with me for a very long time. Wonderfull read!!
Cool concept. The story was kind of predictable though, and there was no effort to reconcile the concept of Nora being dropped into these lives, with what happened to the "other Nora" she replaced.
Felt like a self-help book in novel format. A bit disappointed.
Great read. Very emotional final 10%. Inspiring ending.
Side note: the string of disappointing male characters seemed a little contrived. The parade of disappointing dudes with banal flaws didn’t spoil the story, it’s just a bit distracting. I read it as the protagonist being so alienated from herself and her community that she mostly experienced her root life through the disappointments it brought, mired in regret and missing much of the joy
If I didn’t know the author was a heterosexual guy, I would have guessed that the author was a “dump him” feminist… i guess that’s a compliment to the author’s ability to get into the head of an opposite gender protagonist.
I read this book for a book club in July 2022. It was a mediocre experience, and I would have probably DNFed it if not for the book club and also if I actively hated it. As it happens, the premise and ideas behind the novel were interesting, but the execution left quite a lot wanting. The main character, Nora Seed, is dull and uninspired; moreover, I could not understand or relate to her struggles in any way, so it made her a hard (near impossible, really) character to root for. The plot was extremely predictable. However, most egregious was the messaging and the themes behind the book—they were about as subtle as a brick to the face.
Well, I am not the target audience for this book. I have studied philosophy and while I’m not that knowledgeable about quantum mechanics, I know enough to know when it is misused. …
I read this book for a book club in July 2022. It was a mediocre experience, and I would have probably DNFed it if not for the book club and also if I actively hated it. As it happens, the premise and ideas behind the novel were interesting, but the execution left quite a lot wanting. The main character, Nora Seed, is dull and uninspired; moreover, I could not understand or relate to her struggles in any way, so it made her a hard (near impossible, really) character to root for. The plot was extremely predictable. However, most egregious was the messaging and the themes behind the book—they were about as subtle as a brick to the face.
Well, I am not the target audience for this book. I have studied philosophy and while I’m not that knowledgeable about quantum mechanics, I know enough to know when it is misused. I’m not easily swayed by appearances or place much value in externals, like having a lot of money or having certain luxuries, etc. I don’t have a self-absorbed vision of myself as Nora does, thinking that she is somehow responsible for or affects everyone she comes into contact with. I have regrets, as does anyone, but I view them as a means to learn and grow from my past self. So I don’t get the hype and ‘life-changing’ remarks about this book. Particularly towards the end, Haig starts rambling like it’s his blog we are reading and not a novel.
Finally, the structure of the novel qua novel is under-cooked; the plot is wafer thin, the worldbuilding (or shall we say the justification for the novel’s premise) is nonexistent or too convenient, and the characters are forgettable if not downright annoying. I’d pass on this one, unless you are of the social media generation or somehow believe that ‘dating the right guy’ or ‘having a cool job’ will somehow magically provide happiness and cure your depression (without a lot of hard introspection). Or if you believe the world revolves around you. Or maybe if you have zero exposure to philosophy at all. I don’t know. Either way, this novel assumes its readers are clueless bats waiting to be passively impressed by Matt Haig’s ‘original’ ideas about mental health which are lukewarm at best and borderline insensitive at worst.
It explores an interesting concept in the most infuriatingly limited way, bogging down its potential with a bunch of senseless rules, and falling short of a true exploration of any of its avenues.
In the face of death, life seemed more attractive, and as life seemed more attractive, how could she get back to the Midnight Library?
Between life and death sits The Midnight Library. An opportunity to evaluate your life, learn lessons for happiness and explore philosophy.
You don't go to death. Death comes to you.
The Midnight Library has one of the most jarring introductions to a character with a countdown to their death. You are immediately hit knowing that this is going to be a very different book.
...you can choose choices but not outcomes.
The subject matter is heavy but the story is written without it being an emotional drain. As the chapters progress and Nora reviews her regrets there are some incredible philosophical discussion points raised. I found myself highlighting plenty of passages in this book.
...undoing regrets was really a way of making wishes come true. …
In the face of death, life seemed more attractive, and as life seemed more attractive, how could she get back to the Midnight Library?
Between life and death sits The Midnight Library. An opportunity to evaluate your life, learn lessons for happiness and explore philosophy.
You don't go to death. Death comes to you.
The Midnight Library has one of the most jarring introductions to a character with a countdown to their death. You are immediately hit knowing that this is going to be a very different book.
...you can choose choices but not outcomes.
The subject matter is heavy but the story is written without it being an emotional drain. As the chapters progress and Nora reviews her regrets there are some incredible philosophical discussion points raised. I found myself highlighting plenty of passages in this book.
...undoing regrets was really a way of making wishes come true.
They may not be groundbreaking revelations but they are worth repeating and helping creating a positive feedback for yourself and others around you.
'It seems impossible to live without hurting people.' 'That's because it is'.
I was very curious in Nora's interaction with Hugo and how he has come across other Sliders. I realize this book wasn't going to go further in to any of that but I was definitely intrigued in the thought of some coasting through lives.
It was interesting, she mused to herself, how life sometimes simply gave you a new perspective.
I enjoy books that offer entertainment and an opportunity to self reflect, and The Midnight Library hit the mark on both accounts. I liked it but not sure it falls in the really liked realm. This book is likely a 3.5 for me but not sure I would re-read it so that's why it slides to 3 stars. Very good book and other reviewers have articulated my thoughts on this better than I could.
Thank you. If I could tell the author anything, it would be 'Thank you'. I used to be an avid reader and I have not finished a book in over ten year. But yesterday a friend handed me this book and said, 'I think you would like this'. And I bought it because I wanted to be the kind of person that still buys books for joy, that still reads them. And I did. I sat down and I got drawn in and I kept coming back to it. And I fell a little bit in love with reading it. I cried reading this story - from joy, from sadness, because sometimes it just aches to finally have words giving name to something previously intangible. It's a beautiful way to remember how very revolutionary, how fulfilling, it is to live.
I can see how a lot of people would love this book, but it didn’t sit well with me how the author portrayed suicide and mental health. This book could be potentially really triggering for some people.
A lovely feel-good read. I occasionally felt like the author was over-stressing obvious conclusions, but that’s because the premise of depression leading to constant agonizing over past regrets is pretty much where I live. It left me, like its protagonist, eager to go out and live. Sure, you could unkindly describe it as Quantum Leap for people with depression. But honestly? Even that synopsis sounds great to me.
