The Midnight Library
Ratings1,712
Average rating3.8
Reread + Bookclub read {S+S}/[UoG]: this had popped up in both my book clubs and I'd not read it at the time. I'd remembered not really liking it so was surprised to see I'd given it 4* previously. Having finished it today I remember why.
Overall I liked the idea, the extended “It's a Wonderful Life” was interesting, who doesn't want to know what they could have been had they taken a different fork in the road? I like the echoes of the other lives that bleed through into each other, the idea that despite the differences some things will stay the same.
I didn't, however, like the ending. It was all too positive. This idea that everything will be alright now because she has accepted her faults and will live for happiness. All will be fine if she gives piano lessons to vulnerable teens, volunteers in her free time and donates to environmental research.
I felt that the darkness of the previous chapters was undermined by the glow of the final few. Having lived with the “black dog” I know that sometimes it's on your back and at other times it's just lurking in the shadows, but it's always there. This ending felt so false it tarnished the pleasure of the rest of the book.
That saying, it was well written. I did like it overall and I'm glad I re-read it. At least now I've reviewed it now I'll remember why I had the feeling I disliked it before going in this time.
This could have easily been a short story (and maybe should have been?) but it's a credit to the author that it didn't have to be. I was pretty sure I knew where this novel was headed about 20 pages in, but the short chapters and sharp, clever prose kept me engaged, entertained, and along for the ride all the way through. Knowing the subject matter in advance, I expected this to feel heavier but was pleasantly surprised to find something kind of cozy? It's a kind of “It's a Wonderful Life meets the multiverse” that takes the reader on the same perspective shifting journey as the protagonist. The message is a little blunt force for my typical taste but the feeling it left me with was a warm hug of positivity and possibility.
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!!
Me he dado cuenta que me resulta complicado calificar este tipo de libros que tienen un mensaje más ¿profundo? Sobre temas fuertes como la salud mental y decisiones en la vida que son importantes para cada persona, porque dependiendo del momento de tu vida en el que estés, libros como The midnight library, o incluso el propio alquimista, te van a parecer maravillosos y volverse tus favoritos, o los vas a encontrar aburridos y sin sentido.
Para mí este libro me dejó muchas cosas que reflexionar, y aunque es verdad que hubo instantes, ya casi al 79% de la lectura o incluso más, que decía: chica, pero la respuesta es obvia, date cuenta!?!?!?!?!, entiendo que estando en el momento de la “vida” que la protagonista atraviesa en esta historia, es muy difícil entender y ver lo obvio.
Le estoy dando 3.5 porque lo leí en un momento donde me ayudó mucho a entender cosas de mi vida que tenía en un rincón ocultas por lo “obvias” que estas eran, y porque sé que la reflexión final quedará en mi mente por un buen rato.
Eso sí, si lo que buscan es una novela entretenida y que no les haga bolas la cabeza con paradojas y reflexiones importantes, creo que es mejor saltarse esta lectura por el momento.
I hated this book. So try hard deep airy fairy bs. Maybe if I hated myself I'd relate more, but I don't
A great light read hinging on heavier elements of life. Some of the topics it touched upon were sensitive, but was done in a way that wasn't taking it lightly nor intrusive.
The entire book was focused on just the MC and whatifs, which is something people dwell on a lot in their lives.
I enjoyed this book a lot, even with the open ending that I typically dislike. However, with this kind of plot, it felt natural.
Alexa played ‘this is me trying' by ‘taylor swift'
Overall rating 2.5 stars
If you have ever wondered what your life would be like if you made a single different choice?
This story is exactly that. showing the outcome of the same person's life multiple times but if she had made 1 different choice, if she had, stayed with her EX, if she had stuck with swimming, if she had moved to Australia with her best friend, if she had coffee instead of tea on a date.
The concept of the story is good the idea that 1 choice you make impacts everything in your life. but the book turned into a self-help book for a financial character in the last 1/3 and other than Nora non of the characters were very detailed, although I think this may be on purpose because of the way the book is written.
I just finished The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and here is my review.
Nora Seed wants to die. Yet what happens isn't death. It's a place between worlds where time has stood still. The library has every single possible choice could have made in her life. The library is her chance to see how her life would have turned out with each slight choice she could ever make.
Nora always felt her life would have been better had she done a million different things differently. Stepping into each different Nora and seeing the lives she could have had, makes Nora has a chance now. A chance to decide to stay in any one of the different lives she finds. Are any of them better? Can your life truly be perfect from one small deviation? The midnight library only offers the choices to you, it can't make the decision for you.
I have been desperate to get my hands on this book and when the library had a copy I could read immediately, I snapped it up, even knowing I had no time to fit it in but I made time. I love magical realism. It's a beautiful genre with a lot of creative licensing to be full of a magic we can reach out and touch and I love how the author turned the space between life and death into a plethora of second chances. A try before you buy a second chance at life.
I found Nora rather stale. I don't know if that was the aim but her character seemed a little one dimensional. I also found myself feeling like something was missing. I can't put my finger on what but it's just a little gut feeling like there was just one small puzzle piece that was missed but I don't know where.
I thought the story in itself was magnificent. The writing was lovely and fluid and it was actually pretty well paced for a magical realism read. The descriptions of the library were smashing and the whole book had this dream-like quality which I absolutely adored. I also really appreciated the ending. I think the moral of the story here is no matter what choices you have made, you can make new ones going forward and choosing to make those choices are brave and beautiful.
Definitely worth the read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves this genre.
4 stars
Great story, good message, fun ride, bad ending.
I truly enjoyed reading this book, since starting it I felt hooked and couldn't put it down. A woman who feels bored and disappointed in her life gets to try how it'd be to live all other lives, all the possibilities it entails. I loved going through it, it made me feel so many emotions and even had some laughs.
I loved that it didn't end up being another typical story about romance, that the whole book is centered in one person, just how a life is. However, those last pages really derailed how I view this book, the optimistic angle on life and how the character “recognized” that there was nothing better than her own life.
I believe this book was accomplishing, purely through the story itself, to make one feel what those final chapters describe. But in describing it, it fails to deliver to the rest of the greatness in it.
i liked this book, it was a cute story with some good quotes, but was often predictable/redundant in a way that lost my attention. overall, a nice read that left me with some stuff to think about (and shed a teeny tear at the end)
A depressing start built to a glorious conclusion. I understand the hype now!
Very repetitive and formulaic, in ends the exact way you'd think it will. No surprises here. I was mostly bored, sometimes rolling my eyes at the insufferability of the main character. Nora would declare “I hate being in the spotlight” and immediately decide that she wanted to be famous.. humm okay then. Various contradictory decisions.
This is an interesting premise fairly well executed - I just think I have seen it done better elsewhere.
Tengo sentimientos encontrados. Es un libro entretenido y te invita a una bonita reflexión sobre apreciar la vida que uno tiene, con sus cosas buenas y malas, y a tener esperanza del futuro, con lo que le pondría 5 estrellas. Sin embargo, trata de forma superficial, y hasta irresponsable, temas como depresión y suicidio, con lo que le pondría 1 estrella. En promedio, entonces, iba por las 3 estrellas... Pero entre más lo pienso, más se inclina la balanza por lo negativo. Un buena buena intención, una pésima ejecución.
An inspiring and moving story about living with regrets. The setting of the library spoke directly to me and the themes are powerful.
This one really is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, but I will always recommend it. Definitely one of my favourites.
Wouldn't say its a MUST read, but it was enjoyable :) The concept of living your past regrets isn't anything new, but the message that the book thouroughly exlpothouroughly exlpores with every diffierenty hopeful- that your life isn't defined by your successes or choices, but by your relationships with others and yourself. Reading this almost felt like a dream with its pace, first slowly exploring each life but then blurring through millions of options at once.
If this book helped your mental health that is great. I do not want to knock it if it's important to people, so if you are fond of this book for that reason you should stop reading this review as I am critical of it, but also want to be mindful it could help some people.
I think this book has some views on life and health that doesn't sit right with me. Having someone stop himself from getting a heart attack because “he got healthy again” is a problematic view point, especially considering most heart diseases are hereditary and not because you don't work out as much as you did when you were 20. I also think the librarian telling someone who committed suicide that there's “Tissues are like lives. There are always more” ignorant.... If someone commits suicide that's it. I think if I was a loved one of someone who committed suicide I would be very upset seeing that be said.