Matt Haig

THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A BBC TWO BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK Between life and death there is a library. When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change. The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren’t always what she imagined they’d be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger. Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?

The Midnight Library

Selina 

‘So long as there are still books on the shelves, you are never trapped. Every book is a potential escape.’

The New York Times bestselling WORLDWIDE phenomenon Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction | A Good Morning America Book Club Pick | Independent (London) Ten Best Books of the Year "A feel-good book guaranteed to lift your spirits."—The Washington Post The dazzling reader-favorite about the choices that go into a life well lived, from the acclaimed author of How To Stop Time and The Comfort Book. 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.

A Novel

(Bre)anne✨

In this life, she clearly had no taste. But since when did taste have anything to do with happiness?

Because too often our view of success is about some external bull**** idea of achievement - an Olympic medal, the ideal husband, a good salary. And we have all these metrics that we try and reach. When really success isn’t something you can measure, and life isn’t a race you can win. It’s all… bollocks, actually…

‘Want,’ she told her, in a measured tone, ‘is an interesting word. It means lack. Sometimes if we fill that lack with something else the original want disappears entirely. Maybe you have a lack problem rather than a want problem. Maybe there is a life that you really want to live.’

‘It’s hard to predict, isn’t it?’ she asked, looking blankly in front of her as she moved a black bishop across the board to take a white pawn. ‘The things that will make us happy.’

Do you ever think ‘how did I end up here?’ Like you are in a maze and totally lost and it’s all your fault because you were the one who made every turn? And you know that there are many routes that could have helped you out, because you hear all the people on the outside of the maze who made it through, and they are laughing and smiling. And sometimes you get a glimpse of them through the hedge. A fleeting shape through the leaves. And they seem so damn happy to have made it and you don’t resent them, but you do resent yourself for not having their ability to work it all out. Do you? Or is this maze just for me?

Which hurt even more with hindsight, knowing how much — before the wedding — she'd try to make his dream of a pub in the Oxfordshire countryside become her dream as well.

She wondered how much he had drunk tonight. She wondered if the dream of owning a pub had really been a dream of drinking an endless supply of alcohol.

🌞Laur🌞

“You don’t have o understand life. You just have to live it.”

"Because, Nora, sometimes the only way to learn is to live"

مكتبة منتصف الليل

Arwa

"كان الصمت أكثر صخبًا من أي ضوضاء." 

"احتشد الضجيج في عقلها، كإحدى سمفونيات العاصفة والاندلاع، وكأن شبح موسيقي ألماني سُجن في عقلها، ليستحضر الفوضى والتوتر." 

"هذا جمال اللعبة، أليس كذلك؟ لا يمكنك معرفة نهايتها." 

"بعض الحقائق يستحيل رؤيتها." 

"شعرت أنها ممثلة في مسرحية لم تحفظ نصها." 

"تلاشت هي أيضًا كالشمس التي ابتلعها الأفق." 

"وخلال هذه الحيوات ضحكت نورا وبكت وشعرت بالهدوء والرعب وكل المشاعر بينهما." 

"في حياة أخرى كانت نورا بحرًا من المشاعر. شعرت بكل شيء بعمق وبشكل مباشر. كل سعادة وكل حزن. لحظة واحدة بإمكانها أن تحتوي على سعادة بالغة وألم بالغ. كأنهما يعتمدان على بعضهما، مثل خطار متحرك."

"فهمت نورا ما رأته نورا الأخرى فيه. كان نقيًا. تمامًا مثل نقاء الكلب." 

"كان ديلان خجولًا، أدركت نورا. لم يكن بارعًا في التواصل بالأعين. فتنها هذا الإدراك." 

"كانت له نظرة لطيفة، ودودة، حزينة." 

Was amazing, but the third person perspective threw off my flow when I would notice it there, it felt as if it should’ve been in first.

McKenzie Ives

'Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices... Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?' A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived, from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How To Stop Time. 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 new 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.

Emmm :p

I thought this was very good. it definitely changed my perspective on life in certain ways and made me think about all of my regrets. however, i personally didn’t like the ending as much as i liked how i imagined it would end but i still think it was really good. i definitely recommend

this is my 3rd matt haig read, and i’ve found them all super enjoyable, this one connected a little less with me, perhaps because i listened to the audiobook, but the themes were very applicable to this time in my life

cedar winslow

CLAUDIA VALDES

I read this book a bits way ago. Originally, I had rated this 4 stars but looking back now… I think I overrated it. 

I understand the intention of the book, and tbh, I enjoyed the concept- however, it got too preachy towards the end for my liking. The plot shifted from fiction to self-help and I didn’t click with that as organically as the author might’ve hoped. 

The book got me thinking about alternative timelines and I was bringing this topic up with my friends. It’s an interesting concept. A book that makes you marvel and reference it outside of the little bubble you create while reading is a powerful book, which is why I’m giving it 3 stars. 

The end made it bleh for me. Everything else was pretty cool.

What a book!!! Absolutely lovely, amazingly written. Please read it if you have the chance!

Valentina

Nora's life has been going from bad to worse. Then at the stroke of midnight on her last day on earth she finds herself transported to a library. There she is given the chance to undo her regrets and try out each of the other lives she might have lived. Which raises the ultimate question: with infinite choices, what is the best way to live?

Beatrice

When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. But things aren't always what she imagined they'd be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger. Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?

momo-reads

As trite and subtle as a Lifetime movie. A mostly tolerable way to spend your commute for a week.

Beatriz Piza Valverde

Entertaining, but I don't know why it won book of the year. It is good but not amazing. Knew what was going to happen since the first chapter

Victoria

At the beginning, I wasn't sure if I was going to finish the book. Suicide is a tough subject for me, and it was not what I thought was going to be in the book. But I gave it a shot to see where it went. And I liked it. It was a quick read for me, and I enjoyed seeing Nora work through her regrets and finding herself. It didn't have me on the edge of my seat, but it had my attention.

I did cry thinking about my own pets when Nora learned about Voltaire

Wow, I will never think of my regrets the same way again. Or my life. 

I’m not going to lie, I didn’t expect a lot from this book, just thought it would be a predictable 

Boy was I wrong. This book had such a creative Idea for a storyline and was unlike any book I’ve read before. Filled with great philosophical quotes, and characters. 

I now cannot help but wonder if there are different ‘mes’ out there who have done it all, everything I have not. But even if there are, I think I like my life better.

Whoever is reading this, always make your own choices, be kind and be you.

Wow, I will never think of my regrets the same way again. Or my life. 

I’m not going to lie, I didn’t expect a lot from this book, just thought it would be a predictable love your life, it could be worse type of book. 

Boy was I wrong. This book had such a creative Idea for a storyline and was unlike any book I’ve read before. Filled with great philosophical quotes, and characters. 

I now cannot help but wonder if there are different ‘mes’ out there who have done it all, everything I have not. But even if there are, I think I like my life better.

Whoever is reading this, always make your own choices, be kind and be you.

And read this book.

teannah lanser

Lyn 

Me ha gustado mucho el viaje de autoconocimiento y reflexión pero han habido detalles que no me han cerrado y por eso no le puse 5 estrellas. 

Recomendado de todas formas :)

psdt: han mencionado brevemente el hipodromo de Lima y me ha hecho ilusion

A heart warming, beautiful book. A thought provoking book in a subtle way. 

Zoe Kelly

Cute and refreshing book if you’ve just finished a book series

Kayleigh Vermeij

Between life and death there is a library. When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change. The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren't always what she imagined they'd be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger. Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?

Olga Vogel

Now, here's an unpopular opinion that may contain spoilers. 

Maybe it's just me, but the story is quite basic: a person has a near-death experience and somehow is given a chance to try lots of different lives which slightly differ based on the results of this person's actions, choices and life preferences. Morale? Learn to cherish what you have. Learn to manage your own life better. Don't dream much, stay in the moment, try to experience your current life in the fullest. Very predictable ending. 

Also, break all classic time-traveller principles by returning back and telling your bro he needs to date this Ewan guy because he's the one. 
Also, poorly explained quantum physics, long boring dialogues and a female protagonist who is very much like Bridget Jones, but without any sense of humour. 

The book might be okay for a disturbed teenager, overwhelmed by a huge number of obstacles on the way to one's dream and looking for a way to settle down.

 Although, my personal sympathies are (and will be) for those who keep on dreaming.

Cynthia

dnf. This book is honestly boring. As the grandmother from the Buzzfeed video grandmas try each other's sweet potato pie said:
" WHERE IS THE FLAVOR IN THIS "

Lara

It’s a nice premise but it could’ve been so much more. Instead it’s just a predictable “your life is worth living” book and it gets kinda boring. Got excited when i thought there’d be a little romance subplot but that lasted like 5 pages.

This was a really good book. I wish I read it at a different point in my life, but I will keep the lessons learned in my mind. 

I was really able to connect with the main character and found the story fascinating. 

 being for people who don’t like those cheesy hallmark movies. 

This was a really good book. I wish I read it at a different point in my life, but I will keep the lessons learned in my mind. 

I was really able to connect with the main character and found the story fascinating. 

I can see this book not being for people who don’t like those cheesy hallmark movies. 

I think I needed this book in my life right now. The Midnight Library just pinpointed so many feelings I have at the moment. I'm going to carry around this story in my heart for awhile. 

Marisa

This is a brilliant book. Once you start it is almost impossible to put it down. It won’t only keep you entertained as long as it lasts, but it’ll also fulfill your soul leaving you wondering about your own existence.

Raúl Barroso Moreno

الكتاب الأكثر مبيعًا فعلا. 

Jonas

Róbert Istók

I absolutely loved this book, went through it in 2 days. Once you read it, the way you will look at regret will change. No matter which path we choose in life, there is never one without pain, in one way or another.

Lynn

i just have no words - i don’t think i have ever highlighted this many passages in a book. Fantastic message, heroic delivery. Best book i have read this year so far.

The Midnight Library

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