Name: Mitul Shah's review of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Item: The Midnight Library
Rating: 4.5
Author: Mitul Shah

Matt Haig

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?

The Midnight Library

The touching, funny and heartwarming new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of How to Stop Time and Reasons to Stay Alive.

chiara

He had left Puglia – the handsome heel in the boot of Italy - to come to Swinging London in the 1960s. Like other men in the desolate port town of Brindisi..

She was in shock. But it was a slightly different kind of shock than the others on the dinghy assumed. It wasn't the shock of having been close to death. It was the shock of realising she actually wanted to live.

‘You see, doing one thing differently is very often the same as doing everything differently. Actions can't be reversed within a lifetime, however much we try ...  The only, way to learn is to live.‘

the source of all problems and its answers too - regret 

‘It's something you have written without ever having to type a word.’ 

‘This book is the source of all your problems, and the answer to them too.’

She knew she should be experiencing pity and despair for her feline friend- and she was -but she had to acknowledge something else. 

As she stared at Voltaire's still and peaceful expression - that total absence of pain – there was an inescapable feeling brewing in the darkness. 

High Fidelity

‘That’s not the point. It is still a library. If you are in a cathedral, you are quiet because you are in a cathedral, not because other people are there. It’s the same with a library.’

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?

211-213 is echt vreselijk saai om te lezen. Het begint steeds met ‘In one life…’ en dan een soort samenvatting van dat leven. Niet echt boeiend. 

Taryn

She realised that you could be as honest as possible in a life, but people only see the truth if it is close enough to their reality. 

Ellie

“The thing you have to remember is that this is an opportunity and it is rare and we can undo any mistake we made, live any life we want. Any life. Dream big...You can be anything you want to be. Because in one life, you are.”She sipped her coffee. “I understand.“ “But you will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life”, he said, wisely. “You're quoting Camus.”  “You got me.”

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?

A Novel

bianca

There was something quite freeing about that. To be existing without any expectation, even her own.

Between life and death there is a library. And within that library, the shelves go on for ever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be different if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?

Happy moments can turn into pain, given time.

Her whole being ached with regret, as if the despair in her mind was somehow in her torso and limbs too. As if it had colonised every part of her.

It reminded her that everyone was better off without her. You get near a black hole and the gravitational pull drags you into its bleak, dark reality.

The thought was like a ceaseless mind-cramp, something too uncomfortable to bear yet too strong to avoid.

She knew she should be experiencing pity and despair for her feline friend – and she was – but she had to acknowledge something else. As she stared at [his] still and peaceful expression – that total absence of pain – there was an inescapable feeling brewing in the darkness.

‘I may have not been sure about what really did interest me, but I was absolutely sure about what didn’t’ 

‘But you will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life’ 

‘I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.’ 

‘Never underestimate the big importance of small things,’ Mrs Elm said. ‘You must always remember that.’ 

‘A person was like a city. You couldn’t let a few less desirable parts put you off the whole. There may be bits you don’t like, a few dodgy side streets and suburbs, but the good stuff makes it worthwhile’ 

‘I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life’ ~ Sylvia Plath 

‘True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing’ ~ Socrates

‘She wondered if her parents had ever been in love or if they had got married because marriage was something you did at the appropriate time with the nearest available person. A game where you grabbed the first person you could find when the music stopped. She had never wanted to play that game’ 

‘And though she’d studied enough existential philosophy to believe loneliness was a fundamental part of being a human in an essentially meaningless universe, it was good to see him’ 

‘Her eyes glimmering like sunshine on frost’

Mitul Shah

Melad

Felt like a better thought out version of the old Brendan Fraser movie Bedazzled. 

That being said it was a really enjoyable read even though the ending was a little obvious.

sgcjm

many of friends mine been said how great this book and i could said when already read it im more than agreed with them opinion. somehow the character in this book had the issues life similar with ive been goin through. we lost. we low. we desperate. we not havin faith on what life offered on in the future. so then the key of all is committed suicide. isnt it. but then in every chapter comin by here it give you more sight how sometimes the perfect life we been imagined not too great to be longing for. in this book it just makes you understand this life this messed fck life you havin by nowdays its the best to be cherished for.

It was really heartfelt. I just feel like the self-help aspect could've been avoided or not so much on the nose and in that case, the story would have a more dramatic note than it already has.

Arash

This book has surprised me in the way it conveyed its message; while complicated throughout, it ends off in an affirming note that we shouldn't take life for granted. It definitely has me thinking of how I should reframe my view of life as well: instead of one with regrets, it's one of possibilities.

menna

the premise of this book was everything but the execution was kinda meh to me. i either fell out of love of matt haig's writing or it delivered it's message in a way not at all appealing to me. or maybe it was because of how fast i read this? idk but anyways

i enjoyed the library vibes and the parallel lives aspect but that's it. was expecting this to hit harder than it did or affect me in any way but i just felt nearly nothing.

Anastasia Wiley

I found the characters to be unlikeable and the story predictable. The main character's happiness is very dependent on other people and their approval of her.

— lae

very nice book that made me think about the future too.. needed to read this tbh. rly enjoyed it

an entertaining read! It def made me think about what different books I would find in my midnight library lol I loved the overall message & how it teaches us to be appreciative on the journey of life we are currently on. We can’t always think “well if I had done this i would’ve been happier or more successful ” cause as pointed out in the book that is not always true. 

Kayla Skelton

LA BIBLIOTECA DE LA MEDIANOCHE/ THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY.

jack

—ya no estás sola ya en el tablero. Se te ha unido un peón. 
—tú nunca fuiste un peón.


😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
te amo nora.

In the moments of sadness, apathy, depression and self-doubt, this book could lift you up! Modern fantasy with an reassuring vibe!

Savindi Jinasena

There are patterns of life... Rhythms. It is so easy, while trapped in just the one life, to imagine that times of sadness or tragedy or failure or fear are a result of the particular existence. That it is a by-product of living a certain way, rather than simply living. I mean, it would have made things a lot easier if we understood there was no way of living that can immunise you against sadness. And that sadness is intrinsically part of the fabric of happiness. You can't have one without the other. Of course, they come in different degrees and quantities. But there is no life where you can be in a state of sheer happiness for ever. And imagining there is just breeds more unhappiness in the life you're in.

I was halfway through The Midnight Library last week, when I decided that I was going to hunker down and finish it on Thanksgiving. I devoured the last half of the book because I was so desperate to find out the ending and I wasn’t disappointed.

I can’t remember how I found The Midnight Library, but as soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I wanted to read it. I think I gravitated towards this book because it was about someone who was experiencing a life of struggle right now and was also experiencing depression. As I was reading this book, I felt so much for Nora. There were so many unfulfilled dreams, living according to someone else’s expectations, emotional neglect, manipulative behaviour and so much more. Each life Nora explored was filled with recognition and an unfamiliarity. Throughout all of these experiences, Nora goes through so much growth and you feel so much compassion, not just for her, but for all the people around her. The people that meant so much to her and realizing that they also had so much unfulfilled potential which led to self-destructive behaviour which affected not only them, but their loved ones as well. While there were extraordinary moments, it was also about experiencing the small moments. 

One part that really stuck with me is when Mrs. Elm, the Librarian in the Midnight Library talks about kindness and the small things and how they matter more than we ever think. It reminded me of when I was at food court a couple of years ago, I smiled at the cashier and after a few minutes he said to me “I just want you to know that your smile is beautiful and it lights up the world” and it was one of the kindest things anyone had ever said to me. But I also thought about how perhaps no one had smiled at this guy that day, or nobody treated him with dignity or respect because he worked at a fast food place. And when I think about all the small moments I've had with strangers, I think about how much the interactions meant to them and to me. Some of the most incredible stories I’ve heard have been from strangers I’ve spoken to and this book reminded me of how important seemingly mundane interactions can be to someone. 

The middle of the book did feel a little stagnant for me, but not for long since I whizzed through it in about an hour on Monday. Matt Haig has this easy way of writing, but there’s a lot of profound moments within the book. That made it so much more enjoyable for me. This was the first time I read one of Haig’s books and I would definitely like to read more of his work!

4.5/5 Stars and would recommend this book for sure!

chloe guichard

** spoiler alert **
           lots of metaphors. pretty clear message/lesson, kinda inspired me, kinda didn't, because of how obvious and corny it was.
happy for nora, you know ?

Evelina

This book wasn't very good, but it wasn't bad either hence the 3 stars. 

I don't know. There are a few things that are bugging me, but I wouldn't call this book a bad one. I honestly can't write a normal review because I don't know how to explain what I think about this book. I'm glad she reconnected with her brother and everything ended up being better for her, but come on. 

Anyways... that all.

Shay

This book gets a lot of criticism for downplaying topics of depression and suicide, but I really enjoyed it. Much of the criticism is that it's reductive of serious mental health issues, which I get. I can see why so many have that opinion. But personally I felt like this book was a little bit therapeutic. 

As someone who has experienced pretty severe mental health issues since I was a young teenager, this book took the seriousness out of it and turned life into a game through which you can explore different lives. The main character was a stand-in and as such she was very poorly developed. I believe that was a conscious choice on the part of the author so that it would be easier for the reader to see themselves in the story. 

And ultimately I think I just found this book at the right time in my life. I'm at a point where I'm trying to get better. I'm trying to be more positive. And I keep getting caught in these feelings wondering if I would be happier if I'd made different choices or if I could live in someone else's life. And maybe that's naieve but this book reminded me of something that's really important - happiness is a choice and it comes from within. You can't magically find happiness by being someone else or escaping your current situation. Everything that happens to you leaves a mark on you and that takes a lot of internal work to undo and 'fix' for lack of a better word. 

There is nothing external that is going to make you a happy person and there's no different choice that is going to cure depression. And ultimately playing these 'what if' games are futile because that's not our life. We have to choose to live and choose to put in the work to improve ourselves. And it's possible but it's not easy and when you're stuck in that mindset where you feel suffocated by the weight of your life it seems like there's no way you could ever make it out but you can. And for me this book was about making that choice to try. 

Some of the metaphors got to be a bit too much and sure, the book was cheesy and oversimplified at times, but I never found any of it offensive. 

I really enjoyed this book and I'll probably be rereading it in the near future.


  

  

  Content Warnings for suicide/suicidal ideation and death.

Shawna Delellis

Regrets don’t leave, they itch forever.

This story was a beautiful reminder of the face that you don’t have to live up to the expectations of others, or feel regret for choosing a different path than the obvious one, or regret quitting or things not working out. We are constantly changing and our wants and needs change along with us. 

I’m glad Nora’s story didn’t end with love. The self acceptance and motivation to be alive was perfect.

Matilde

I think this is going to become one of my favorites. 
It wasn't particularly because of the plot (the plot was still v good tho) but because of the way it resonated with me, how it touched matters that I have great interest in, and how much I felt like I needed it at the moment.
There were so many beautiful quotes and I loved the writing! 
I may or may not have underlined the whole book

grace richards

I am full of potential and infinite possibilities. I am alive :) 

Chitra Kokkirala

poprika

Rachel Kanyid

Absolutely beautiful. One of my favorites of the year for sure! Light and easy to read and yet a lot of depth and the kind of book that makes you think.

henrique

Sped through it - it was the perfect holiday book. A little cheesy, but in a feelgood way. 

Genie Martin

mid– had an amazing premise but the storyline was underwhelming 

samantha

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.

Vishwa

This book is about regrets, and dispelling the idea that one should dwell on them. Perhaps that one should even have them.

Though it follows a predictable plotline, and by halfway you know what's going to happen at the end, the book does take you through a journey that leads you ask yourself questions about your own life. (At least it led me to do so, lol)

Appreciated the diversity, the inclusion of mental health awareness, and an array of professions and relationships included in the backdrop.

You ever read a book and think, “Yeah, this right is here is going to be a movie.”

That’s what The Midnight Library feels like. It is a ‘gentle’ book that covers the anxieties many of us face in our life, especially as we get older. There’s a million lives we can live, but none of them matter as the one we’re currently living - and this book does a great job at exploring that ideology in an easy to read format.

Only reason for 4.5 is because of odd consistent brand references that just felt out of place.

Mitul Shah &
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Reviews

Highlights

Join the club

Mitul Shah &The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Reviews

Highlights

Join the club

Mitul Shah &
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig