The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a best-selling adult fantasy. The book was released in August 2020 by Canongate Books. Since its release, The Midnight Library has been a best seller and won the 2020 Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction.
The Midnight Library discusses mental health, especially depression and suicide. It also discusses the regrets we have and how best to deal with them.
Synopsis
Nora Seed is suffering from a bout of depression. Everything in the world seems like it would be better without her, maybe even her cat Voltaire. So she decides to drink a bottle of wine, down some pills, and let the world go on without her. She wakes up thinking she’s failed her mission, only to discover she’s in the Midnight Library. Row after row of books surround Nora, and then she sees a friendly face from her past.
After learning what the library is about, Nora decides to see if she can find the perfect life, the one that makes her happiest. She tries various relationships and career paths in search of happiness. Along the way, she learns more about herself and life.
Will she stay at the library or will she find that perfect life before it’s too late?
Positives
This book is super easy to read and find yourself caught up in. Yes, the topic is heavy, but it is handled so that it doesn’t feel so heavy.
From the beginning, Nora is a bit of an annoying character. She has the whole no one needs me mentality, and I know that’s the depression. As the book progresses, you see some growth in her. Yes, the depression is there and never goes away. But she learns more about herself and how to handle various situations.
Negative
Is it weird that the only negative I can really come up with is that the book is so short? It’s under 300 pages, and I’m sure it could have been longer and still enjoyable.
My Opinions
Everyone has a book of regrets, much like Nora. How we handle it is what influences who we are now. Life is made up of many possibilities and decisions. Each choice we make changes our lives and can lead us to what-if thoughts down the road. I know for me, I have many what-if thoughts about my education and my decision at the age of 21 not pursue my childhood dream of becoming a doctor. But then I look at my husband and kids and know that the picture would be much different if I had continued my education. Sure I may be married, but it would most likely be to a different person, and my kids would be different people as well. The thing is, I wouldn’t want to change my husband and kids.
The Midnight Library helped me see that I’m where I am supposed to be, that this is the life I am supposed to live. I know it sounds rather philosophical, but it’s true for me.
As this book is under 300 pages, I can see this being in people’s bags as they travel to the beach, cottage, or wherever they choose to spend their vacation. I hope that they find it to be as engrossing as I did.
Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.
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