The Midnight Library
Author: Matt Haig
Narrator: Carey Mulligan
Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Genre: Fiction, Magical Realism
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Synopsis:
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.
I am late to the party with The Midnight Library. I’ve seen reviews of it in a lot of places since it was released, but I had kind of forgotten about it until recently. I started listening to it without having read the blurb to remind me what it was about, so I basically went in blind. I don’t think I would have been prepared for this book even if I had read the blurb because it’s a much heavier book than I get from it.
The Midnight Library is the story of Nora Seed. Nora has been through several traumatic events and decides she doesn’t want to live anymore. Her choice has her arriving at the Midnight Library to reflect upon her regrets and find out what might have happened had she made different choices. With each life she tries on, she learns new things about herself and the choices she made in her life.
The despair and depression Nora felt was all encompassing. I understood how she got to where she was in life, but I still hoped things would turn around for her. All of her different lives were really interesting. I loved the insights into her choices and the outcomes. I also loved how philosophy and quotes from philosophers were woven in. The progression of this story was really cool and special. The emotional impact was huge. Haig is a talented writer and storyteller. This may have been my first book by Haig, but it certainly won’t be my last.
CW: Suicide