The Midnight Library: 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.
The Midnight Library: FIRST SENTENCE
Nineteen years before she decided to die, Nora Seed sat in the warmth of a small library at Hazeldene School in the town of Bedford.
The Midnight Library: MY OPINION
“If you aim to be something you are not, you will always fail. Aim to be you… the truest version of you.“
Matt Haig, The Midnight Library
I haven’t read a book like The Midnight Library by Matt Haig in a very long time. It is such an unexpectedly powerful story, and I could probably talk about it for hours. After finishing the book, I felt very inspired and couldn’t think of anything else. I was in a good mood immediately after reading the last page. The story just makes you think about your current life and how much there is to be grateful for.
“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?”
Matt Haig, The Midnight Library
I liked the main character Nora Seed from the beginning on. She was honest, authentic and after all inspiring. Nora Seed wanted to die. When she tried to end her life, she came to The Midnight Library, a place between life and death. It’s a library filled with books that contain different versions of her life. If she finds a book with a life she would like to live, of course fulfilled and happy, she can jump right into that story and stay there for the rest of her life.
I liked the idea of living many different lives at the same time and it was so interesting to experience the different lives of Nora Seed throughout the story. The way Haig described the different places, feelings, and situations the main character experienced was phenomenal in my opinion. His writing style is very poetic and beautiful and Haig is simply such a talented writer.
This book is not only about Nora Seed who sees no way out of her miserable life. It is also about regrets, mistakes, living out the dream of other people, unfinished plans, and what-ifs.
Nora Seed needs to ask herself if she can live a life as a rock star but without beloved family members or at the other side of the world as a glaciologist. If she can step into her role of a mother even though she doesn’t know anything about her child.
Like I mentioned before I haven’t read such a powerful and thought-provoking story in a long while.
The Midnight Library: SUMMARY
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is both heart-wrenching and beautiful. The story of Nora Seed moved and inspired me and after all, I learned that we all have the potential to live whatever life we want. We just have to believe in our strengths and have to stop regretting our decisions. Life is good the way it is. The most important part is that we are here and alive. Best book I read in a long time.
The Midnight Library RATING: 5/5 ★
Find all the details about The Midnight Library on Goodreads.
Picture Cover: Amazon ; Synopsis: Goodreads
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