The Midnight Library

“Between life and death there is a library ,’ she said. ‘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?”

The Midnight Library is a life affirming story of regret for choices made, and “what ifs” for paths not taken. This is a story where the reader’s age doesn’t matter...The plot will resonate with all age groups. I cannot imagine that at one time or another during any of our lives we have not looked back and had a few regrets and a few of those “what if” moments. Haig’s latest story takes us into a world where alternate lives are a possibility and changing those regretful moments or exploring those “what if” moments are a reality.

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.

In the beginning of The Midnight Library we see Nora at her raw and most desperate self. She has come to the end of the line emotionally and mentally, and Haig deals with Nora’s mental health struggles in such a delicate yet accessible way as the story progresses. This gives credence and the ability to parallel the real challenges we all face and the uncertainty and anxiety that stems from all of the regrets and “what ifs” in our lives. Haig also spent so much time unraveling all of the layers in Nora's character, by the time the book was over I was beyond sad to see her go and not be a part of her world anymore.

I found this story to have so many life affirming takeaways, and I copied down so many quotes. Moreover, it left me with so much to think about and reflect upon in my own life and where I am now. It really and truly is important to live in the moment, because that is where our beautifully real lives are.

After reading this book, I discovered that Matt Haig wrote a memoir Reasons to Stay Alive in which he documents his own personal struggles with depression, and I can only imagine that his latest book came from his own personal experiences, explorations and struggles.

I cannot put into words how much this book is a must read. It is beautifully written and full of tender, sometimes quirky, authentic/honest heartfelt moments

“So you see? Sometimes regrets aren’t based on fact at all. Sometimes regrets are just…’ She searched for the appropriate term and found it. ‘A load of bullshit.”