Reviewed: March 30th, 2023
Released: August 13th, 2020 (Audio narrated by Cary Mulligan)
Genre: Science Fiction fantasy
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.
Helen’s thoughts: 5/5
This book is an affirmation of life and choices, and the fact that it is our choices that offer us the opportunites we follow. Not all have to be larger life, not all have to be small, but what is important is understanding what your own dream is and to live it. Note the trigger that this whole introspection of Nora’s life begins when she attmepts to commit suicide, and fortunate for her, has an opportunity to reflect on her life in the Midnight Library.
Mrs Elm is a wonderful side character as the librarian, the person who helped Nora when she was a child dealing with the loss of her father. A person whom she looked to for help and guidance and is ideal as her guardian in the library.
This book is beautifully written and the narration by Cary Mulligan was amazing. She has the intonation of every sentence perfect.
There is much introspection, but it is so cleverly written and observed that you are swept along with Nora as she peeks at some of the possible lives she could have lived. Only to discover that maybe most of her expectations of life were not based on her own dreams but on someone else’s.
Yes, there are some extremes in her possible lives, but that emphasises that their are possibilities for everyone, but not all of those possibilities are right for everyone. The reference to Schrodinger’s cat and the possibility that in one universe it could be dead, and in another it is alive at the same time, draws us down these parallel paths that may exist for everyone in the multiverse. The question is, are you living your best life? And if not, why not?
Excellent book, very well written, and stays with you as you question your own choices and are you living the life you chose? And that question can only be answered based on what you want out of life, and not what others do.
Purchase the Midnight Libraray via Amazon
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If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
Helen Garraway 