The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
(Format used for this book: Audiobook)
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.
Yall….I don’t remember who told me to read this…in fact, it may be MULTIPLE whos….but OMGGGGG.
I am just BEYOND glad they did.
Because this book was something else.
First of all, it was read by the actress Carey Mulligan.
WHO I FRIGGIN LOVE.
She just has one of those rich like dark chocolate kind of voices that is PERFECTION for this type of storytelling.
Second of all, this book takes the deep exploration into the whole concept of “What if…….”
One of my most very favorite themes of creative arts, whether it is books or poems or music or plays or ANYTHING.
Because it is something ALL of us humans ponder at MULTIPLE times in our lives.
AND SHE DOES IT IN A FRIGGIN SUPERNATURAL LIBRARY, YALL.
I am NOT a “no regrets” type of person….I am a person who is always wondering how life would have turned out on the path (or multiple paths) not taken…sometimes those thoughts truly do overcome and overwhelm me.
This story tackles the question of “if only…”— a concept that has been addressed and dissected a bazillion times before…but the way the author does it here is quite magnificent and profound.
Before I say ANYTHING else I want yall to know that this book DOES address suicide and depression.
Some of you may be triggered because of past traumas or struggles or personal losses.
I usually AM one of those people as I lost my father to suicide as a young kid and have also personally battled depression….but for what it is worth, I will tell yall that I did not experience any emotional difficulty reading this.
I feel like the author handled these things in a very real and raw way yet also remained very sensitive and delicate about it as well. I personally think that may be because Matt Haig has deep personal experience with these issues…this made him sensitive to how to approach this topic in a fictional novel.
This book really has you examining the concept of the grass is always greener…. would you be happier if you made a slightly different life decision? Would you be healthier? Would you be more successful?
Or would you be even MORE miserable?
How different would your life be?
And how different would OTHER’S lives be because of YOU?
This book kinda had vibes of The Butterfly Effect, It’s a Wonderful Life, mixed with Sliding Doors and the concept of a Multiverse…
Like I said…not really a NEW concept up in these pages…but a different approach for sure.
As Nora keeps trying on different versions of her life, you wonder….where will she decide to end up?
If ANYWHERE?
Right when she thinks she finds a better version of her life, she realizes it’s not exactly better…..it’s just DIFFERENT.
“It’s hard to predict what will make you happy.”
“Sometimes the only way to learn is to live.”
“You don’t have to understand life, you just have to live it.”
That is hands down my favorite line of the WHOLE ENTIRE BOOK.
I would like this on a Tshirt…or tote bag…or bumper sticker…or oooooo a wine glass.
SUCH a great reminder for me.
For us all.
Completely loooooveedddddd this book.
I wouldn’t say it’s a “feel good” read…but it’s definitely a great “reminder” read.