The Midnight Library: 5 Stars

If you're someone who needs a little perspective on the value and meaning of life, "The Midnight Library" a fictional novel by Matt Haig is for you. Below I will give a brief summary of Haig's novel and share my thoughts and the reasoning behind my five-star review.

Summary

Nora Seed, our main character, is a 35-year-old woman struggling to find meaning in what she deems, her pathetic life. As we get a glimpse into Nora's past life we see it was brimming with potential and promise, at least in the eyes of the people around her.

Nora's father had wanted her to become an Olympic swimmer. He pushed her to train, be the best, beat the best, and constantly push herself to the limits to win. For a while, that's exactly what Nora did.

Nora's brother saw her talent as a musician and wanted her to become a world-famous singer with him by her side as part of the band.

Nora's friend had wanted her to say "screw it" and run away with her to Sydney Australia. Leave the pressure behind and live a carefree life.

Nora however, chose to do none of that, her anxiety and self-doubt stopped her from pursuing what others wanted.

That's where the story begins. Nora, recently fired from her job at a music shop contemplates her life or rather the worth of it. As she looks back on her life and the decisions she made she can't help but feel like she messed up, she chose wrong. As Nora battles with her life, she is transported to The Midnight Library. Finding a familiar face Nora has the chance to live out her life in parallel universes.

Every question Nora has once had about how her life would have turned out if she had made different choices is answered. In one night Nora is able to grasp the depth and consequences one simple decision can make. Will Nora choose to remain in this life and continue her story? Or will she find life, no matter in what capacity it's lived, will always bring heartbreak, pain, and disappointment?

My thoughts

This is one of those books you can't put down. I think at one point of another we've all said "what if?" What if we accepted that job? What if we said no to that date? What if we went on that trip to Europe? Would we be happier? Wealthier? More content?

Regardless of the "what if" question you've asked yourself, you've probably imagined, for better or for worse, how you're life would have been different if you'd made different choices.

Throughout his novel, Haig details the complexities, struggles, and happiness that life can bring. In a fictional way, he made this story extremely real. This book shows the reader even when you feel like your life is meaningless, there's hope. When you are at your happiest, there is still sadness.

Unlike Nora, we don't have the chance to actually live out what our parallel universe lives would look like. However, if Nora taught us anything, it's life is never what you expect. Nora traveled to several different lives where she thought things would be different, she would be successful, and happy only to realize she was none of those things.

This book was beautiful, heartbreaking, inspiring, and thought-provoking. One of my biggest takeaways from this book is we all have one life to live, regardless of the decisions and paths we have taken to get us to where we are now, the most important decision we can make in life, is to live it. A truly wonderful read.

Thank you for taking the time to read my book review of "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig. Be sure to stay tuned for my next review of "The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff.

Leah Lawrence