book review on the midnight library

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Book Reviews

It's not quite dark enough in 'the midnight library'.

Jason Sheehan

Nora Seed wants to die.

This is where we begin, in Matt Haig's new novel, The Midnight Library : with a young woman on the verge of making a terrible choice. She's lost her job, her best friend, her brother. Her relationships are in shambles and her cat is dead. More importantly, she is just deeply, seemingly irretrievably, sad. She can't imagine a day that is better with her in it. Living has become nothing but a chore.

So she ends it. Overdose. Antidepressants. The world goes black.

And then Nora wakes up. Not in heaven (dull) or hell (overdone) or purgatory (insert Lost joke), but in a library. The Midnight Library, which is the place people go when they find themselves hanging precariously between life and death and not entirely sure about which way to go.

The library is immense. Perhaps endless. And it is filled with nothing but books, shelves and, curiously, Nora's school librarian, Mrs. Elm. "Every life contains many millions of decisions," says Mrs. Elm.

Some big, some small. But every time one decision is taken over another, the outcomes differ. An irreversible variation occurs, which in turn leads to further variations. These books are portals to all the lives you could be living.

Yes, it really is that simple. And yes, it really is presented that plainly. As a place, the Midnight Library isn't really a library (of course), but is instead a 101-level lecture in parallel universe theory, philosophy and quantum indeterminacy. Really, it's a therapist simulator, minus the couch. A place of regret and possibility. Because who, in their darkest moments — or maybe just on a Tuesday — hasn't wondered what life would be like if only...

Arts & Life

Immortality, sadness and drinking with shakespeare in 'how to stop time'.

Nora certainly has. She is wracked with regret. What would've happened if she'd married her fiance rather than walking out two days before the wedding? What would've happened if she'd stuck with the band she and her brother and their friend Ravi had started rather than bailing just when they were about to get big? What would've happened if she'd stuck with competitive swimming, been a better cat owner, been nicer to her parents, followed her best friend to Australia or become a glaciologist?

Again, yes. The questions are that simple. And again, yes, they're presented that plainly.

The Midnight Library is the place where Nora gets to find out. Where, for an hour, a day or a month, she gets to dip into and sample lives where she made different choices, with the ultimate goal of erasing those regrets and finding a life she's comfortable in.

But here's the problem. Haig presents all of this as a straight line. The Midnight Library is unusual in that it follows a plot with no twists, no turns that don't feel like a gentle glide. Inside the library itself, Mrs. Elm's job is to present everything to Nora very clearly and to lay out the stakes very directly. Infinite options, yes, but maybe not an infinite amount of time in which to choose. Infinite possibility, sure, but only one shot at each of them. When Nora loses hope, the library starts to collapse. When she finds herself excited again about living, things calm down.

And there's a deliberateness to it all. A simplicity to the narrative that has to be taken as a choice on Haig's part, not an accident. After meeting another "slider" (as those who can bounce around between multiverse possibilities are called), and discussing the pop-science implications of a multi-dimensional existence, Nora muses on her situation:

[She] had read about multiverses and knew a bit about Gestalt psychology. About how human brains take complex information about the world and simplify it, so that when a human looks at a tree it translates the intricately complex mass of leaves and branches into this thing called 'tree'. To be human was to continualy dumb down the world into an understandable story that keeps things simple. She knew that everything humans see is a simplification. A human sees the world in three dimensions. That is a simplification. Humans are fundamentally limited, generalizing creatures, living on auto-pilot, who straighten out curved streets in their minds, which explains why they get lost all the time.

Haig lives by that here. He takes what could've been (what has been in so many other books) a dark or sad or curvy or weird spin through the logical and philosophical possibilities of regret crossed with multiverse theory and ... straightens it out. There is tragedy, but it feels muted by the existence of infinite chances. There is sadness and pointlessness, soft meditations on the cost of fame and the dignity of smaller lives, lots of quotes from philosophers (because that's what Nora studied in school), and quiet thoughts about the weight of meaning in a universe where everything that can happen, does.

But what sucks a measure of the color and life from The Midnight Library is that Nora, as a character, doesn't really want anything. Or maybe she does, but the arc of the plot hinges on her trying to figure out what exactly it is. And a character who doesn't actively want something — even when it is something so basic as to keep on living — is a hard character to identify with.

Ultimately, Haig gives Nora (and those of us following along with her) a straightforward path from suicide to closure, from regret to acceptance. He gives her a tree, and though there are many branches, it is still just a tree. The story, then, forms solely around the lives she passes briefly through, the choices and their consequences. Nora lives a hundred lives. A thousand. Enough of a theoretical portion of an infinity that she feels as though she has seen them all by the time we're closing on the final pages.

The only question left hanging over all of it is which one she'll finally choose. And in a multiverse of infinite choice and infinite possibility, I'm just not sure that the answer matters enough.

Jason Sheehan knows stuff about food, video games, books and Starblazers . He is currently the restaurant critic at Philadelphia magazine, but when no one is looking, he spends his time writing books about giant robots and ray guns. Tales From the Radiation Age is his latest book.

clock This article was published more than 2 years ago

Now that you’ve read ‘The Midnight Library,’ let’s talk about the ending

This story is part of a series for people who have already read the book and want to think more deeply about the plot and ending. Major spoilers for “The Midnight Library” are ahead.

Over the past year-and-a-half, as the coronavirus pandemic drop-kicked plans and routines somewhere far, far away, I’ve had a recurring daydream about what would have been.

I think about the people I would have met at restaurants that instead shut down, the slices of cake I would have ordered for dessert and the contemplative walks home. The sea turtles I would have squealed about on vacation. The jokes I would have laughed at, or maybe even told. The trillion big and little things I would have stressed over or been excited about.

It’s all lost to the ether. And the magnitude of that is staggering, given that a life can be determined or redirected by a single event.

Matt Haig’s magical novel “ The Midnight Library ” is a tonic to anyone who tumbles down this rabbit hole of what-if thinking. It’s about Nora, a young woman who decides she isn’t cut out for life. She just lost her job and cat, has fallen out with her brother and best friend and generally assumes she’s a giant disappointment. So she decides to die.

Now that we’ve all read ‘Where the Crawdads Sing,’ can we talk about the ending?

After attempting to end her life, Nora wakes up in the Midnight Library: an immense space filled with shelves of books that stretch endlessly. She’s greeted by her school librarian, Mrs. Elm, who was always kind to her. While she’s in the Midnight Library, Mrs. Elm tells her, she’s preserved from death; this is an opportunity to decide how — and if — she wants to live. Everyone’s life could have gone an infinite number of ways, and each book in the library contains the story of that life. Nora can visit as many as she wants to find out what her life would have been like if she had made different decisions.

“If you really want to live a life hard enough, you don’t have to worry,” Mrs. Elm tells her. “The moment you decide you want that life, really want it, then everything that exists in your head now, including this Midnight Library, will eventually be a dream. A memory so vague and intangible it will hardly be there at all.”

The feel-good books of 2021

The first few lives Nora tries on are those that absolve her biggest regrets. What if she had never given up swimming, the sport her father was desperate for her to continue? It turns out she would have made it to the Olympics, and her dad would still be alive (in her “root life,” he died young). But in this new version of life, he’s married to a woman he met at a swim meet, whom he left Nora’s mother for, likely accelerating the jilted woman’s death.

What if she had married her fiance, Dan, instead of calling off the wedding two days beforehand? She’d be living with a mean alcoholic who couldn’t stand that she knew more than him — and who was cheating on her to boot.

What if Nora had moved to Australia with her best friend instead of bailing to stay behind in England? She’d still be there, but her friend would have died in a car accident. If she had become a glaciologist? She’d be very cold and almost eaten for lunch by a giant, menacing polar bear.

‘The Silent Patient’ ends with a major twist. Should a savvy reader have seen it coming?

If Nora’s band had signed with a recording label, we learn, she would have made it big — really big. But her brother would no longer be part of that band. He’d be dead of an overdose.

Not all of the parallel, or perpendicular, lives Nora tries on are so meaningful: In one, she argues with people on Twitter all day. In others, she’s a travel vlogger, a chess champion, a vegan powerlifter. She’s a cat-sitter; she’s on her third husband and already bored. She drops into new lives, again and again, awaiting the one that makes her want to stay.

Toward the end of the novel, Nora visits what is clearly the best alternative life: the one in which she says yes to the coffee date with Ash, the cute surgeon who pops up in her root life and then again in others. I hoped, each time I saw his name, that Haig was hinting the two would end up together. And indeed, in her visit to this lovely life, Nora is married to Ash, with whom she has a daughter, Molly. She’s professionally fulfilled — writing a book on her favorite philosopher — and about as content as one could hope. It’s here that the fundamental problem with her root life dawns on her: “She had loved no one, and no one had loved her back.”

Yet — and this is one of my favorite parts — there are problems with this seemingly perfect existence. When Nora tries to visit Mrs. Elm at a senior living center, she runs into the old man she lived next to in her root life, whom she helped with prescriptions and shopping. In this new life, he’s at the care home he had so passionately resisted. “She was the only difference between the two Mr. Banerjees, but what was that difference? What had she done?” As Mrs. Elm reminds her: “Never underestimate the big importance of small things.”

Now that you’ve read ‘The Last Thing He Told Me,’ let’s talk about the ending

On her way home, she spots Leo — the boy she gave piano lessons to in her root life, calming his penchant for trouble — in police custody. He has no idea who Nora is and has never taken music lessons. And there we have it: Nora’s root life, the one she so despised, had a purpose after all.

When Nora lands back in the Midnight Library, it’s ablaze — and she’s on the pendulum between life and death, swinging dangerously close to the end. She begs, pleads, shouts at the universe to keep her alive. And finally she wakes, gasping, at home, summoning all her energy to ask her neighbor (Mr. Banerjee!) to call for help.

In the days that follow, after she’s released from the hospital, Nora mends her relationship with her brother and her best friend, and makes plans she’s excited about. The messy life she had tried to exit now seems “full of hope.” It’s a perfect ending: Nora didn’t need a new life. She just needed to realize that her own had potential, and that she could keep reinventing herself until she achieved happiness. Really, who doesn’t need to hear that?

One of the reasons I love to read is because it quiets my mind. I was so engrossed in “The Midnight Library” that I stopped worrying about deadlines and small annoyances and bigger fears. Even days later, when my mind darted to the would-have, should-have, could-haves, I was able to redirect. Call it the Haig effect: Why squander energy on imagining some other life? It would be different, yes, but that doesn’t mean better. As Nora realizes, “It is not the lives we regret not living that are the real problem. It is the regret itself. It’s the regret that makes us shrivel and wither and feel like our own and other people’s worst enemy.”

Maybe you already knew that regret is a waste of time; I hear it constantly. But it’s easier to buy when you recognize that all those other outcomes would have come with their own problems. That’s what Haig so beautifully demonstrates. We tend to romanticize other variations of our lives — we would have no cares in the world, if only we had done this and that differently. Haig’s response: Of course we would. Different packaging; same us. The only thing we truly need to change is the one thing we have complete control over: our outlook.

As Nora muses: “It is quite a revelation to discover that the place you wanted to escape to is the exact same place you escaped from. That the prison wasn’t the place, but the perspective.”

It turns out, I didn’t need a midnight library to shift my own perspective. I just needed a single book.

Angela Haupt is a freelance writer and editor.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Book Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Sep 11, 2021 | Book Reviews , fantasy , Literary Fiction | 12 comments

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig book, pictured on a wooden bookshelf in front of other books

I am continually impressed by the eclectic mix of books that Matt Haig has published in the past few years. The first book of his I read was historical fiction , then I moved onto a work of non-fiction which I failed to write a formal review of, but talked about on the radio a few years ago. He’s managed to hit it big with book clubs this time around with The Midnight Library , and being a book club book lover myself, I didn’t want to be left out of the fun. I was warned beforehand that this book is sort of sad (which it is), but in true Matt Haig fashion, you do feel better after having read it so I’d still consider it a feel-good novel. Plus, this is a book about books, which as you know, is my favourite kind of book.

Plot Summary

Nora Seed lives with many regrets in her life. As a teen, she gave up her impressive swimming career because she felt it was too much pressure, and didn’t like the way it set her apart from her peers. When she got a bit older, she formed a band with her brother and buddy, and they were offered a record deal, but instead of taking it she stayed home and got engaged to a man with his own dreams. That relationship ended, as did her job at a local guitar shop. When the cat she rescues dies on the side of the road one night, Nora decides life is not worth living and takes too many of her anti-depressants. She then finds herself in a library, with a kind woman from her past there to guide her. In this library are millions of books, each representing a life that Nora could have had. Once Nora starts reading that book, she is transported into that life, discovering what could have been if she had made different decisions. She dives into the life of a rock star, the life of a famous Olympian, the life of a woman who devotes her life to dogs and a man who loves them, the life of a woman who owns a famous winery with her quiet husband, and the life of a glaciologist who has devoted her time to studying climate change. As she samples each life, she is whisked back to the library once she realizes she is disappointed with these alternate realities, each never living up to what she deems the ‘best’ way to live.

My Thoughts

I honestly couldn’t think of a more comforting idea than ending up in a library after death. Could you imagine? To just live out eternity reading all the books ever printed? Haig is no doubt a book lover himself to have dreamt up this scenario, but it’s a comforting thought no matter what your religious or spiritual leanings. I also love the metaphor of living out different lives through the printed page, and books as a portal to another world – every bookworm in the world is nodding their head as they read this.

Despite the warm and fuzzies I get from the setting itself, there is a dark layer to the story that is hard to ignore. Nora is depressed and incredibly unhappy with the way her life has turned out. And the more lives she enters through the library, the more she realizes how difficult being happy with one’s lot in life truly is. Haig himself has openly struggled with mental illness, even on the verge of committing suicide at one point, so he is a shining example of what you can become if you step away from that ledge, but Nora’s ledge is much too persuasive. As the reader, we aren’t made aware of whether Nora will actually get a second chance at life, or if she is in some sort of purgatory, so this gives the plot an element of hope that keeps it from teetering into a dismal place. The library begins to slowly crumble around Nora while she searches for her best life, which also adds some suspense, but the constant whisking back and forth between lives was enough to keep me interested, regardless of what Nora’s fate was going to be.

Surprisingly, I didn’t feel all that attached to Nora as a character, I was more interested in the final outcome and what grand lesson about ‘life’ we were meant to get out of it. Some may find this book too didactic, but I find all of Haig’s writing comes across this way, and I actually enjoy that aspect of it most. You don’t have to agree with his point of view, but it’s an interesting perspective nonetheless. I won’t spoil the lesson because it has a direct relation to how Nora fares in the end and that would be too big of a spoiler, but if you’re ready to jump into a bookish adventure with no clear pathway home, you’ll definitely want to give The Midnight Library a try.

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12 comments.

This was one of my unexpected favourite reads of 2020. I actually found it quite inspiring, both the idea that we’re all full of infinite potential and that just because we might not be living the life we once dreamed of doesn’t make it any less meaningful. I really need to check out more of Matt Haig’s work. Great review!

thank you! And you’re totally right how inspiring this book is, it’s one of the reasons it’s so popular I think.

I am a book lover who doesn’t love books about books but these does sound intriguing. I like the idea of glimpses at all the different lives and the possibilities of what might have been.

I read his The Humans and loved it for what it said about humanity. Haig has a wonderful view on life, probably directly because of his depression and near suicide. I just finished The Comfort Book and loved it! I will definitely read The Midnight Library when my library hold comes in!

I think you’d really enjoy it. And that’s a good point re: his view on life, it’s very inspiring…

I’ve never read any of his books – maybe one day! I’m like Karissa – books about books don’t really do it for me though I don’t know why not. I’d only be willing to spend eternity in a library if there was a eternal chocolate cupboard in the corner…

Oh now that’s an idea…

I follow Haig on Twitter, and he frequently writes about his life and suicide, and even though what he has to say seems quite dark, there’s always an element of life being worth it. If his writing in fiction is anything like his Twitter writing, I know I’d like his work.

Yes he’s good on twitter isn’t he? I think you’d like this one Melanie

It was interesting to read your take on the book. I listened to the audiobook read by Carey Mulligan (excellent narrator) and was completely sucked in. It is one of my fav books of all time now! I then tried to read How to Stop Time by Matt Haig, as I though he was going to be my new favorite author, and I was struggling with finishing it (but plan to finish it someday).

Ah yes How to Stop Time definitely wasn’t my favourite of his, but I can see the wide appeal in this one, it’s so beautiful!

This sounds like such a great story: you’re not the first reader who’s made it sound like a “must” for bookish people.

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Word of Mouth

Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:, the midnight library.

Matt Haig has achieved a reputation as a keen wordsmith and purveyor of the human condition. In THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY, his latest novel, he crosses over into the realm of existentialism. By way of metaphor, he takes a library and supposes that each book on its many stacks contains an alternate version of an individual’s life. Grab a volume, and you open up a completely new reality, giving the reader the opportunity to see “what might have been” if different choices had been made. Only through the realm of fiction can we experience a gift like this, and Haig brings it to us in spades.

“I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life.” These words are from Nora Seed’s favorite poet, the great Sylvia Plath. In fact, I believe this quote had some influence on Haig because it clearly spells out the opportunity that Nora is allowed to take advantage of here.

"THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY reads like a dream and provides so much joy and wonder that you will not want it to end."

Nora is down on her luck and has had a very bad run of things lately. THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY opens with the line “Nineteen years before she decided to die…” Like George Bailey in the classic film It's a Wonderful Life , just when the lead character is about to throw away the gift of life, someone comes along to offer them a glimpse at a different reality before they decide whether or not to go through with the suicidal act. In Nora’s case, she is given several different glimpses at what her life could have been to the point where she can decide which is the right path for her.

Haig’s protagonist lives alone, has no significant other in her life or friends to speak of, and her closest living family member --- her brother, Joe --- is on the outs with her. On top of that, her depression and somber attitude have now cost her a job at the music shop. At this point, Nora figures that the world would be a better place without her and no one would even miss her. As she leaves the music shop, she wishes that there was nothing but doors in front of her that she could walk through, one by one, leaving everyone and everything behind.

Nora gets so far as to write her suicide note when she is shrouded in a heavy mist. Once it lifts, she finds herself in a library, the same place where she spent endless hours as a child dreaming and being creative. Her friend and favorite chess partner is the librarian, Mrs. Elm, who should be long gone and the library left to the past. Mrs. Elm informs Nora that this is the Midnight Library. Here she will be able to experience different versions of herself and discover the answers to all the “what if” questions she may have ever posed to herself during her lifetime.

As various volumes are pulled from the shelves under Mrs. Elm's instructions, Nora gets to physically leave her present reality and try each one on for size. At one point in her life, her parents wanted her to try out for the Olympics because she was an expert swimmer. She will have the opportunity to experience not only that, but also what life would have looked like for her as a confident ex-Olympian on the book-touring circuit. She also will get to experience life with her ex-boyfriend had they bought the pub they had once discussed purchasing. On the other end of the spectrum, Nora will have the chance to live a life with her fantasy lover, who she never had the guts to ask out for coffee.

In an effort to patch things up with her brother and their mutual friend, Ravi, Nora will live her life on a successful concert tour with their band, The Labyrinths. Since she had been a Philosophy major in college, she is able to pour her philosophical thoughts into some unique and catchy song lyrics that have made them one of the top bands in the world. Another reality finds her as a Philosophy professor who contemplates the words of one of her favorite writers, Albert Camus: “But you will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.”

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY reads like a dream and provides so much joy and wonder that you will not want it to end. When Mrs. Elm explains to Nora early in the novel that “[b]etween 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?” it is hard for her or the reader to contain themselves. This is because the answer is an undeniable “yes,” and what comes next are the things that dreams are made of.

Reviewed by Ray Palen on October 2, 2020

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Publication Date: May 9, 2023
Genres: Fiction , Women's Fiction
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books
ISBN-10: 0525559493
ISBN-13: 9780525559498

Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is such a fantastic novel. I loved it.

As I mentioned in my October book club list , Matt Haig’s How to Stop Time was one of the first articles I wrote for the site. If that article hadn’t received great traffic, who knows where Book Club Chat would be now! Plus, I liked the story—it was a little melancholy but overall an interesting take on the time travel genre.

When I saw he had a new one coming out this year—I was very excited to see what he had in store! But wow, I didn’t expect to love The Midnight Library like I did. It’s a very heartfelt and touching novel. One of my favorites of this year.

The synopsis

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.

Creative premise

Ahh I love the premise!! I thought it was such a fascinating take on the “what if” type storyline. In 2020, (which all these books are written pre-pandemic), I’ve noticed there’s been a focus on the impact of choices. Prior to The Midnight Library , I read The Book of Two Ways , which also examines the “what could have been?” type concept. And both of these novels mention multiverses! Maybe they were watching some Endgame as they wrote these, haha.

Anyway, so we meet Nora and she’s down on her luck in every way. She’s carrying a lot of baggage, mainly because everyone seems to blame her for their own problems. If Nora had done this—maybe this would have been the result, etc. So she, at age 35, is already living a life full of regrets. How sad is that? But I’m sure people can relate to that. Mid-30s is enough time to look back and see where things could have gone differently but of course, it’s not too late to make a change. But for Nora, she thinks it’s all too late.

However, The Midnight Library is full of possibilities and shows her what would have happened if she made a different choice in life such as marrying her ex-boyfriend or if she continued her swim career. Each time she steps into an alternate reality, she learns some very key lessons along the way.

What’s fulfilling in life

If you haven’t read Matt Haig’s stories before, they are actually quite philosophical in many ways. In fact, Nora was a philosophy major in college, so we have plenty of that thought process as she experiences all the different realities. This is one way I feel that his stories rise above others with similar concepts—truly pondering what is fulfilling in life?

As you read the story, you might know where it will end up—but as always, the key is the journey itself. I loved how everything wrapped up. I want to say more but no spoilers here!!! Just know I think this is well worth your time.

I highly recommend this for book clubs. There’s so much to talk about with this one. Check out my book club questions here .

The Midnight Library – Matt Haig (2020) Book Review

“The only way to learn is to live.”

Have you ever made a decision, gone on to regret it, and then wondered how things could have turned out differently? The Butterfly Effect is the idea that every small decision carries with it the possibility of triggering much larger, life-altering effects. The belief that everything in life is interconnected, The Butterfly Effect is one of the most thought-provoking subjects many of us wrestle with at one time or another, and it is that very idea Matt Haig explores in his 2020 novel The Midnight Library. Check out our full The Midnight Library book review here at What We Reading !

Date Published : 2020

Author : Matt Haig

Genre : Fantasy, Magical Realism

Pages : 304

GoodReads Rating : 4.02/5

Between life and death, there exists a library. In this library, people are presented with every choice they’ve made and are free to live out the lives they led in these alternative universes.

Nora Seed is someone who has lived through a lot of regrets. After arriving at rock bottom, she finds herself in The Midnight Library with the choice of swapping out her life in favour of a new career, or a different relationship. However, as her time in the library continues and she finds herself drifting from regret to regret, she finds herself left pondering what truly makes life fulfilling and worth living at all.

Check out the best Books Like The Midnight Library

What Worked

Off the bat, the premise of The Midnight Library is obviously one that grabs all of our imaginations. We all have regrets in our lives, and the idea of having a place where you can go and see where all your choices would have led you is something that will keep readers thinking even after they put the book down.

And Matt Haig really does succeed in pulling together a read that is touching and ultimately uplifting that does this premise justice.

It’s a powerful book that doesn’t ever flinch away from the tone and message it wants to convey, and that is completely admirable from author Matt Haig. And it’s a message that so many readers are going to be genuinely inspired by, which is one of the best compliments an author can receive, especially in a book like this.

The Midnight Library book review - Matt Haig

What Didn’t

Ultimately, this sort of book is always going to have its fans and its detractors. The idea of people being able to lift themselves out of the pits by changing their outlook is not a notion that everyone is going to be able to get behind. And whilst, I didn’t get the vibe Haig was trying to write a preachy self-help book, certain readers might find it veers too close to just that.

There’s also not a whole lot going on that you wouldn’t be able to guess from even before you purchase the book. The narrative remains consistent throughout and this really doubles up as a self-help book, offering very little in terms of an experience that feels fresh and original.

What’s more, the main character of Nora was really not one of my favourites to follow. Whilst the journey she goes on does feel natural, it is littered with so much bad luck and hardship that it’s just unfathomable someone in the real world would ever find themselves in. Personally, I would have loved a bit more nuance to the character, a bit more genuine regret that would have made the decisions in her life so much more gut-wrenching to go back and live through.

The Midnight Library is a unique book with a premise, unlike many others in the fiction fantasy genre . The idea of a dimension between life and death where we’re presented with every different version of our lives where we made different decisions makes for an enthralling page-turner and will stick with readers long after they put the book down.

As a protagonist, Nora is too close to the archetypal ‘perfect main character’ for me. One of the classic good-at-everything, morals-for-days, and not-appreciated-in-their-time sort of figures that doesn’t make them all that interesting to read through.

And ultimately, this is what kept me from really falling in love over the course of this The Midnight Library book review. There was always a slight eye-roll that followed me around every chapter, and not being fully immersed in a book like this means you have no chance of getting the full experience.

Our Rating: 3/5

Views from around the reading world.

“With its recurring nods to ‘It’s a wonderful life’ and positive message of hope, it’s hard not to get swept along by ’The Midnight Library’…..sure, the idea that ‘life is for living and we only get one go at it’ is hardly groundbreaking, but maybe we need reminding of this occasionally and Matt Haig is just the man to do it.”

Quote supplied by Adrian from BookShelf Discovery

“The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a brilliant novel that showcases the impact that one person can have on many lives as well as how impactful our small choices can be. Protagonist Nora is depressed and believes her life doesn’t amount to much and learns that the grass is always greener on the other side. Haid has written a masterpiece that should be read by everyone because there is a lot to take away from this novel. It reminds me of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist and I would recommend this to everyone who wants to learn the secret to being content with what you have.”

Quote supplied by Ahaqir from Books of Brilliance

“Haig’s writing is beautiful and his distillation of poignant philosophical ideas is a soothing balm after a year of existential dread. I think some people will be dissatisfied with the ending because they somehow want more from this book, and I wouldn’t blame them, because Haig sets himself a nigh-impossible task with this kind of story. All I can really say in apology is that this is very much a book that is about the journey, not the destination.”

Quote supplied by Kara from Kara Reviews

“The premise is cool. Kind of like, “It’s a Wonderful Life” or “A Christmas Carol” turned on its head.

There are SOLID lessons here. I love the message…I just didn’t FEEL anything from the writing even as it addressed devastating, deep concepts. I should have been rocked, but I wasn’t moved. It all felt too sterile and formulaic, predictable, and, in the end, preachy. Like the whole thing could have been a schlocky inspirational poster.”

Quote supplied by Sarah from Sarah Z Writer

Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).

The Maidens – Alex Michaelides (2021) Book Review

The Woman On The Pier – B.P. Walter (2021) Book Review

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Matt Haig: The Midnight Library review - an uplifting modern parable | reviews, news & interviews

Matt haig: the midnight library review - an uplifting modern parable, exquisite depiction of depression explores regret, pain and the richness of the ordinary.

TW: This article discusses suicide, suicidal ideation, antidepressants and self-harm

We first meet Nora Seed, “nineteen years before she decides to die”, as she plays chess in the school library with Mrs Elm, the matter-of-fact school librarian. Nora, who is treated ‘like a mistake in need of correction by her mother”, seeks comfort and kindness from Ms Elm, after finding out her father has died. Nineteen years later, after a series of painful events, including the loss of her job and the death of her cat, Nora feels that the world would simply be better off without her. She ruminates on the failures she has made, believing, “Every move had been a mistake, every decision a disaster, every day a retreat from who she’d imagined she’d be.”

She decides to overdose on pills, but does not meet the oblivion she was hoping for. Instead she finds herself wandering an enormous library, where the books without titles enable her to rewrite her own life story by undoing the decisions that have haunted her as regrets. The author of Reasons to Stay Alive , Notes on a Nervous Planet , and How to Stop Time , in his latest novel The Midnight Library , Matt Haig charts her story , from the hours before she attempts to kill herself, to the days she spends hopping between infinite possible lives on a time-travelling adventure. The novel’s simple yet fantastical premise renders Nora’s story a modern day parable, exploring regret, pain and the richness of the ordinary in life. An exquisite depiction of existential depression and the lessons it can reveal, The Midnight Library is a captivating story and an uplifting antidote to the cult of self-improvement: a manifesto for true self-acceptance.

As a reviewer, my own lived experience with existential depression and suicidal ideation meant that I faced this book with a tightness in my chest. I was both intrigued and uneasy about the use of a fantastical library to explore something as real and horrific as suicidal depression. However, on meeting Nora – a complex but deeply likeable character – I had faith that the book would be a compassionate illustration of an often stigmatised experience.

The warped logic of severe depression is honestly and clearly expressed, as Haig describes the “inescapable feeling brewing in the darkness” when Nora sees Voltaire, her dead cat, lying on the road. The feeling she experiences is “envy”: she is jealous of the cat's “complete absence of pain.” Nora's inner landscape is artfully rendered on the page: “She was afraid of motherhood.The fear of deeper depression.” I felt my gut wrench as I read this sentence – never before has a writer so perfectly captured my experience of the power of mental illness to haunt and destabilise, to instill a fear of further suffering.

As a consequence of her self-critical thoughts, Nora overdoses and is surprised to find herself in the library, where the time on her watch is stuck at midnight. Confused and self-questioning, Nora is eventually greeted by Mrs Elm, the school librarian, who guides Nora through the tomes, and encourages her to open a heavy book called The Book of Regrets . Nora's regrets range from not marrying her ex-boyfriend Dan to failing to become an Olympic swimmer.

As Mrs Elm guides her through the library, plucking the books from the shelves, Nora is able to undo her regrets, by re-entering her life having made different decisions. As she explores her infinite possible lives, she encounters experiences from the ordinary to the remarkable, including narrowly avoiding being eaten by a polar bear in Norway having changed her university course from Philosophy to Geology and taking a role at the Polar Research Institute. Most heartbreakingly, after choosing to go for a coffee with her kind neighbour instead of turning down his offer, Nora meets the seven-year-old daughter they could have had together. Eventually facing disappointment with every regret she expunges, Nora returns to the library confused. In response, the wise Mrs Elm relentlessly reminds Nora of "the big importance” of the “small things”, as Nora discovers that her actions in the “ root life ” that she tried to end, such as picking up prescriptions for an elderly neighbour, Mr Banerjee, really mattered.

Self-harm is discussed throughout the novel, with calmness and grace, as Haig describes the tell-tale “ scar lines” that Nora notices on her body in some of the different lives that she enters. However, I found the depiction of antidepressants reductive: when Nora enters one of her favourite potential lives, she views the absence of antidepressants in the bathroom drawer as evidence of a happy life. Writing from lived experience, Haig is right to critically examine the efficacy of powerful medication; however, in a book that treats every other aspect of mental health with such compassion, it is disappointing to find an implicit disregard for what is, for many who battle with suicidal urges, a life-saving and life-maintaining treatment.

On a beautiful page titled “ Expectation ”, Nora imagines “ What it would be like to accept herself completely, every mistake she had made... every dream she hadn't reached. She imagined accepting it all, the way she accepted nature, the way she accepted a glacier or a puffin or the breach of a whale. ” Acceptance, posits Haig, is freedom, and this masterful novel is a more powerful guide to self-acceptance than any self-help book. Despite the fantastical nature of the plot, Nora is the anchor of the story: whether at home on the verge of taking an overdose, or browsing through magical books in the midnight library, she is absolutely real. As readers, her journey is our journey, and by the end, my own “ book of regrets ” felt considerably lighter.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (Canongate, £16.99)
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‘The Midnight Library,’ by Matt Haig: An Excerpt

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System Error

She arrived back in the Midnight Library.

But this time she was a little away from the bookshelves. This was the loosely defined office area she had glimpsed earlier, in one of the broader corridors. The desk was covered with administrative trays barely containing scattered piles of papers and boxes, and the computer.

The computer was a really old-fashioned-looking, cream- coloured boxy one on the desk by the papers. The kind that Mrs Elm would once have had in her school library. She was at the keyboard now, typing with urgency, staring at the monitor as Nora stood behind her.

The lights above – the same bare light bulbs hanging down from wires – were flickering wildly.

‘My dad was alive because of me. But he’d also had an affair, and my mum died earlier, and I got on with my brother because I had never let him down, but he was still the same brother, really, and he was only really okay with me in that life because I was helping him make money and . . . and . . . it wasn’t the Olympic dream I imagined. It was the same me. And something had happened in Portugal. I’d probably tried to kill myself or something. . . Are there any other lives at all or is it just the furnishings that change?’

[ Return to the review of “The Midnight Library.” ]

But Mrs Elm wasn’t listening. Nora noticed something on the desk. An old plastic orange fountain pen. The exact same kind that Nora had once owned at school.

‘Hello? Mrs Elm, can you hear me?’

Something was wrong.

The librarian’s face was tight with worry. She read from the screen, to herself. ‘System error.’

‘Mrs Elm? Hello? Yoo-hoo! Can you see me?’ She tapped her shoulder. That seemed to do it.

Mrs Elm’s face broke out in massive relief as she turned away from the computer. ‘Oh Nora, you got here?’

‘Were you expecting me not to? Did you think that life would be the one I wanted to live?’

She shook her head without really moving it. If that was possible. ‘No. It’s not that. It’s just that it looked fragile.’

‘What looked fragile?’ ‘The transfer.’ ‘Transfer?’

‘From the book to here. The life you chose to here. It seems there is a problem. A problem with the whole system. Something beyond my immediate control. Something external. ’

‘You mean, in my actual life?’

She stared back at the screen. ‘Yes. You see, the Midnight Library only exists because you do. In your root life.’

‘So, I’m dying?’

Mrs Elm looked exasperated. ‘It’s a possibility. That is to say, it’s a possibility that we are reaching the end of possibility.’

Nora thought of how good it had felt, swimming in the pool. How vital and alive. And then something happened inside her. A strange feeling. A pull in her stomach. A physical shift. A change in her. The idea of death suddenly troubled her. At that same time the lights stopped flickering overhead and shone brightly.

Mrs Elm clapped her hands as she absorbed new information on the computer screen.

‘Oh, it’s back. That’s good. The glitch is gone. We are running again. Thanks, I believe, to you. ’

‘Well, the computer says the root cause within the host has been temporarily fixed. And you are the root cause. You are the host.’ She smiled. Nora blinked, and when she opened her eyes both she and Mrs Elm were standing in a different part of the library. Between stacks of bookshelves again. Standing, stiffly, awkwardly, facing each other.

‘Right. Now, settle,’ said Mrs Elm, before releasing a deep and meaningful exhale. She was clearly talking to herself.

‘My mum died on different dates in different lives. I’d like a life where she is still here. Does that life exist?’

Mrs Elm’s attention switched to Nora. ‘Maybe it does.’

‘But you can’t get there.’ ‘Why not?’

‘Because this library is about your decisions. There was no choice you could have made that led to her being alive beyond yesterday. I’m sorry.’

A light bulb flickered above Nora’s head. But the rest of the library stayed as it was.

‘You need to think about something else, Nora. What was good about the last life?’

Nora nodded. ‘Swimming. I liked swimming. But I don’t think I was happy in that life. I don’t know if I am truly happy in any life.’

‘Is happiness the aim?’

‘I don’t know. I suppose I want my life to mean something. I want to do something good.’

‘You once wanted to be a glaciologist,’ Mrs Elm appeared to remember.

‘You used to talk about it. You said you were interested in the Arctic, so I suggested you become a glaciologist.’

‘I remember. I liked the sound of it straight away. My mum and dad never liked the idea, though.’

‘I don’t really know. They encouraged swimming. Well, Dad did. But anything that involved academic work, they were funny about.’ Nora felt a deep sadness, down in her stomach. From her arrival into life, she was considered by her parents in a different way to her brother.

‘Other than swimming, Joe was the one expected to pursue things,’ she told Mrs Elm. ‘My mum put me off anything that could take me away. Unlike Dad, she didn’t even push me to swim. But surely there must be a life where I didn’t listen to my mum and where I am now an Arctic researcher. Far away from everything. With a purpose. Helping the planet. Researching the impact of climate change. On the front line.’

‘So, you want me to find that life for you?’

Nora sighed. She still had no idea what she wanted. But at least the Arctic Circle would be different.

‘All right. Yes.’

She woke in a small bed in a little cabin on a boat. She knew it was a boat because it was rocking, and indeed the rocking, gentle as it was, had woken her up. The cabin was spare and basic. She was wearing a thick fleece sweater and long johns. Pulling back the blanket, she noticed that she had a headache. Her mouth was so dry her cheeks felt sucked-in against her teeth. She coughed a deep, chesty cough and felt a million pool-lengths away from the body of an Olympian. Her fingers smelt of tobacco. She sat up to see a pale-blonde, robust, hard-weathered woman sitting on another bed staring at her.

‘God morgen, Nora.’

She smiled. And hoped that in this life she wasn’t fluent in whichever Scandinavian language this woman spoke.

‘Good morning.’

She noticed a half-empty bottle of vodka and a mug on the floor beside the woman’s bed. A dog calendar (April: Springer Spaniel) was propped up on the chest between the beds. The three books on top of it were all in English. The one nearest to the woman said Principles of Glacier Mechanics. Two on Nora’s: A Naturalist’s Guide to the Arctic and a Penguin Classic edition of The Saga of the Volsungs: The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer. She noticed something else. It was cold. Properly cold. The cold that almost burns, that hurts your fingers and toes and stiffens your cheeks. Even inside. With layers of thermal underwear. With a sweater on. With the bars of two electric heaters glowing orange. Every exhale made a cloud.

‘Why are you here, Nora?’ the woman asked, in heavily accented English.

A tricky question, when you didn’t know where ‘here’ was. ‘Bit early in the morning, isn’t it, for philosophy?’ Nora laughed, nervously.

She saw a wall of ice outside the porthole, rising out of the sea. She was either very far north or very far south. She was very far somewhere.

The woman was still staring at her. Nora had no idea if they were friends or not. The woman seemed tough, direct, earthy, but probably an interesting form of company.

‘I don’t mean philosophy. I don’t even mean what got you into glaciological research. Although, it might be the same thing. I mean, why did you choose to go as far away from civilisation as possible? You’ve never told me.’

‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I like the cold.’

‘No one likes this cold. Unless they are a sado-masochist.’

She had a point. Nora reached for the sweater at the end of her bed and put it on, over the sweater she was already wearing. As she did she saw, beside the vodka bottle, a laminated lanyard lying on the floor.

Ingrid Skirbekk Professor of Geoscience International Polar Research Institute

‘I don’t know, Ingrid. I just like glaciers, I suppose. I want to understand them. Why they are . . . melting.’

She wasn’t sounding like a glacier expert, judging from Ingrid’s raised eyebrows.

‘What about you?’ she asked, hopefully.

Ingrid sighed. Rubbed her palm with a thumb. ‘After Per died, I couldn’t stand to be in Oslo any more. All those people that weren’t him, you know? There was this coffee shop we used to go to, at the university. We’d just sit together, together but silent. Happy silent. Reading newspapers, drinking coffee. It was hard to avoid places like that. We used to walk around everywhere. His troublesome soul lingered on every street . . . I kept telling his memory to piss the fuck off but it wouldn’t. Grief is a bastard. If I’d have stayed any longer, I’d have hated humanity. So, when a research position came up in Svalbard I was like, yes, this has come to save me . . . I wanted to be somewhere he had never been. I wanted somewhere where I didn’t have to feel his ghost. But the truth is, it only half-works, you know? Places are places and memories are memories and life is fucking life.’

Nora took all this in. Ingrid was clearly telling this to someone she thought she knew reasonably well, and yet Nora was a stranger. It felt odd. Wrong. This must be the hardest bit about being a spy, she thought. The emotion people store in you, like a bad investment. You feel like you are robbing people of something.

Ingrid smiled, breaking the thought. ‘Anyway, thanks for last night . . . That was a good chat. There are a lot of dickheads on this boat and you are not a dickhead.’

‘Oh. Thanks. Neither are you.’

And it was then that Nora noticed the gun, a large rifle with a hefty brown handle, leaning against the wall at the far end of the room, under the coat hooks.

The sight made her feel happy, somehow. Made her feel like her eleven-year-old self would have been proud. She was, it seemed, having an adventure.

Hugo Lefèvre

Nora walked with her headache and obvious hangover through an undecorated wooden passageway to a small dining hall that smelled of pickled herring, and where a few research scientists were having breakfast.

She got herself a black coffee and some stale, dry rye bread and sat down.

Around her, outside the window, was the most eerily beautiful sight she had ever seen. Islands of ice, like rocks rendered clean and pure white, were visible amid the fog. There were seventeen other people in the dining hall, Nora counted. Eleven men, six women. Nora sat by herself but within five minutes a man with short hair and stubble two days away from a full beard sat down at her table. He was wearing a parka, like most of the room, but he seemed ill-suited to it, as if he would be more at home on the Riviera wearing designer shorts and a pink polo shirt. He smiled at Nora. She tried to translate the smile, to understand the kind of relationship they had. He watched her for a little while, then shuffled his chair along to sit opposite her. She looked for a lanyard, but he wasn’t wearing one. She wondered if she should know his name.

‘I’m Hugo,’ he said, to her relief. ‘Hugo Lefèvre. You are Nora, yes?’

‘I saw you around, in Svalbard, at the research centre, but we never said hello. Anyway, I just wanted to say I read your paper on pulsating glaciers and it blew my mind.’

‘Yes. I mean, it’s always fascinated me, why they do that here and nowhere else. It’s such a strange phenomenon.’

‘Life is full of strange phenomena.’

Conversation was tempting, but dangerous. Nora smiled a small, polite smile and then looked out of the window. The islands of ice turned into actual islands. Little snow-streaked pointed hills, like the tips of mountains, or flatter, craggy plates of land. And beyond them, the glacier Nora had seen from the cabin porthole. She could get a better measure of it now, although its top portion was concealed under a visor of cloud. Other parts of it were entirely free from fog. It was incredible.

You see a picture of a glacier on TV or in a magazine and you see a smooth lump of white. But this was as textured as a mountain. Black-brown and white. And there were infinite varieties of that white, a whole visual smorgasbord of variation – white-white, blue-white, turquoise-white, gold-white, silver-white, translucent-white –rendered glaringly alive and impressive. Certainly more impressive than the breakfast.

‘Depressing, isn’t it?’ Hugo said. ‘What?’

‘The fact that the day never ends.’

Nora felt uneasy with this observation. ‘In what sense?’ He waited a second before responding.

‘The never-ending light,’ he said, before taking a bite of a dry cracker. ‘From April on. It’s like living one interminable day . . . I hate that feeling.’

‘Tell me about it.’

‘You’d think they’d give the portholes curtains. Hardly slept since I’ve been on this boat.’

Nora nodded. ‘How long is that again?’

He laughed. It was a nice laugh. Close-mouthed. Civilised.

Hardly a laugh at all.

‘I drank a lot with Ingrid last night. Vodka has stolen my memory.’ ‘Are you sure it’s the vodka?’

‘What else would it be?’

His eyes were inquisitive, and made Nora feel automatically guilty.

She looked over at Ingrid, who was drinking her coffee and typing on her laptop. She wished she had sat with her now.

‘Well, that was our third night,’ Hugo said. ‘We have been meandering around the archipelago since Sunday. Yeah, Sunday. That’s when we left Longyearbyen.’

Nora made a face as if to say she knew all this. ‘Sunday seems for ever away.’

The boat felt like it was turning. Nora was forced to lean a little in her seat.

‘Twenty years ago there was hardly any open water in Svalbard in April. Look at it now. It’s like cruising the Mediterranean.’

Nora tried to make her smile seem relaxed. ‘Not quite.’ ‘Anyway, I heard you got the short straw today?’

Nora tried to look blank, which wasn’t hard. ‘Really?’ ‘You’re the spotter, aren’t you?’

She had no idea what he was talking about, but feared the twinkle in his eye.

‘Yes,’ she answered. ‘Yes, I am. I am the spotter.’

Hugo’s eyes widened with shock. Or mock-shock. It was hard to tell the difference with him.

‘The spotter ?’

Nora desperately wanted to know what the spotter actually did, but couldn’t ask.

‘Well, bonne chance,’ said Hugo, with a testing gaze.

‘Merci,’ said Nora, staring out at the crisp Arctic light and a landscape she had only ever seen in magazines. ‘I’m ready for a challenge.’

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Book Review #36: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020)

Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️ Title: The Midnight Library: A Novel Author: Matt Haig Published: 2020 (Viking, Random House) Pages: 288 (Hardcover) Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Science Fiction, Adult, Mental Health CW: death, addiction, mental health topics, suicide Link Here

I just finished my next read with a beautiful view on a clear day in the park (pictured above). On the West Coast, the weather is not too shabby this time of year in the fall! It did not take me long to finish the new fiction release, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. This is the first book I’ve read by Haig, but I heard a lot of good things about his writing. His latest book has a lot of hype over the internet. He is a children’s book and speculative fiction author who is widely known for his writing, and commentary on mental health.

“ 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

By the end of this contemporary novel I was hooked, and couldn’t put it down! The story centers around Nora Seed, a young woman who is having a difficult time and contemplates dying. She then finds herself in the Midnight Library, a place between life and death where she can change her circumstances, and live a different life in a number of parallel universes. She faces her regrets, and begins to see things as they really are throughout the book as she decides which ‘book’ or universe she wants to live in. Nora slowly learns what makes life worth living, and rethinks her outlook. The characters and story are enchanting from start to finish. There’s a fantastical but dismal quality about Haig’s writing not only from the plot.

“ A person was like a city. You couldn’t let a few less desirable parts put you off the whole. There may be bits you don’t like, a few dodgy side streets and suburbs, but the good stuff makes it worthwhile ” – Matt Haig, The Midnight Library

My first thought was that this book reminded me of a more contemporary It’s a Wonderful Life . But it’s a female protagonist, takes place mostly in a cosmic library, and not meant to be shown around Christmas time… among other reasons. Haig appropriately describes mental health issues through Nora with honesty and succinct directness. This novel makes great points about putting life and the choices we make in perspective. It was encouraging with a lot of quips that sounded like they were from an inspirational book, and also a little saddening at the same time. I also found myself connecting to the characters almost immediately, and they felt incredibly human.

“ Maybe it wasn’t the lack of achievements that had made her and her brother’s parents unhappy, maybe it was the expectation to achieve in the first place ” – Matt Haig, The Midnight Library

This book was a little hard to get into at the beginning, but once the details and plot lines started to connect, the story became more engrossing. The structure of the novel is definitely contemporary, and causes the reader to really follow the details. And Haig has a surreal writing style which I loved, and definitely added to the fantastical realism elements. I also liked how he describes small, everyday details with such purpose. The ending itself though was my favorite part, and basically made the rest of the book worth it. I won’t give any spoilers away though.

“If you aim to be something you are not, you will always fail. Aim to be you. Aim to look and act and think like you. Aim to be the truest version of you. Embrace that you-ness. Endorse it. Love it. Work hard at it. And don’t give a second thought when people mock it or ridicule it. Most gossip is envy in disguise ” – Matt Haig, The Midnight Library

Why should you read this book? If you’re a fan of contemporary fiction with magical and cosmic parallel universes addressing life’s greatest problem which is navigating it itself, this is the book for you.

I give this book a 4 out of 5!

Also, on a complete side note, I’ve decided to start linking the books I write about on one of my favorite sites, Bookshop , instead of Amazon. I don’t know if it will be a permanent thing on my blog yet, but I just learned about them and I love the organization. It’s a one-stop book seller to support independent book stores across the US and UK, they donate most of their sales to independent bookstores. You can also buy from a specific bookstore on the site or have the proceeds from your sale sent to the store directly.

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Book Review: The Midnight Library

Matt Haig's unique novel The Midnight Library ponders the infinite possibilities of life. It is about a young woman named Nora Seed, who lives a monotonous, ordinary life and feels unwanted and unaccomplished. One night, her despair reaches a peak and she commits suicide. But the story doesn't end there--Nora gets a chance to experience various ways her life could've unfolded had she made slightly different choices. She finds herself in a place called the Midnight Library, which exists between life and death and is filled with books in which lie endless parallel lives she might've lived; she is given the chance to undo her regrets by trying out these lives, starting right where her alternate self would've been on the night she ended her life. While in the Midnight Library, Nora lives hundreds of lives and becomes hundreds of different versions of herself--some she'd never even fathomed--but she is faced with a difficult decision. She must decide what she is willing to sacrifice in order to live permanently in one of these 'ideal' lives, where they seem perfect for a time but, as she realizes, there are really new sets of challenges awaiting. Nora's exploration of herself is captivating as she attempts to discern what is really important in life.

This novel is very well-written and thought-provoking. Nora's emotions are deeply portrayed, and I was captivated by the depth of Haig's storytelling. While the concept is simple, it drew me in as a reader and encompassed so many different emotional experiences that come with life. I spent much of The Midnight Library reflecting on my own life and the decisions I've made, as well as looking to the future and imagining the infinite possibilities--this is a sign of a talented author. While I appreciated the depth of this novel, sometimes it took on a repetitive, almost pedantic tone when an important idea was already clear but kept being elaborated on--this was common when life lessons came up. There were also attempts to make Nora's life-jumping seem scientifically possible, with reference to quantum physics, and I didn't think this was necessary, as the focus was on Nora's life and personal growth. Overall, I very much enjoyed The Midnight Library. The character development, setting, and plot are engaging, while also discussing important themes such as mental health.

I would recommend The Midnight Library to teens and adults alike. It's a short, worthwhile read that will get you thinking and have you on the edge of your seat. And it may just awaken you to how much unlocked potential you have!

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The Midnight Library

Quick recap & summary by chapter.

The Full Book Recap and Section-by-Section Summary for The Midnight Library by Matt Haig are below.

Quick(-ish) Recap

The one-paragraph version of this is: Nora Seed is unhappy in her life, tries to kill herself and finds herself at The Midnight Library, where she is able to try out different versions of her life. Through these alternate realities, she learns that the paths she'd regretted giving up weren't what she'd thought they would be. She eventually finds a life she's happy in, but in the process she learns that her original life had value. The Library dissolves as Nora decides to live. Nora returns to her original life, except now with less regrets and hope for the future.

The Midnight Library opens with a teenaged Nora Seed , who is smart and a talented swimmer. She is playing chess with the school librarian, Mrs. Elm , when she gets the news about her father's death. Nineteen years later, Nora is now a 35-year-old woman who is unhappy in her life.

A neighbor, Ash , informs her that her cat, Voltaire ("Volts") , has been hit by a car. Nora is upset and late for work, and she gets fired by her boss, Neil . She also runs to Ravi , who she was once in a band with along with her brother Joe . Both men blame her for dropping out right when they had a chance at a major record deal. After a string of other unfortunate events -- fired as a music tutor, reminded of having grown apart from her former best friend Izzy , etc. -- Nora decides to die, and she overdoses on pills at midnight.

Nora finds herself surrounded by mist, and she discovers The Midnight Library , where infinite rows of books represent portals into different variations of her life. Mrs. Elm (or something that resembles her) is here and serves as Nora's guide, explaining that the Library exists between life and death. Nora can stay in these alternate realities as long as she desires, but if she loses her will to live in the process then she will die forever.

Nora tries out a life with her ex, Dan , who she nearly married, only to discover that he would have gotten bored and cheated on her. She also tries a life where Volts was kept indoors to prevent it from being hit by a car, but learns the cat actually died of a health condition. Next, Nora is transported into a life where she moved to Australia with Izzy, but finds out Izzy would have died in a car accident. Nora then tries becoming an Olympic swimming, only to find out she is depressed in that life, too. When Nora tests out becoming an Artic researcher, she meets a man Hugo Lefèvre , who is also jumping between his alternate realities and has been doing so for a long time. But Nora longs to find a life to settle down in.

Nora tries a life where she stayed in her band and became a famous rock star, but she learns that becoming famous lead to Joe dying from substance abuse. From there, Mrs. Elm encourages Nora to pursue less "obvious" paths. Nora ends up trying out a multitude of lives and careers, ranging from becoming a single mom to running a winery or being an aid worker, but nothing sticks.

Finally, Nora recalls how Ash had once asked her out and tries a life where she'd accepted that date. Nora discovers a life that she thinks is quite nice, where they have a young daughter named Molly and a dog named Plato. In that life, Nora has patched up her relationship with Joe, and he is happily married. Nora thinks that this may be the best version of her life. However, when she goes back to her hometown she sees that her absence has had am impact. Nora sees that her neighbor, whom she used to help out, ended up having to move to a care facility. The music store she used to work at as a salesperson has closed down. And her music student, Leo , ended up falling in with a bad crowd instead of discovering his aptitude for piano.

Nora ends up letting go of that life and returning to the Midnight Library as it is falling apart. Mrs. Elm explains that her desire to live out her original life is causing the destruction. Mrs. Elm tells Nora how to exit, by finding the book representing her original life, and the Midnight Library dissolves. When Nora is back in her original, she stumbles outside for help (post-overdoing) and soon wakes in a hospital.

With her regrets laid to rest and with hope for the future, Nora is able to turn her life around. She works on patching things up with her brother, starts soliciting more students for music lessons in order to make a living and starts volunteering weekly at a homeless shelter. Nora also seeks out the real Mrs. Elm at the care facility to resume their games of chess.

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Section-by-Section Summary

(A Conversation About Rain)

The book opens in the library at Hazeldene School in the town of Bedford . It’s 19 years before Nora Seed will someday decide to commit suicide. Nora plays chess with Mrs. Elm , the librarian. Meanwhile, they talk about Nora’s her future and career plans. Nora is smart and a star swimmer, and Mrs. Elm says that Nora she could be anything she wants to be. She jokingly suggests glaciology.

The game is interrupted by a phone call with bad news for Nora.

(The Man at the Door, String Theory, To Live Is to Suffer, Doors)

Nineteen years later, it’s now 27 hours before Nora will decide to die. Nora is now 35 and has been working at a local music store, String Theory , for nearly 13 years now. She’s dissatisfied with her life. She’s at home, when Ash , an attractive surgeon and neighbor who she’d once asked her out to coffee with, rings her doorbell. Nora wonders if he’ll ask her out again, but instead Ash tells her that her cat, Voltaire (“Volts”) , has been hit by a car. Nora sees the cat and feels sadness, but also a bit of envy at seeing him lying there peacefully.

The next day, nine hours before Nora decides to die, Nora is late for work. Neil , her boss, is nice about it, but questions why she’s still even working there since he thinks she’s meant for bigger things. He also gently mentions that she’s off-putting to customers and finally fires her.

Afterwards, Nora wanders around town and thinks about Dan , her ex-fiancé who she’d left two days before their aborted wedding. She also comes across Ravi , her brother Joe’s best friend. Nora was once the songwriter in a band called Labyrinth with Ravi, Ella (Ravi’s girlfriend, now wife) and Joe that was on the verge of a deal with Universal , but Nora nixed her involvement in it. Instead, Joe got a job he dislikes in IT, and Ravi still plays small gigs but is broke. Ravi blames Nora, but Nora says she was getting panic attacks that would have made it impossible.

(How to Be a Black Hole, Antimatter)

Contemplating her purposelessness in life, Nora texts her former best friend, Izzy (Isabel Hirsh) , who lives in Australia now. Nora then gets a call from Doreen , who is irritated. Nora has forgotten about the music lesson she was supposed to give Doreen’s son, Leo . Doreen now says Leo’s too busy for piano anyway, against Nora’s futile protests.

As she passes by her elderly neighbor, Mr. Banerjee, he informs her of the “good news” that he no longer needs her to pick up his medicine, but it makes Nora feel “superfluous” as a person. At home, Nora sees Voltaire’s empty bowl and takes two anti-depressants. Wallowing in self-pity, she downs a bottle of wine and posts a rambling message on social media. As it nears midnight, Nora decides that it’s time for her to die.

Nora leaves a voicemail for her brother and pens a suicide note, directed to “whoever”. (She overdoses.)

(00:00:00, The Librarian, The Midnight Library, The Moving Shelves, The Book of Regrets, Regret Overload)

At midnight precisely, time seems to stop and Nora is engulfed in a mist. Out of it she sees a building, which is revealed to be filled with endless rows of unlabeled books, all with covers colored in shades of green. A woman is there, and she either is or resembles Mrs. Elm. Nora remembers playing chess with Mrs. Elm and getting the news that her father had died of a heart attack.

Mrs. Elm explains to Nora that this is the Midnight Library , a space between life and death. The books are portals to the different lives Nora could have lived if she had made different decisions. Every decision in life leads to different results in life, and those possible lives are reflected in these infinite volumes.

There is one book that is different from the rest. With its grey cover, Mrs. Elm explains that the heavy book is the Book of Regrets, which records every regret Nora has ever had. Nora thinks about the career in glaciology she’d considered but didn’t end up pursuing after Mrs. Elm’s (joking) suggestion so many years ago. As she gets to one part, many of the regrets are related to Dan.

Nora thinks about Dan, a man who worked in PR but had a dream of running a pub in the countryside. Nora’s mother had passed away three months before their wedding. Nora then thinks about the grief she felt, of disappointing Izzy about their plan to move to Australia, about pulling out of the wedding. Overwhelmed by regret, Mrs. Elm instructs Nora to close the book.

(Every Life Begins Now, The Three Horseshoes, The Penultimate Update Nora Had Posted Before She Found Herself Between Life and Death)

Mrs. Elm asks Nora what book she’d like to start with. She explains that Nora can stay as long as she likes in each life, but she warns Nora that if she loses the will to carry on while she is between lives, then Nora will truly die with finality.

Nora asks Mrs. Elm to start with a life where she ends up with Dan. As she begins to read, Nora is transported into a pub called The Three Horseshoes with Dan there as her husband. In this reality, she also has a cat named Voltaire, but it looks different. Also, in this reality, Nora is still close with Izzy, which makes her happy.

Nora thinks about the things she’d missed about Dan, but as she is reacquainted with him, she’s reminded of the things she doesn’t like as well — his arrogance, his dislike of her music career. He had been staunchly against her staying in the band. As the night goes on, she notices how much Dan drinks and when they get into an argument, she learns that Dan has been unfaithful.

Nora realizes that her regret over this relationship ending is misplaced and returns to the Midnight library.

(The Chessboard, The Only Way to Learn Is to Live, Fire)

Back at the Library, Nora admits that the alternate reality had been different than she’d imagined. Next, she asks to be taken into a reality where her version of Voltaire is an indoor cat, where she is a good cat owner and where he doesn’t get hit by a car. Nora is then transported into a life essentially exactly the same as her original life. She goes looking for Voltaire, but she finds that he is under the bed, but dead. Nora is sad and confused.

Back at the Library, Mrs. Elm explains that basically even if Voltaire was an indoor cat, he would’ve died anyway from a heart condition. Mrs. Elm also adds that Nora gave Voltaire the best year of its life, and that Nora wasn’t a bad cat owner. Voltaire wasn’t hit by a car. Instead, Voltaire likely went outside to die because it didn’t want Nora to see it die. When Nora asks why Mrs. Elm sent her into that life instead of just telling her outright that she wasn’t a bad cat owner. Mrs. Elm responds that “sometimes the only way to learn is to live”.

Next, Nora asks to see a life where she had decided to move to Australia with Izzy. As she is transported to Sydney, she senses she is in the water. Nora thinks about being 14 and a swimming star, winning two races at the National Junior Swimming Championships, until she gave it up. Nora gets out of the pool and has no clue where she lives or what she does for a living.

On her phone is a message from Dan saying he’ll be coming to Australia for work soon. In her e-mails, she finds an address for herself. Nora heads there and sees that she has a flatmate named Jojo , a quirky conspiracy theorist, that she doesn’t recognize. Nora wonders where Izzy is and asks Jojo. Jojo tells her that Izzy died in a car crash. Online, Nora learns that Izzy died a month after they arrived in Australia.

(Fish Tank, The Last Update That Nora Had Posted Before She Found Herself Between Life and Death, The Successful Life, Peppermint Tea, The Tree That Is Our Life)

Back at the Library, Nora wonders why she stayed in Australia after Izzy’s death, and Mrs. Elm says she was depressed and grieving and got “stuck” there. Nora wonders if she’s just someone who will be depressed and stuck in any life, but Mrs. Elm disagrees. Then, Mrs. Elm talks to Nora about what success means to her, and Nora realizes that she doesn’t know. She thinks about how swimming was something she’d pursued because it was important to her father, but not to her. Still, she wonders what would have happened if she’d stuck with it.

Mrs. Elm summons an appropriate book, and Nora is then transported into a life where she had doggedly pursued her swimming career. She finds herself in an upscale hotel room, feeling very healthy. Online, she learns that she is a 2-time Olympian, having won a gold and two silver medals before retiring at 28. She now covers swimming for the BBC. Through social media, Nora sees that Izzy is still alive in this life, though it’s possible they never ended up meeting, and Dan is married to a spin instructor named Gina Lord .

Nora finds a video of herself, talking confidently about the pursuit of success. A woman named Nadia calls, and Nora is shocked to learn that her dad is alive. Nora’s dad did not have a heart attack in this life because he ended up on a health kick as Nora was training for the Olympics. Nadia is her father’s second wife. He had an affair with Nadia and left Nora’s mother. Nora realizes that her parents not loving her properly as a child likely had more to do with unhappiness in their own marriage.

Afterwards, Nadia is very happy to see her brother Joe and that they get along well. He is apparently her manager, and he manages others as well. Nora is supposed to give at the hotel. Unlike in the original life, here, Joe is happily married to Ewan, his husband. Joe also doesn’t drink and Nora doesn’t consume caffeine.

As they talk, Nora is disappointed to learn that she’s still on antidepressants in this life. Nora sees scars on her arm that she realizes are self-inflicted. Also, in the original life, she and Joe had been there for her mother before her death. Instead, here, her mother had started drinking a lot after their father left and she’d hid her sickness from Nora and Joe.

Joe also tells her that he happened to run into Ravi, who he hasn’t seen in 10 years in this life, and he invited Ravi to Nora’s talk. When Nora gives her talk, instead of speaking about the pursuit of success, she talks about what she’s learned from the Midnight Library — she says that success is a delusion, and she talks philosophically about the different paths life can take. The audience looks uncomfortable, but she sees that Ravi is smiling at her.

(System Error, Svalbard, Hugo Lefèvre, Walking in Circles, A Moment of Extreme Crisis in the Middle of Nowhere, The Frustration of Not Finding a Library When You Really Need One, Island, Permafrost)

After the talk, Nora is transported back to the Midnight Library, having realized that the “successful” life is not one she wants either. Upon her arrival, the Midnight Library glitches slightly until Nora thinks about her desire to remain alive. Next, Nora asks Mrs. Elm to take her to a life where her mother is still alive. However, Mrs. Elm says that’s not a possibility since in every life her mother would have been dead by now.

Instead, Nora asks to see a life where she’d pursued glaciology, which her parents had discouraged. With that, she’s transported into the life of an Arctic Researcher. She finds herself in the cabin of a boat. Her cabinmate is Ingrid Skirbekk , a Professor of Geoscience, who is part of the International Polar Research Institute . Nora learns that Ingrid took this research position after Per (presumably her husband) had died to get away from the memory of him. They are here to study climate change.

In the dining hall, there are about 17 other people. She meets and talks to Hugo Lefèvre . Nora soon finds out that she’s on spotting duty for that day, assign to be on the lookout for polar bears. When one actually appears, the prospect of her dying makes Nora acknowledge her desire to live. Nora scares it off with noise, as instructed.

Afterwards, Nora thinks about her parents, the disappointments and the crushed hopes in their lives. Nora’s mother, Donna, had at one point had some type of breakdown that resulted in her never returning to work. Meanwhile, Nora’s father, Geoff’s, life had taught him the lesson that life was meant to screw you over. His father died when he was young, he was bullied and played rugby until an injury derailed his sporting future. Nora thinks of their dashed hopes and considers that it was their unfulfilled “expectation to achieve in the first place” as opposed to the lack of achievement that caused their unhappiness. She thinks about how she loves them and forgives them for the ways they’ve disappointed her.

(One Night in Longyearbyen, Expectation, Life and Death and the Quantum Wave Function, If Something Is Happening to Me, I Want to Be There)

As Nora continues her Arctic adventure, Hugo approaches her. He has recognized her acting strangely, and he admits that he, too, has been slipping in and out of his possible lives. Hugo tells her that his version of her Midnight Library is a video store filled with VHS movies. It resembles one he used to go to. His guide is his Uncle Philippe. He also says he’s met others like them, each with their own venues (somewhere with emotional significance) and guides (someone who has helped them at an important time) to help them navigate their infinite lives.

Hugo explains that quantum superposition is what allows all these infinite lives to exist at once. Hugo has seen hundreds of lives and plans to continue to do so. Meanwhile, Nora worries that she’ll die for real if she doesn’t find a life she has the will to live.

Afterwards, feeling impulsive knowing that any decision is just one iteration of her life, she kisses Hugo and they sleep together. It’s a disappointment, and Nora soon finds herself back at the Midnight Library.

(God and Other Librarians, Fame, Milky Way, Wild and Free, Ryan Bailey, A Silver Tray of Honey Cakes, The Podcast of Revelations, ‘Howl’)

Next, Nora asks to experience fame, and she is transported to a life where her band Labyrinth had made it big. She is in a middle of a show in São Paulo, Brazil and Ravi is on-stage with her. Joe is no longer in the band. Nora’s manager appears to be a woman named Joanna . On Instagram, she has 11.3 million followers.

After the show, Nora gets a call from Ryan Bailey , a famous A-list actor that she’d once fantasized about in her original life. He’s slightly drunk, and Nora realizes that she has recently dumped him. The call is amicable, and they agree to remain friends.

Afterwards, Nora is brought to a lavish suite to do an interview with two podcasters from O Som , the most popular music podcast in Brazil. During the interview, they podcasters reference a restraining order that Nora had against her ex-husband Dan Lord. In her mind, Nora marvels that Dan would be bored of her and cheating in one life, but practically obsessed with her in another. The interviewer, Marcello , also mentions that the media seems to give her a hard time and talks about her tumultuous career.

Then, Marcello brings up that Joe overdosed two years ago. Nora immediately gets up out of the interview and heads downstairs, in shock and sadness, and soon she finds herself back at the Midnight Library.

(Love and Pain, Equidistance, Someone Else’s Dream, The Gentle Life, Why Want Another Universe If This One Has Dogs?, Dinner with Dylan, Last Chance Saloon)

Nora is frustrated and unhappy when she sees Mrs. Elm again, and she wants to give up. Mrs. Elm recalls the games of chess that she used to play with Nora and how she’d give up if she lost a few key pieces like her queen and whatnot, acting like the game was over and that her pawns and such were useless. Mrs. Elm encourages Nora to try a less obvious life, saying that a more ordinary life can still lead to “victory”.

Mrs. Elm reminds Nora of a time when she’d done a dangerous swim across a river to try to impress Joe and other people at a party. She’d ended up part-way through and not knowing which way to go in order to survive. Instead she had to simply commit to one direction and go for it. Nora is able to see this memory, and she also sees that Joe had tried to go in after her to help, but others had stopped him.

Nora considers that her lives have largely been about other people’s dreams — her brother’s dream about The Labyrinths, her father’s dream about swimming, Izzy’s dream about Australia, Dan’s dream about the bar, and even Mrs. Elm’s suggestion about glaciology. Instead, Nora decides she wants to try a “gentle” life next, one about working with animals.

In this “gentle” life, Nora works at an animal rescue center and is seeing a man named Dylan , who had been two years below her in secondary school, though they didn’t know each other then. Dylan mentions having happened to have seen Mrs. Elm not too long ago at the Oak Leaf Residential Care Home, a retirement home. Nora passes by String Theory and notes that it has closed not too long ago.

Dylan is a good person. They have dinner together and watch a Ryan Bailey movie. He has a bunch of dogs. Despite him being perfectly nice, Nora “wasn’t too enamoured with this life” and she bids it farewell.

(Buena Vista Vineyard, The Many Lives of Nora Seed, Lost in the Library, A Pearl in the Shell, The Game, The Perfect Life, A Spiritual Quest for a Deeper Connection with the Universe, Hammersmith, Tricycle)

Next, Nora tries something different, a life where she moves to America, marries a Mexican-American man named Eduardo Martinez and they live on a small vineyard in California. There’s nothing wrong with the life, but there’s a fakeness to it, and Nora lets that life go as well. From there, Nora tests out a multitude of lives — as a concert pianist, having a teenage son, as a travel vlogger, as a cat-sitter, as an aid worker — and even coming across Hugo again. Eventually, however, Nora starts feeling like she’s losing track of who she really is and she wants a life that she can settle down in.

It occurs to her to try a life where she’d accepted Ash’s coffee date once upon a time, instead of rejecting it because she’d been with Dan at the time. With that, Nora finds herself in a life with Ash sleeping next to her. They have a young daughter named Molly, and Nora was a professor at Cambridge but she’s currently on sabbatical writing a book. They have a dog named Plato . Nora discovers that she is surprisingly content in this life, and she suspects this is the one she’ll want to stay in.

Joe seems to be a part of her life, and he is married to Ewan, who he’d met at a cross-training class. Nora and Joe talk, and he admits that he was a jerk to her for a while over the whole band thing. He realizes that he was dismissive of her panic attacks and it wasn’t until Ewan got them, too, that he realized they were serious. Nora realizes that in her other lives there was an absence of love. Even as a rock star, Joe had stuck with her because she was making him money, not because they’d sorted out their issues. Joe is working as a sound engineer now.

As time passes, she finds herself feeling grateful for this life. However, she remembers that Mrs. Elm had told her that once she settled into a life she wanted that she’d eventually forget the library, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. Instead, Nora feels like a fraud because she hasn’t earned this life.

(No Longer Here, An Incident With the Police, A New Way of Seeing, The Flowers Have Water)

Remembering what Dylan had told her in another life, Nora goes to the Oak Leaf Residential Care Home to find Mrs. Elm, but instead she runs into Mr. Banerjee there. He doesn’t recognize her, though, because in this life they were never neighbors. Nora wonders why Mr. Banerjee ended up in a elderly care facility in this life when he had been determined not to in her original life. When she inquires about Mrs. Elm, they inform her that Louise Elm died peacefully about three weeks ago.

Next, Nora goes by Mr. Banerjee’s house. She sees that the lawn is overgrown. She thinks about the plants she helped water for him when he was in surgery. Then, she thinks about Mrs. Elm telling her to “never underestimate the big importance of small things”. She wonders if her actions could have impacted whether or not he ended up in a care facility.

Elsewhere in the neighborhood, she sees the police arrest a boy for theft that turns out to be Leo. In this life, she never ended up teaching him piano. In the original life, Doreen had looked into lessons because Leo liked music and had started getting in with a bad crowd. Nora had offered inexpensive lessons and as Leo’s confidence in music grew, he improved in other areas as well and never get mixed up with worse stuff. However, in the current reality, Doreen had never found affordable lessons, and Leo had taken a bad turn in life.

Meanwhile, String Theory has closed down, as was the case in the Dylan reality as well. Nora thinks about the many expensive instruments she did manage to sell in her original life.

As she comes to see the value she had in her original life, Nora senses her grip on this reality is fading, even as she reminds herself how great this reality is. Once thinks about how her family here (Molly, Ash, Plato, etc.) will be fine without her, she returns to the Midnight Library.

(Nowhere to Land, Don’t You Dare Give Up, Nora Seed!)

Back at the Library, things are falling apart. Soon, the Library sparks and books start to catch on fire. Nora doesn’t understand what is happening. She tells Mrs. Elm that she wanted to stay in the previous life, but Mrs. Elm disagrees. The reason Nora ended up back at the Midnight Library is because she wanted to live (in her original life). Mrs. Elm points out that time has started progressing forward once again on Nora’s watch.

As the Library continues to burn, Mrs. Elm tells Nora that there’s a way that she can escape. The Library is falling apart, but Nora needs to find the book that represents her original life and write that story. She gives Nora a pen. Nora located the book and finally writes “I am alive”, and the Library dissolves.

(Awakening, The Other Side of Despair, A Thing I Have Learned, Living Versus Understanding, The Volcano, How It Ends)

Back in her original life, Nora wakes up and throws up. Dehydrated, delirious, trembling and in pain, she stumbles outside and asks Mr. Banerjee to call an ambulance before collapsing. Later, she awakes in the hospital. After being checked-in on by the doctors, Nora deletes the post she’d written on social media before overdosing and replaces it with a hopeful post on what she’s learned.

Joe shows up due to the voicemail Nora had left him before overdosing. As they talk, Nora apologies for breaking up the band, and Joe apologies for things he’s done as well. Nora also tells Joe that she knows that he tried to go in after her the day she almost drowned when crossing the river, though Joe doesn’t know how she knows it. Joe also tells Nora that he’s thinking about becoming a sound engineer in Hammersmith, and there’s a cross-training gym nearby. There’s a guy, Ewan, that he has recently met there, and Nora enthusiastically encourages Joe to ask Ewan out.

Izzy has also responded back to her text and she’s actually planning on moving back to the UK soon. Back at home, Nora thanks Mr. Banerjee for his help, and seeing his lovely garden Nora is able to appreciate the beauty of it.

When Doreen calls, Nora apologizes profusely about missing Leo’s lesson, but Doreen is just letting her know that Leo wants to continue his lessons. Neil also allows Nora to put up some flyers at String Theory offering more piano lessons to others, and the ads have already gotten a large response. Nora also start volunteering at the homeless shelter once a week, and she considers getting a dog.

Finally, Nora finds Mrs. Elm at the retirement home where she offers to play chess with her. Mrs. Elm talks about her own regrets in life, how she’s let people down and she thinks they’ve given up on her. Nora tells Mrs. Elm that she was there for her when she needed her, and Nora assures Mrs. Elm that she will make time to play chess for her.

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Bookshelf -- A literary set collection game

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.

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Sounds like a wonderful book – will be recommending it for book club next month.

Our teacher made us read this, now writing an essay about the book and this is quite helpful for summarising all the key events of the book so thanks

This was a helpful synopsis. Our club will be discussing this soon. It was very easy going compared to some of these classics we’ve read. I like how it works with the concept of alternatives lives. A blending of traditional reincarnation and the Many Worlds theory. If you’re interested in alternate lives, or reincarnation, look into the work of the early 20th Century seer, Edgar Cayce.

Analysis of the first line of "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig

"Nineteen years before she decided to die, Nora Seed sat in the warmth of the small library at Hazeldene School in the town of Bedford."

Meaning of the first line

The first line of "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig, "Nineteen years before she decided to die, Nora Seed sat in the warmth of the small library at Hazeldene School in the town of Bedford," is a poignant and attention-grabbing introduction to the novel.

Foreshadowing and Intrigue: The line immediately creates a sense of intrigue by mentioning that the protagonist, Nora Seed, would eventually make a life-altering decision. The use of the phrase "decided to die" foreshadows a significant event in the story, raising questions about why she made this decision and what led her to it.

Temporal Perspective: By mentioning that this event occurred "Nineteen years before," the narrative establishes a temporal perspective. This suggests that the novel will involve a reflection on the past and its impact on the present, as well as the possibility of revisiting and reshaping one's life choices.

Setting and Atmosphere: The line vividly describes Nora's location in the small library at Hazeldene School in the town of Bedford. This evokes a sense of place and atmosphere, setting the stage for the story to unfold. The warmth of the library is not only a physical detail but also hints at the comfort and solace Nora might have found there.

Character Introduction: The line introduces the protagonist, Nora Seed, by name and by her connection to the library. This immediately establishes her as a central character, and the library may symbolize a significant aspect of her life and identity.

Themes of Regret and Second Chances: The mention of Nora's decision to die and the library's connection to her past hints at themes of regret and the exploration of alternate life paths. The library may serve as a metaphorical gateway to revisiting her life choices and seeking a second chance.

Emotional Depth: The opening line carries emotional weight and raises questions about the character's emotional state and experiences. Readers are encouraged to empathize with Nora's journey and her motivations for making such a life-altering decision.

Narrative Hook: This line serves as a powerful narrative hook, compelling readers to continue reading in order to uncover the circumstances surrounding Nora's decision, the role of the library in her life, and how the story will unfold.

In summary, the first line of "The Midnight Library" effectively draws readers into the narrative by introducing a complex character, foreshadowing a significant event, and setting the stage for a thought-provoking exploration of themes related to life choices, regrets, and the possibility of second chances.

The book revolves around-

"The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig explores several central themes that are interwoven throughout the narrative.

Regret and Choice: One of the central themes of the novel is regret and the choices we make in life. Nora Seed, the protagonist, is burdened by a multitude of regrets, ranging from career choices to personal relationships. The novel examines how these regrets have shaped her life and led her to contemplate ending it. It prompts readers to reflect on the consequences of the choices they make and the paths not taken.

Second Chances and Alternate Realities: The concept of the "midnight library" serves as a unique plot device, allowing Nora to explore alternate realities and experience different versions of her life based on the choices she didn't make. This theme explores the idea of second chances and the possibility of rewriting one's life story. It encourages readers to consider how different choices might lead to different outcomes.

Existential Exploration: "The Midnight Library" delves into existential questions about the meaning and purpose of life. Nora's journey through various lives prompts her to question what truly matters and what gives life meaning. It explores the idea that happiness and fulfillment may not always be found in external achievements but in personal connections, self-discovery, and embracing the present.

Mental Health and Depression: Nora's struggles with depression and the desire to end her life are significant themes in the novel. The narrative sensitively portrays the challenges of living with depression and the feelings of hopelessness that can accompany it. It underscores the importance of mental health awareness and support.

Empathy and Understanding: As Nora inhabits the lives of different versions of herself, she gains a deeper understanding of the people she interacts with in these alternate realities. This theme emphasizes the value of empathy and understanding in human relationships and the idea that everyone has their own struggles and challenges.

Acceptance and Self-Love: Throughout her journey, Nora learns to accept herself, flaws and all. She grapples with self-doubt and insecurity but gradually comes to appreciate her own worth. The novel explores the idea that self-acceptance and self-love are crucial for a fulfilling life.

The Power of Books and Libraries: The physical and metaphorical significance of libraries and books is a recurring motif in the novel. The library becomes a place of exploration, self-discovery, and healing. It celebrates the power of literature to offer solace, guidance, and a sense of connection to others.

Time and Mortality: The novel contemplates the nature of time and the finite nature of human existence. Nora's experiences in the midnight library underscore the preciousness of time and the importance of living in the moment.

Why you should read this book:

Exploration of Life's Choices and Regrets:

This novel provides a profound exploration of the universal human experiences of making choices and dealing with regrets. It prompts readers to reflect on their own life choices and consider how different decisions might have led to alternate life paths. If you enjoy books that encourage introspection and contemplation of life's "what-ifs," this novel offers a captivating journey through the possibilities of alternate realities.

Themes of Empathy and Self-Discovery:

"The Midnight Library" delves into themes of empathy, understanding, and self-discovery. Through Nora's experiences in different lives, the novel highlights the importance of compassion and the power of self-acceptance. If you appreciate stories that celebrate personal growth, self-empowerment, and the value of human connections, this book offers a touching and heartwarming narrative.

Unique and Imaginative Premise:

The concept of the midnight library, where Nora can access books that represent different life choices, is a highly imaginative and intriguing premise. If you enjoy stories with elements of magical realism that challenge the boundaries of reality and offer a fresh perspective on life's complexities, this novel's unique concept makes it a captivating and memorable read.

DISCLAIMER: This content is generated by ChatGPT.

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Analysis of the first line of "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig

Science Fiction & Fantasy
Science Fiction
Time Travel

The Midnight Library: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)

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The midnight library: a gma book club pick (a novel) audible audiobook – unabridged.

The number one New York Times best-selling worldwide phenomenon

Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction

A Good Morning America Book Club Pick

Independent ( London) 10 Best Books of the Year

"A feel-good book guaranteed to lift your spirits." ( The Washington Post )

The dazzling favorite about the choices that go into a life well lived, from the acclaimed author of How to Stop Time and The Comfort Book .

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.

Listening Length 8 hours and 50 minutes
Author Matt Haig
Narrator Carey Mulligan
Audible release date September 29, 2020
Language English
Publisher Penguin Audio
ASIN B085S8BSYS
Version Unabridged
Program Type Audiobook
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IMAGES

Book Review: The Midnight Library
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
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The Midnight Library Book Review + Everything I Read in March 2021

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COMMENTS

Review: 'The Midnight Library,' By Matt Haig : NPR
Nora Seed wants to die. This is where we begin, in Matt Haig's new novel, The Midnight Library: with a young woman on the verge of making a terrible choice. She's lost her job, her best friend ...
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library is a very self-helpy novel with a number of cliche messages at its heart. On the night Nora Seed (because she will experience growth!!) feels suicide is the only option left, she wakes up in a library filled with books, each book containing another of her lives, a path unchosen in her root life.
In 'The Midnight Library,' Books Offer Transport to Different Lives
Sept. 29, 2020. THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY. By Matt Haig. Few fantasies are more enduring than the idea that there might be a second chance at a life already lived, some sort of magical reset in which ...
THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY
Predicting the path Nora will ultimately choose isn't difficult, either. Haig treats the subject of suicide with a light touch, and the book's playful tone will be welcome to readers who like their fantasies sweet if a little too forgettable. A whimsical fantasy about learning what's important in life. 103.
Review
September 16, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. EDT. 8. This story is part of a series for people who have already read the book and want to think more deeply about the plot and ending. Major spoilers for "The ...
What Does a Midlife Autism Diagnosis Mean for Matt Haig?
A great deal has happened since Sept. 29, 2020, when "The Midnight Library," Matt Haig's seventh novel for adults, was first published in the United States. The world continued to spin ...
Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig has been described as an uplifting book for book lovers, and it involves alternate realities so that automatically piqued my interest. I've been busy with some other projects and life stuff, plus struggling to get through some more "downer" type books, so I thought I'd switch to this one for a bit of a break.
Book Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Nora is depressed and incredibly unhappy with the way her life has turned out. And the more lives she enters through the library, the more she realizes how difficult being happy with one's lot in life truly is. Haig himself has openly struggled with mental illness, even on the verge of committing suicide at one point, so he is a shining ...
Book Review: 'The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig
That's what Matt Haig's The Midnight Library is. This philosophical novel about Nora, a woman whose suicide attempt leads her to a literary purgatory, of sorts, that offers her glimpses into lives and loves that might've been, was unputdownable for me. Haig's writing is beautiful and full of really vivid imagery, and I loved the Sliding ...
The Midnight Library
The Midnight Library. by Matt Haig. Publication Date: May 9, 2023. Genres: Fiction, Women's Fiction. Paperback: 304 pages. Publisher: Penguin Books. ISBN-10: 0525559493. ISBN-13: 9780525559498. 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.
Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
By Heather Caliendo. Published: October 16, 2020. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is such a fantastic novel. I loved it. As I mentioned in my October book club list, Matt Haig's How to Stop Time was one of the first articles I wrote for the site. If that article hadn't received great traffic, who knows where Book Club Chat would be now!
The Midnight Library
The Midnight Library is a unique book with a premise, unlike many others in the fiction fantasy genre. The idea of a dimension between life and death where we're presented with every different version of our lives where we made different decisions makes for an enthralling page-turner and will stick with readers long after they put the book down.
Matt Haig: The Midnight Library review
The novel's simple yet fantastical premise renders Nora's story a modern day parable, exploring regret, pain and the richness of the ordinary in life. An exquisite depiction of existential depression and the lessons it can reveal, The Midnight Library is a captivating story and an uplifting antidote to the cult of self-improvement: a ...
'The Midnight Library,' by Matt Haig: An Excerpt
Nora blinked, and when she opened her eyes both she and Mrs Elm were standing in a different part of the library. Between stacks of bookshelves again. Standing, stiffly, awkwardly, facing each ...
All Book Marks reviews for The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
While the formula grows repetitive, the set changes provide novelty, as Haig whisks Nora from Australian beaches to a South American rock concert tour to an Arctic encounter with a polar bear. Haig's agreeable narrative voice and imagination will reward readers who take this book off the shelf. Read Full Review >>. A positive rating based on ...
Book Review #36: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020)
Book Review #36: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020) Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️ Title: The Midnight Library: A Novel Author: Matt Haig Published: 2020 (Viking, Random House) Pages: 288 (Hardcover) Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Science Fiction, Adult, Mental Health CW: death, addiction, mental health topics, suicide Link Here.
Book review
The Midnight Library Summary. I said earlier in the review that we never know what trouble is coming from around the corner; on the other hand, one of the things that has kept me going in life is precisely that we don't know what's around the corner. Whether that is opportunities, new people coming into our lives - good things can happen too and there is always hope.
Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Viking. 2020. 288 pages. Reviewed by Brittany Glenn Most of us live with regrets about decisions we've made in our past. Looking back, we may label these choices as "bad," judge them as "missed
Book Review: The Midnight Library
Review. Matt Haig's unique novel The Midnight Library ponders the infinite possibilities of life. It is about a young woman named Nora Seed, who lives a monotonous, ordinary life and feels unwanted and unaccomplished. One night, her despair reaches a peak and she commits suicide. But the story doesn't end there--Nora gets a chance to experience ...
Book review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The book is not elegantly written, but the story has an engaging, page-turning quality, and the dialogue is often powerful and pithy, even if Mrs Elm's library musings sometimes smack too much ...
The Midnight Library
The Midnight Library is a fantasy novel by Matt Haig, published on 13 August 2020 by Canongate Books. It was abridged and broadcast on BBC Radio 4 over ten episodes in December 2020.. The novel follows a 35-year-old British woman unhappy in her dead-end life who is given the opportunity to experience lives she might have had if she had made different choices.
The Midnight Library: Recap & Book Summary
Section-by-Section Summary. Prologue. (A Conversation About Rain) The book opens in the library at Hazeldene School in the town of Bedford. It's 19 years before Nora Seed will someday decide to commit suicide. Nora plays chess with Mrs. Elm, the librarian. Meanwhile, they talk about Nora's her future and career plans.
The Midnight Library Book Review
Both the illustrations and the story in The Midnight Library are full of charm. The bold, blocky art is strikingly eye-catching. The little-girl librarian is charmingly pigtailed. The animals who visit the library all are pictured with their snouts in their books, engrossed in their reading. And, since the story ends with the little librarian ...
Analysis of the first line of "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig
The concept of the midnight library, where Nora can access books that represent different life choices, is a highly imaginative and intriguing premise. If you enjoy stories with elements of ...
The Midnight Library: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
"The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig is a truly captivating and thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the complexities of life, regrets, and the endless possibilities that lie before us. With its unique premise and heartfelt storytelling, this book has left an indelible mark on my soul.
The game is never over until it is over Book: The Midnight Library
55 likes, 2 comments - itslinlife on May 11, 2024: " The game is never over until it is over Book: The Midnight Library ".
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'The Shooter at Midnight' Review: A Slow Harvest of Justice
Cathy Robertson and her husband, Lyndel, were shot at close range as they slept in their bedroom in November 1990. Cathy, a 41-year-old mother of five, was killed, while Lyndel was seriously ...
‎The Midnight Readers Podcast on Apple Podcasts
The Midnight Readers Podcast Lillian Kim, Christy Crabtree, Brittany Cook ... 5.0 • 2 Ratings; We're three women who work at the library who are sharing our passion for books by taking an in depth look at popular fantasy, sci-fi and mystery books in real time as we read them. ... Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5. 2 Ratings. 2 Ratings. Top ...