Book review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

The Midnight Library is about a 35-year-old woman who decides to take her own life due to her dissatisfaction with past decisions. She finds that her life is dull and does not have the strength to amend it. Matt Haig, the author, does a good job of conveying Nora's emotions. We can clearly see how darkness surrounds her as the things she holds dear disappear from her life: Her cat, her job and her piano student. As a means to an end, Nora Seed decides to overdose on sleeping pills. She slips in and out of consciousness and eventually arrives in the Midnight Library, a location in between life and death. Here there are millions of books; about alternative lives that Nora has lived.

In the midnight library, Nora gets to live out any life she desires. She can decide to stay there and replace the previous 'Nora' or go back to the midnight library to live another life. She is not able to come back to a life she has already "lived". As soon as she starts to lose her will to live, the library will collapse.

Mrs. Elm, Nora's high school librarian is there to guide her. Nora was not very social during high school and chose to spend her breaks playing chess with Mrs. Elm. One afternoon, their chess match gets interrupted by a phone call informing Mrs. Elm of the death of Nora's father. Mrs. Elm supports and assists Nora during two difficult periods in her life: her father's and her own passing. At the midnight library, Mrs. Elm gives Nora a book of all of her regrets. Nora gets to explore all the alternative lives in which she's a rock star, an Olympic swimmer, a glaciologist and so much more. In the end, with however many lives lived, Nora wants to go back to her own life.

"'I just don't understand life,' sulked Nora.

'You don't have to understand life. You just have to live it.'

Nora shook her head. This was a bit too much for a Philosophy graduate to take."

After many lives lived, Nora starts to lose herself. No matter how good the life is she always seems unsatisfied or dishonest. She feels bad for the Nora she intends to replace or the people she did not manage to help. Mrs. Elm points out that Nora overthinks too much and that is why her life is filled with regret and dissatisfaction. Nora explains that she has not developed another way of thinking. As a Philosophy graduate, she spent most of her time pondering the meaning of life and by doing so strayed away from her want to live. The midnight library challenges Nora to live instead of merely thinking of living. This leads Nora to want to believe in herself again and believe in her old life.

"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."

Nora Olympic swimmer self says this. The successful life. The prominent flaw with the original Nora is that she will always compare herself to others' success. She has so much regret about the things she never did which isn't a good outlook on life.

I think the book had a good concept but I am dubious about the execution. I think the introduction of Nora was very good. Nora's sadness doesn't feel forced and you start to harbor empathy for her. I think the book is simply too short and could have been more in-depth about the Midnight Library. Otherwise, I absolutely loved how entertaining and profound this book is. It is definitely worth the read.