The last two months of 2024 are upon us and, as a book that has time as its theme, The Midnight Library is a must-read. The year seems to have flown away, but not the joy of reading wonderful books.
Considering the quality of the books I’ve been reading, it is unfair not to review the fantastic books on the blog about Inderpreet’s Tsundoku.
Welcome to another of my ‘really late in the day review series’! I am trying to blog the reviews of books I read, enjoyed, and savoured but couldn’t post the reviews for various reasons. Although most of my reviews in recent times have been later than late.
Matt Haig has written an emotional, triggering book, but I loved every bit of the book. The story is fast-paced, and the premise and ideas are spot-on.
No book in recent times has held me captive as The Midnight Library. I knew the premise was death and choosing not to live. Even though I avoid books that talk about taking our own life, this one had a library involved, and that was enough.
When I picked the book, I saw that The Midnight Library had mixed reviews, but it ensured that I read the book and needed to form my opinion, and I am glad I did. The Midnight Library is
I read The Midnight Library nonstop as much as possible and way past midnight a couple of times. The story captured my attention from the first page and the steady stream of what-ifs ensured I did not read any other book until I finished this one. I like to read multiple books at a time, so this was an engrossing read for me, especially since I did not read or listen to any other books simultaneously.
I recommend that all of us, young and old, every one of us must read it!
A story filled with ‘what-ifs’, The Midnight Library shows simply that living in the present is the best way to live.
Nora finds a second chance, a chance to see a different life, a life made of different choices, yet each time she feels something is amiss.
Ever reeling under the fear of disappointing others and herself, she keeps second-guessing herself. Despite it all, The Midnight Library, with all its magic, cannot give the perfect life to Nora. It is something that she needs to recognise herself.
In our quest, our thirst for a better option, an alternate possibility, we diminish our present.
The Midnight Library shows us that the reality we have right now is the best.
Truly, the grass isn’t greener in the neighbour’s garden, nor are the lives of others easier or better.
Nora learns this eventually, as should we.
We are all defined by the choices we make and we must accept and live with them to ensure a happy and contented life.
I think even if you find your choices simple, your story repetitive and your decisions weak just like Nora, even then it is the life you make and you should love it.
Some don’t even have this. Most people don’t have it all, but all individuals have a life. This life is the most precious part of ourselves, the one we all must cherish as we won’t find a Midnight Library of our own.
Go read the book.
BLURB: THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY
Between life and death, there is a library.
When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change.
The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren’t always what she imagined they’d be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger.
Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?
Comments
This is one of my favourite books and I love how the concept of multiple realities are presented so powerfully in the book. It’s a deeply evocative read and one that I cherished when I read it too.