Book Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

 

Goodreads Overview:

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? A novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived.

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?

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.

Review:

When Preston decided to read, I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak for his senior English class, the other option the teacher gave was The Midnight Library. I had both books on my TBR list, so I didn't really care which one he chose, but I decided to read both. I think he made the better choice based upon his reading tastes, but I really enjoyed both books. In fact, I gave both 5 stars on Goodreads, so you really can't go wrong with either of them.

The Midnight Library had a very unique way of showing that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. People often think, what if I made another decision or had taken another path in life? If only I had made a certain choice, I would be more popular, have more money, be happier, etc. This book shows readers that life really is all about your perspective and making the most out of what you have. Money, fame, success, etc., isn't what brings happiness.

Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library with her high school librarian to help guide her through this life altering experience. She runs into someone else who is in an in-between state and discovers that not everyone sees it as a library. It seems to be a place that is significant to the individual. The other person who is caught between life and death sees it as a video store that is managed by a beloved uncle. 

As she selects different books from the Midnight Library, she jumps from one alternate life to another. When she gets there, she becomes the Nora of that life without that Nora's knowledge or experiences. She only knows what she did in her original life. She must try to piece together who people are and what her life is like by looking at social media, looking around for clues, or asking "silly questions" she should already know the answer to. She does eventually settle into some of the lives, but is that someplace she wants to live forever? Is that life really better than her root life? That is what she must determine for herself. If that life is not for her, she can always return to the library to select another book.

I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to just about any reader. It was the Goodreads Choice award winner for best fiction of 2020. After reading it, I can see why Preston's teacher selected it as one of the options for their class reading. It is a very entertaining read that holds the reader's attention while presenting a message every young adult can benefit from.