Book Review: The Midnight Library

Book Review: The Midnight Library

Matt Haig’s latest novel is the perfect read for anyone struggling with the effects of the pandemic.

“The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig is one of the most relevant books for readers amid a pandemic. Haig masterfully guides his readers through the story with vibrant imagery and almost poetic details. His writing tackles heavy ideas with grace and leaves his readers with a message that resonates with anyone suffering from pandemic-related stress or uncertainty.

Throughout the first few chapters, the story revolves around the life of Nora Seed, for whom nothing seems to be going right. She struggles with depression, is unsatisfied with her career and constantly pushes others away. From the very first sentence Nora has decided to die; this fact plays a central role in the opening chapters, with Haig counting down the hours until Nora’s internal decision becomes reality.

However, not all goes as expected for Nora. Death isn’t the seamless solution to all her problems in life. There is no peace, no light at the end of the tunnel – and no darkness, either. Instead, there is a library. In the library, of course, are books from which Nora is free to choose. As she reads, she is sucked into the story: stories all about her and every life she could have had. Skeptical at first, Nora hesitates to explore these versions of herself. However, as she becomes convinced she can find herself the perfect life, she dives into these books eagerly. She becomes an adventurer, a glaciologist, a parent, a celebrity and more. Through it all, her original life is still available and Nora must make a choice: Should she go back, or stay dead? She has every life she ever dreamed of stored within the Midnight Library, yet no life is ever a perfect fit. Each version of herself has problems, internal struggles and nonideal circumstances. Life is never the way she imagined it turning out, yet she continues her hunt for perfection.

Nora’s story is an obvious parallel to Haig’s readers, especially during the pandemic. As they read, the audience can sympathize with Nora; their lives were also upended, whether by the pandemic or simply circumstances beyond their control. At the time this book came out, many were struggling to reclaim that “perfect life” Nora finds herself searching for. They look to the what-could-have-beens, imagining their own midnight libraries, instead of focusing on the present. Falling into this cycle proves to be Nora’s downfall; as her search becomes more frantic, the library begins to crumble as the time to make her choice approaches.

Haig orchestrates his writing masterfully: He shows readers a reflection of themselves in Nora, makes them feel for and relate to her and shows how her actions (and therefore his readers’ actions) can make life literally fall apart around them. Readers realize along with Nora that her life was just as good as any other life she lived in the library and that the notion of a “perfect life” doesn’t exist. Haig leaves his readers with a powerful statement: Appreciate the small, everyday miracles in life. No life can be perfect or perfectly planned, but each life comes with its own set of challenges and positive moments which should be appreciated all the same.

There’s no question as to why this book was named a New York Times Bestseller and why Haig has been named an international bestselling author. Haig’s mastery of language speaks to every reader, reaching out to pull them into Nora’s story. He presents relatable characters who, especially during a pandemic, make his audience reflect on who they are. He explores sensitive topics with tact, and his recognition of the imperfect is what makes his writing so beautiful. All in all, this book is a must-read for anyone, but especially for anyone doubting their place in the world or the future ahead.

Abigail Sholes
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Senior Edition

Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Easily share your publications and get them in front of Issuu's millions of monthly readers. Title: Senior Edition, Author: The Etownian, Name: Senior Edition, Length: 10 pages, Page: 1, Published: 2020-04-30