The Midnight Library

After reading this book by Matt Haig, I can confidently say this is my favorite novel. Even though the story takes place in the modern world, it does not have that "cringe" factor like most modern storylines. The realism of life lets you see yourself in the characters and connect with them more. Like me, and so many others, it is easy to feel like life is a cage, and we only have so much freedom. Personally, it causes me so much anxiety because my mind tells me I only have so much time, I don’t have the money, or my dreams seem unrealistic. But I have never read a book that held so much power in its words. Every decision we make creates a new timeline in our life. We may not always be able to go back into one timeline, but we have all the power to create new paths. Life may feel rushed, but this book reminds us that this is our life. We may be disappointing others, or even ourselves. What we choose to do should be for our success and our story. It never has to make sense to anyone else.

The story follows Nora Seed, a young woman who has a life full of depression, regrets, and the constant dread of feeling like she lets everyone down. She works at String Theory, a record shop located in Bedford, England, but is soon fired. Her last straw was when an old acquaintance found her cat passed away in the street. Accepting that she has no purpose, she feels the only way to end these trials is suicide. But after her attempt, she finds herself in this infinite library between life and death.

The librarian in this world, Mrs. Elm, was her school’s librarian back in high school. Given the opportunity to explore the different paths she could have chosen in life, Nora is at first hesitant and insists she has no use for anything. With some guidance, she opens up her mind. Each book is a different version of a life she could have lived. What if she never quit swimming? What if she married her fiancé? What if she moved to Australia with her best friend? What if she stayed in the band? What if she did accept that date from her crush? As she explores these different paths, she slowly realizes these lives weren't dreams she regretted not living. But they were dreams family and friends pushed on her.

As time ran out, she was given a chance to go back to her original life, but this time with hope and a desire to live. After experiencing all these new experiences, she concluded that nothing was wrong with her old life. Even though these books allowed her to see what it was like to become an Olympian, rock star, scientist, mother, etc., they were not her lives, but merely an idea. Throughout the story, she realizes that life is more than hard times. No matter what life you are in or what path you take or do not take, there will always be hardships. What should matter is that we are happy and strong-minded, and that whatever comes our way, we remind ourselves there is always something to make us smile. It could be the leaves swaying in the wind, or the single ray of sunshine that beams through the cloudy sky. If there is one takeaway from this, it is that something so simple and small can make us the happiest.