The Midnight Library
Author: Matt Haig
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary
Between life and death there is a library,’ she said. ‘And within that library, the shelves go on for ever. Every book provides a chance to try another life one could have lived. To see how things would be if one had made other choices.
Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?’
one library: infinite lives
A thought provoking and a fanatical writing, that explores the concept of regrets, decisons and the infinite possibilities of life. The novel delves enormously into themes of mental health, existentialism, cynical narratives and yet again exploring the pursuit of happiness. It resonates with readers who have once pondered the ‘what ifs’ in their own lives and the feeling of inadequacy or incompetency.
The Midnight Library dives the reader into the world of second chances, about understanding oneself, discovering the inner mind conflicts and finding the true meaning of what life has to offer.
The story centres around Nora Seed, a women in her mid-thirties who feels overwhelmed by the weight of her life’s disappointments and how she has let everyone down. When her emotional baggage reaches the breaking point, she finds herself in the Midnight Library, a mystical place between life and death, where every book represents the endless possibilities of lives she could have lived. As Nora explores the alternate lives, she discovers the outcome of paths she didn’t choose : whether it was becoming an olympic swimmer, a rockstar, living dream life of her boyfriend or pursuing a different career. Each life has something new to offer about herself, her relationships and what truly matters to her.
The midnight library prompted in me deep reflection of decisions and the path chosen. It made me comprehensive to the fact that every decision moulds who we become and helped me value the present and let go off the past regrets. It doesn’t seem as easy to type down the stateful learnings but more we resonate in the past, the more we tangle the threads of solace and happiness. The novel’s themes of mental health and finding meaning in life offered comfort and inspiration, making it a powerful and transformative read.
Overall, it encourages the reader to reflect on one’s own lives and to appreciate the present moment rather than dwelling on past regretfull affairs. The writer appeals to anyone who has ever wondered about the roads not taken (the deep intangible regrets) and offers a gentle reminder that there is no ‘perfect life’ — just the one we choose to live.
