'The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig: A Feel Good & Timely Novel

by Rana Asfour

With most of us in lockdown in some form or other imagining all the lives we could be having & all the possibilities missed as we wait for things to change, Matt Haig's 2020 New York Times bestseller "The Midnight Library" slots in perfectly with its questioning of what exactly makes a life worth sticking with? And if you had the choice to live an alternative life, or several, would you take up the offer?

In this novel, Nora Seed wants to die & she’s made a choice to end it all. With no boyfriend, no job & no future prospects she is utterly & hopelessly sad. And her cat has died. She blames it all on herself & regrets every decision she’s ever made. After her overdose, she wakes up in a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. Nora is given the choice of transporting to different lives & undoing her regrets. The problem is: does she care enough to try or has she reached that point of no return.

The novel reminded me a lot of the Netflix series ‘Being Erica’ which I adored. I found this novel very interesting in its concept but didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected given all the hype that’s been attached to it. I LOVED its beginning & appreciated its ending but I’m not sure about the journey in the middle. But I love Matt Haig’s writing & his book ‘The Dead Fathers Club’ remains in my top favourite reads & he dedicates this book to ‘all the health workers. And the care workers. Thank you.’ - just amazing!

​So, please! Yes! Do give it a go & then we’ll talk again!