Title: The Midnight Library
Author: Matt Haig
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Pages: 304
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤ (times infinity)
Hi friends. I'm back with another hot take on the latest books I've read. I saw this one in a reel on bookstagram. One of the millions of "Show me your prettiest book in blue..." one person flashed this book and I went immediately to Amazon to look it up. The synopsis seemed interesting so I bought the ebook. Little did I know, I would embark on a story that has actually changed my life. When I finished, I had to sit for a little while to really reflect on what I had just read. I would never force you to read a book, but if someone put a gun to my head and told me to name one book that everyone should read, this would absolutely be the one.
I went and told everyone that would listen (and like 4 people that wouldn't) about how great this book was (is) and how they needed to read it immediately. To the mystery girl in a sea of bookstagram users, thank you so much for showing me the cover of this book! I'm not sure that I would have found it had you not done so. Science Fiction is literally not my genre. Like at all. My mom loves it, but I'm pretty sure my eyes glaze over whenever she mentions anything remotely science fiction-y. Aliens are just not my bag. So had I not seen this beautiful cover, I probably never would have read this book. I don't know what that says about me, being so easily swayed by pretty things, but that's a different post for a different day.
Let's get into this book.
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?
In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig's enchanting blockbuster novel, 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.
I really didn't have any expectations going into this book. I liked the cover. The synopsis seemed intriguing. That was it. But as soon as I read it, I felt like it was speaking directly to me. Regrets are a natural part of life for most people, but for me it seemed like it was a key point of my personality for so long. I regretted a lot of the decisions I made while I was still trying to find my place in this world. I felt like Nora and I had that in common. She was definitely more of a sad sack than me, but I completely understood that feeling of wasting your life.
This was such a beautiful way to address living with regret and depression and other icky, but sometimes inevitable, parts of life. I wanted to reach through the book and hug Nora so tight. Which says a lot, since most hugs make me itch.
After I finished this one, I had to sit and think about decisions I had made in my life. Had I not made those, good or bad, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be on this blog, talking to myself (and hopefully others). I wouldn't be working on publishing my first novel. We spend so much time wishing things were different that sometimes we over look the lesson in that decision, whether it was a good or a bad one.
Anyway, before I ramble on, let me hop down off my soap box and talk about the actual book. You didn't come here for a history lesson on The Booky Babe. You came here to find out whether or not this book was worth reading (it is). So let's take a deeper look at what I liked and didn't like about The Midnight Library.
I mean? What didn't I like? I literally loved this book. Everything about it. I loved the plot, I loved the way it was written, I loved the exquisite amount of detail and imagery it contained. I felt like I was watching the book on a projector in front of me. The books that make you forget that you are reading are the best ones. Hands down. Every single time.
I have one complaint and one complaint only. Nora had sooooo many different lives. For a split second I was really just ready for her to make a decision and stick with something, but I am not entirely sure that even counts as a "what I didn't like" section because it was the only thing I could think of to put here. I have no actual complaints about this book. Like at all. Is it possible to be a book groupie? Because if it is, then consider me the head groupie for The Midnight Library.
If you are here, I assume it is either because you love me or you love reading. Or maybe both. Or maybe you just got lost on your way to find the actual book bloggers of the world. Whatever the case may be, I would hope you'd be able to deduce from my entire post of gushing that I absolutely do recommend this book.
If I could open up your skull and shove it into your brain (without killing you of course) I would absolutely do it without hesitation. I feel oddly protective over this book. Any slander about this wonderful story will be immediately removed and banned. If you have a second in your busy schedule and feel like having your life changed, mosey on over to Barnes and Nobles or wherever else you buy books and grab this one. Once you're done, come back and tell me how much you loved it. If you want to grab it, you can purchase it here:
While you're at it, give The Booky Babe a quick follow on Instagram or a quick like on Facebook. Or, do both so I know it's real. I can't wait to talk books with you!
Until then,
Happy Reading Babes! ❤