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The Midnight Library - Matt Haig

 

After a near-death experience, Nora wakes up to find herself in a library. A familiar face informs her that each book contained within the library is a different life that she could have led. When Nora reads the books of her other lives she is transported to exist within them to see how if she had made different decisions what the outcome of her life would be. Lives such as being in a famous band, being a world-class swimmer, or a glaciologist. Aiming to find her ideal life, Nora is finally able to explore all the “what if?” scenarios she often thinks about, but there is little time before the library collapses. Nora must decide on her perfect life.

 

I don’t know what I could possibly say about this book that hasn’t been said before. Matt Haig is a master of words, and his skill of storytelling is unbelievably captivating it will leave you yearning for more. The Midnight Library was my favourite book of 2020. Nora’s life has been miserable and when she decides to take her own life it leads her down a path where she can chase the things that she gave up on. And during the various lockdowns that the UK has had I believe a lot of people had time to reflect on what would have happened had they done something slightly differently, and it felt like the very embodiment of hindsight. For me, The Midnight Library had an even deeper meaning as Nora and I share the same hometown so I could just imagine her walking around the streets of Bedford and could picture her in places I had been. Reading Nora’s character often felt like I was reading about myself, and I think that’s what makes Haig such a phenomenal writer. He is able to cultivate a character that everyone can, in some way, envision themselves as. Most importantly The Midnight Library reminds us that the best life we could live out is the one that we currently have.



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