The Midnight Library

 The Midnight Library - Matt Haig

    The Midnight Library is a short, imaginative story that presents the concept of a library that would allow you to revisit all the different lives you could have lived. As the protagonist explores the power of being able to undo all her past regrets, the reader is invited to join her on a journey of self-discovery and realisation about life. 

The concept of being able to visit infinite versions of yourself allows Haig to present a very deep and intricate philosophical view of what it means to be alive. I have always been intrigued by the discussion of the deeper meaning of life, and in the Midnight Library Haig makes a very complex discussion about what it means to be alive very accessible. 

    Despite the book discussing in length the experiences and feelings of a woman who is struggling with her mental health, The Midnight Library is very much an uplifting book. I love that Matt Haig's story is one of reassurance, encouraging us to put down the expectations our friends, family and even ourselves put on our own lives. As the protagonist begins to let go of her regrets, she begins to discover her ability to find fulfilment and happiness within her life. I think this is a really universal message, and there will be few who cant relate to the sense of yearning and confusion felt by the protagonist as she tries to navigate life. 

    I was also inspired by how Matt Haig explores the importance of human connection and kindness in his novel. In the novel, the protagonist plunges into a feeling of worthlessness, largely as a result of feeling unwanted and unloved. I loved how Haig highlighted that even the smallest of our actions can have large ripple waves which can drastically improve the lives of those around us. I found this definitely contributed to the comforting feel of The Midnight Library, which reassures you that you matter and that you are never alone. Through this theme, Haig exemplifies how you can find and spread happiness through the small things in life. Whether that be helping out a neighbour, or checking in on a friend. 

    The only downside to The Midnight Library is the storyline is a little predictable. I found that I guessed the ending of the novel by the midway point. Whilst I still enjoyed reading the Midnight Library, the predictability of the storyline did reduce some of my excitement to pick up and read it. In that respect, it may have been nice to have a few more shocks or plot twists in the novel. Yet, I respect that Haig's novel has the perfect ending to exemplify his take-home message - that there is such optimism and happiness to be found in the lives we are leading right now. 

Favourite Quote: 

"It is quite a revelation to discover that the place you wanted to escape to is the exact same place you escaped from. That the prison wasn't the place, but the perspective."

    I loved this quote as it really resonated with me the idea that your mindset has so much control over your happiness and own sense of fulfilment, My Mum always drilled into me to be optimistic, so I have definitely always tried to have a positive outlook on life. Yet, I have definitely experienced times in life where I feel stuck. But this statement is a beautiful reminder that hope and happiness are not found externally, but are found within us.