Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

1457 reviews

swamphouse's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another review called it a ‘self help book in disguise’ and I would tend to agree. But it’s not just that. It was a good story despite the darker subject matter. A quick read that was rich with descriptors and characters. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The plot of The Midnight Library is best described as It’s a Wonderful Life meets Quantum Leap with a dash of Back to the Future, and Matt Haig expertly melds and melts the various tropes found within these three pieces of media into his own unique narrative. I have great familiarity with all three pieces of media, and I was pleased to find that Haig does not rely on prior knowledge in order to enjoy his work. In fact, I found the Easter eggs quite delightful!

I also found it refreshing to read a narrative from the perspective of a female main character written by a man that felt like a real human woman could do or say the things he was describing. I really resonated with Nora’s struggle to find her place and purpose in this crazy, mixed up world we find ourselves in, a world which seemingly gets more crazy and more mixed up as time goes on.

I felt both seen and supported as Nora—sometimes harshly, sometimes gently—learns what she values, what she needs, what she wants, what she has to offer, and, most  importantly, what she is worth, simply by being a human who exists and not what she can do or be for others.

In terms of technical writing aspects though, I feel that 95% of the book has clear, concise writing, which thankfully doesn’t sacrifice either sentimentality or periods of reflection that required for a narrative centered around depression and mental health recovery. The last few chapters seem a little bit shaky in terms of wrapping things up, but I also think this can be chalked up to Nora being on unsure footing as she enters a new phase of her life.

All in all, an excellent book that really hits close to home in the best possible ways. I definitely almost cried a few times. I can see why this book received so much good press when it first came out!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Vomit

gabtheprotag's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is life changing, especially if you're going through a dark time, questioning life or your own self-worth. It's Sylvia Plath's 'fig analogy' summed up in a novel, but with a bit less existential dread and a bit more inspiration. The character's journey made me examine my own life journey and have a bit more hope in it after. Matt Haig is a commander of emotions and inspiration, in such a inner light-recognizing (yet still very emotional/see warnings) way. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Minor: Death and Mental illness

arlingtonchamberofgay's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent

Minor: Infidelity

gracethiebeau's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

girlpuck's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, and Racism

frankiexxi's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Eventhough as an adult you know where the book is going, and personally, it's a lesson that's been learned, this book is still a great reminder "we don't have to do everything in order to be everything...the prison isn't the place, but the perspective"

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

kateywaldhart's review

adventurous hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Animal death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Vomit, Stalking, and Car accident

sagebrush42's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

I've heard great things about this book but when I actually got into it, it let me down. It's playing out the 'what if's' and the butterfly effects of our decisions to an extent, but as someone with depression who does frequently wonder about the what if's - i felt it really missed the mark on the mental illness side. Why even add it in at all if you're going to make it such a big plot point in the very beginning, only to ignore it during each of her 'what if' lives, and then suddenly poof it's gone at the end because she suddenly decides her life is enough? I think it plays into the notion that you can just 'decide' to not be depressed and that's pretty harmful. Also, people don't just have the choice to rectify their regrets in most cases, like what if she returned to her life and her Australian friend didn't reply? What if her brother still hated her? I think it was a cop-out to resolve those at the very end without exploring the 'what if' on that side of it.. I will say also that the writing was fine, but to me, it was a bit boring and drawn out in places it didn't need to be and vice versa. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide

shorty0927's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Dysphoria

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, and Alcohol