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Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

720 reviews

alexisaflop's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective 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

4.75

First of all this book does something that every other book I love doesn't do: has a proper ending that shows where the characters go. 
I really enjoyed the flow of the book and the metaphors that were consistent throughout but not overbearing and obvious. 
The only way I would change it would be how I found it odd she never tried a life twice. At the end she wanted one that was like the one with Molly but only slightly different. I thought she would try that with maybe the band one where she was happy but Joe was dead. Maybe she could have said, I choose to stay in the band and choose to get Joe into rehab or smth. 
It's only February but a strong contender for favourite book of the year.

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waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

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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!

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dan_beddoe95's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0


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girlpuck's review against another edition

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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


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kateywaldhart's review

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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


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mothlight13's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This was a fast read, but very gripping and emotional. 

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valentinavivaas's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Con aspectos similares a la película El Efecto Mariposa, La Biblioteca de Medianoche nos hace adentrarnos en la vida de Nora, una joven que sufre de depresión y lleva una existencia llena de dificultades y arrepentimientos.

Pese a que la historia a veces raya un poco en el territorio de autoayuda, y su mensaje no es necesariamente nuevo ni está presentado de forma innovadora, considero que esta lectura toca fibras sensibles. Nos hace preguntarnos donde estaríamos si hubiésemos decidido cosas diferentes en momentos clave, y es definitivamente una historia que te hace reflexionar. Los pequeños mensajes dentro de los grandes son inspiradores; el disfrutar de la imperfección de la vida y aprender a aceptarla, el placer de las pequeñas cosas de la cotidianidad, el apreciar el presente y sobretodo el aprender a valorarse a sí mismo. Después de todo, no sabemos el gran impacto que tenemos en las vidas de los demás, y cómo nuestra mera existencia puede hacer una diferencia significativa para alguien más.

La historia destaca lo importante que es para los seres humanos el buscar un propósito, el abandonar la presión de las expectativas, el cultivar relaciones sanas y genuinas con otras personas, y la importancia de perseverar en los momentos más oscuros. Frente a la desmotivación, indiferencia, odio hacia sí misma, y desesperación, Nora encuentra su camino y aprende a valorar su vida raíz. 

Pese a esto, siento que se pudo ahondar un poco más en Nora como personaje, incluyendo los traumas generacionales y la profundidad de su depresión. Además, considero que introducir el concepto de multiversos/física cuántica fue innecesario, y hubiese preferido que la historia se quedara más en el género de fantasía o realismo mágico. 

Es una lectura con muchos mensajes bonitos que vale la pena leer. Me quedaré por siempre con esta frase:

"Un peón no es nunca solo un peón. Un peón es una reina en potencia"-

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knitted_bookworm's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5


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_mayssoun's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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sinandquill's review against another edition

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

2.75


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