Scan barcode
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
‼️TW: Suicide/ SI
•
•
•
Oooh we’re gonna get honest and dark with this review, folks… buckle up or back out now!
I’ve been suicidal (always passively, and sometimes actively) since I was 6-years-old. That’s not a typo. I can very clearly remember sitting in my childhood bedroom, legs dangling off of the edge of my red bunk bed, and thinking “I’m going to kill myself.” I’ve managed to trick myself into staying alive for the last 30 years, but I can’t say it’s been easy and I’ve made a lot of choices I wish I could take back - closed a lot of doors I wish I had walked through, run through others that I should have slammed shut. In the really dark moments the thing I regret most is not just ending things when I was 6 or 16 or 26. A whole book of regrets.
The concept of The Midnight Library really appealed to me. On the edge of death, Nora is given the opportunity to address her greatest regrets and sample the lives she could have had if she’d made different choices, in the hopes of find one where she could be happy - one where she would want to keep living. Spoiler Alert:She learns that the grass is not always greener on the other side, and that there is still time to save herself and make positive changes in her real (“root”) life. Must be nice.
Maybe it’s wrong for me to hate the optimistic ending, but I do. If an anti-suicide message was the goal (and of course it was, because who is out here writing pro-suicide novels?) I truly would’ve preferred the gut punch ending of Nora realizing her root life was the best one for her and still dying anyway. A “learn from this character’s mistake” kind of approach. You made your death bed, now die in it.
Disappointing ending aside, it’s not a bad book, but it’s not great either. I can’t say I particularly liked any of the characters, it’s difficult to stay grounded in a story that’s primarily spent jumping between different lives, and there were plot points that were just fully abandoned (like Hugo and the other “sliders”… why even bother with that?) but it’s an enjoyable enough concept, easy to binge, and most of the chapters are very short, which I love. I doubt I would pick this book up again, but it was a decent way to occupy my brain for a couple of days.
•
•
•
Oooh we’re gonna get honest and dark with this review, folks… buckle up or back out now!
I’ve been suicidal (always passively, and sometimes actively) since I was 6-years-old. That’s not a typo. I can very clearly remember sitting in my childhood bedroom, legs dangling off of the edge of my red bunk bed, and thinking “I’m going to kill myself.” I’ve managed to trick myself into staying alive for the last 30 years, but I can’t say it’s been easy and I’ve made a lot of choices I wish I could take back - closed a lot of doors I wish I had walked through, run through others that I should have slammed shut. In the really dark moments the thing I regret most is not just ending things when I was 6 or 16 or 26. A whole book of regrets.
The concept of The Midnight Library really appealed to me. On the edge of death, Nora is given the opportunity to address her greatest regrets and sample the lives she could have had if she’d made different choices, in the hopes of find one where she could be happy - one where she would want to keep living. Spoiler Alert:
Maybe it’s wrong for me to hate the optimistic ending, but I do. If an anti-suicide message was the goal (and of course it was, because who is out here writing pro-suicide novels?) I truly would’ve preferred the gut punch ending of Nora realizing her root life was the best one for her and still dying anyway. A “learn from this character’s mistake” kind of approach. You made your death bed, now die in it.
Disappointing ending aside, it’s not a bad book, but it’s not great either. I can’t say I particularly liked any of the characters, it’s difficult to stay grounded in a story that’s primarily spent jumping between different lives, and there were plot points that were just fully abandoned (like Hugo and the other “sliders”… why even bother with that?) but it’s an enjoyable enough concept, easy to binge, and most of the chapters are very short, which I love. I doubt I would pick this book up again, but it was a decent way to occupy my brain for a couple of days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Death, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, and Animal death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, Car accident, Drug abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
xgabrielle_hx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Medical content, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
xaaamyy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Car accident, and Alcoholism
Taught a real life lesson which was really beautiful!vaaalnf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, and Animal death
Minor: Alcoholism
ssurber98's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Addiction, Death, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Self harm, and Panic attacks/disorders
meaganb914's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide attempt
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Terminal illness, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Death of parent, Car accident, Cancer, and Animal death
leahegood's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Summary
In The Horse and His Boy, Aslan tells Lucy, "To know what would have happened, child? No. Nobody is ever told that." This book turns that sentiment upside-down. What if we could know what would have happened?
Following a similar trajectory to the classic movie, It's a Wonderful Life, Nora Seeds decides to end her life. In the nowhere between life and death, she finds herself in "The Midnight Library." As George Bailey was presented with the opportunity to observe a world where he was never born, Nora is given the chance to see what life might have been like if she made different choices along the way. What will she learn from stepping into the pages of a myriad of what ifs?
My Thoughts
This book was, most defininately, literary fiction ... which I typically don't care for. However, The Midnight Library provided a clearer path than most literary fiction and swirled it together with enough fantasy that I enjoyed the journey. Nora's "inciting incident" is depressive despair and the implied "promise to the reader" is that the lessons of the Midnight Library will renew her appreciation of life. A bit "preachy"? Perhaps. But whimsically and, even, compellingly so.
The consistent, prevalent swearing prevented this from rating higher in my personal preference.
Overall, I would say this is a good book for anyone who enjoys It's a Wonderful Life or In 27 Days, but is okay with more mature content and a liberal-leaning worldview.
Content
Romance: Overall, minimal. Nora somewhat regretfully/somewhat bitterly remembers a former fiance. As she explores other lives, she sleeps with three different men. Two are her husband in that life, one is not. In all of the encounters, she simply states that action occures with minimal commentary. Topics like s*xting are mentioned briefly. Her brother's sexuality (gay) comes up several times throughout the story, and she is supportive of his relationships both in her real life and in the possibilities she explores.
Language: This isn't a book where there are curse words on every page, but Nora does swear with steady consistency and is not shy about employing f-bombs (once used in a steady stream). J*sus and G*d are both employed as curses.
Violence: Almost non-existent and always non-graphic. Nora's cat dies. She notices self-inflicted scars on her body in various lives. Obviously she makes an attempt to end her life.
Religion: Nora's worldview is entirely secular.
Quotes I Liked
"The game is never over until it is over. It isn't over if there is a single pawn left on the board. If one side is down to a pawn and a king, and the other side has every player, there is still a game."
"...she had managed to convince herself there was no way out of her misery. That, she supposed, was the basis of depression, as well as the difference between fear and despair. Fear was when you wandered into a cellar and worried the door would swing shut. Despair was when the door closed and locked behind you. But with every life she saw that metaphorical door widen a little further as she grew better at using her imagination."
"All this was meaningless without love."
In The Horse and His Boy, Aslan tells Lucy, "To know what would have happened, child? No. Nobody is ever told that." This book turns that sentiment upside-down. What if we could know what would have happened?
Following a similar trajectory to the classic movie, It's a Wonderful Life, Nora Seeds decides to end her life. In the nowhere between life and death, she finds herself in "The Midnight Library." As George Bailey was presented with the opportunity to observe a world where he was never born, Nora is given the chance to see what life might have been like if she made different choices along the way. What will she learn from stepping into the pages of a myriad of what ifs?
My Thoughts
This book was, most defininately, literary fiction ... which I typically don't care for. However, The Midnight Library provided a clearer path than most literary fiction and swirled it together with enough fantasy that I enjoyed the journey. Nora's "inciting incident" is depressive despair and the implied "promise to the reader" is that the lessons of the Midnight Library will renew her appreciation of life. A bit "preachy"? Perhaps. But whimsically and, even, compellingly so.
The consistent, prevalent swearing prevented this from rating higher in my personal preference.
Overall, I would say this is a good book for anyone who enjoys It's a Wonderful Life or In 27 Days, but is okay with more mature content and a liberal-leaning worldview.
Content
Romance: Overall, minimal. Nora somewhat regretfully/somewhat bitterly remembers a former fiance. As she explores other lives, she sleeps with three different men. Two are her husband in that life, one is not. In all of the encounters, she simply states that action occures with minimal commentary. Topics like s*xting are mentioned briefly. Her brother's sexuality (gay) comes up several times throughout the story, and she is supportive of his relationships both in her real life and in the possibilities she explores.
Language: This isn't a book where there are curse words on every page, but Nora does swear with steady consistency and is not shy about employing f-bombs (once used in a steady stream). J*sus and G*d are both employed as curses.
Violence: Almost non-existent and always non-graphic. Nora's cat dies. She notices self-inflicted scars on her body in various lives. Obviously she makes an attempt to end her life.
Religion: Nora's worldview is entirely secular.
Quotes I Liked
"The game is never over until it is over. It isn't over if there is a single pawn left on the board. If one side is down to a pawn and a king, and the other side has every player, there is still a game."
"...she had managed to convince herself there was no way out of her misery. That, she supposed, was the basis of depression, as well as the difference between fear and despair. Fear was when you wandered into a cellar and worried the door would swing shut. Despair was when the door closed and locked behind you. But with every life she saw that metaphorical door widen a little further as she grew better at using her imagination."
"All this was meaningless without love."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death of parent, Self harm, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, and Sexual content
peasandpancakes's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I love the idea of the midnight library, a library that contains your infinite possibilities at life. It is interesting to think who you would be as a person if you made a different choice earlier in life.
But… there we have Nora. Someone I could sort of relate to or at least feel for in the beginning, feeling lost and lonely and sad. Unfortunately she is also as dense as they come and needs a thousand in your face, super clear, spelled out lessons about life to get it.Finally when she gets the perfect life, she realises her actions had consequences (gasp) and influenced other people’s lives. So she leaves her new found happiness to go back to her root life where she immediately gets everything she wanted and is now super happy and cured from depression! Which is totally how that works and not at all hurtful for people who are going through depression, “just change your outlook on life people” (hope you can pick up the sarcasm).
Also, if you do not wish to read a self-help inspirational type book, don’t read this one!
But… there we have Nora. Someone I could sort of relate to or at least feel for in the beginning, feeling lost and lonely and sad. Unfortunately she is also as dense as they come and needs a thousand in your face, super clear, spelled out lessons about life to get it.
Also, if you do not wish to read a self-help inspirational type book, don’t read this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Vomit, and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Stalking, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Medical content
faithsbookreads's review against another edition
It was just triggering me in all of my triggers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
lagray27's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal death and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Addiction