Scan barcode
leahegood's review against another edition
- 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
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."
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death of parent, Self harm, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, and Sexual content
erosencrantz's review
4.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cancer and Addiction
_sushmita_7's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Definitely loved the theme of the book
I can imagine this book being a movie
And I think it would bode quite well
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Alcoholism
lagray27's review
- 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
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
kaitkat2213's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, and Self harm
shaleen64's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent and Drug abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Addiction, Grief, and Animal death
kularhi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Grief, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Vomit and Cancer
jax10124's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Self harm and Animal cruelty
cavexcanem's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Mental illness, Animal death, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Self harm, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Minor: Car accident, Cancer, and Panic attacks/disorders
birdieex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Death, Grief, Suicide, Death of parent, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
Moderate: Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, Medical content, Cancer, and Homophobia
Minor: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, Sexual assault, and Infidelity