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meaganb914's review
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
_sushmita_7's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
Pretty good book honestly very reflective that life is all about perspective and no matter what happens we shouldn't give up
Definitely loved the theme of the book
I can imagine this book being a movie
And I think it would bode quite well
Definitely loved the theme of the book
I can imagine this book being a movie
And I think it would bode quite well
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Alcoholism
eefjeee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death
Moderate: Drug abuse, Grief, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Medical content, Animal death, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit, Animal cruelty, and Self harm
kaitkat2213's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
So beautiful, I’ve now got a sense of peace and feel at one with the world after reading it
Content Warnings
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
_palas95's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
I found the story quite predictable and at times too dialogue heavy. Quite a few times I skipped over paragraphs to get to the point as it did ramble on. I did enjoy the concept of the Midnight Library. I think it's a fun idea to imagine getting a second chance at life and seeing how life would have gone differently based on even the smallest choices.
This was a nice quick read with 279 pages. Worth giving a read if you're wanting a break from some of the longer book series out there
This was a nice quick read with 279 pages. Worth giving a read if you're wanting a break from some of the longer book series out there
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Alcoholism
Minor: Self harm
elysephone_escapes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
Was sitting around a 3.75 or solid 4, but the genuine feeling and warmth I felt in the last group of chapters meant I had to bump it up. A few things I wanted to query, but maybe the hyper-critical part of my brain should take a backseat sometimes and not let it judge my entire opinion. Would still recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Vomit
Minor: Drug use, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
kitkatlig's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
shaleen64's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-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
4.0
This book is a must read for anyone feeling a little lost, as though they have not reached their full potential or that they should already have life all figured out. The book initially is challenging due to how directly it covers issues relating to mental health, however, the writing style lends it to be an easy read despite covering a range of complex topics. The premise of the book is unique and whilst other books have made me feel a grater range of emotions, with potentially a more developed plot line, I have to give 4 stars purely for how relatable and affirming the book is (and the dedication, given the time at which the book was written).
Content Warnings
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