Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

52 reviews

tahdens's review

emotional hopeful 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

3.5

 In a world where the multiverse and parallel timelines have become the new 'thing', The Midnight Library is about the middle of the pack. It was nice. As someone who identified strongly at one point in my life with 'beginning of the book' Nora, I do admit I had to restart a book a few times over the course of the last year.

The book didn't really hook me in until probably 60% through. About half of it I listened to with Carey Mulligan and her performance really helped me stick with it more than the content of the book itself, I think.

The ending was a little too cookie cutter. I mean, we all knew from the first page how it was going to end, right? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Vomit

pageafter_paige's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

Wow I can’t believe I haven’t read this book sooner! I absolutely love the concept of this book because I’m always thinking about parallel universes. I think it’s so easy for us to idealize what we think we should’ve, could’ve, or would’ve, done but this book is a good reminded that those thoughts can become a type of prison. 

I can’t lie, I’ve been that prisoner before. Like Nora, I think we all are have a book of regrets buried deep. The Midnight Library really made me think of my own “what ifs” and it was a little depressing but I feel that that is part of the point. What if I was an actor? What if I had never quit hockey at 14? What if I hated dogs? What if I never cared about grades? What if I had kids? What if I said yes to a different job two years ago? 

Some of those I automatically think “yeah that would’ve been sweet” but by watching Nora try on different lives I realize that’s me idealizing and assuming. No life is 100% perfect and by assuming there is a perfect life out there, I could be missing out on the life I’m living right here and now. Life really is about the little things, not the big “what ifs” and as someone with anxiety I think that I need that reminder sometimes.

While my past may have many “what ifs” so does my future but I can be excited about making those decisions. Nora reminds me that there are infinite possibilities with every decision we make and none of them are right or wrong. Where we go from right here is up to us and we can always decide to switch it up. Will we keep reading our book of regrets, or will we start a new book filled with choices?

Anyways, that’s for coming to my Ted talk lmao
If you’re struggling this is your reminder to hold on

4.5 stars because it was obvious she was gonna be going back to her root life

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Grief, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Suicide

hersafehaven_'s review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcoholism, Grief, Self harm, Animal death, and Death of parent

madeleine726's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Suicide, Death of parent, Mental illness, Alcohol, Animal death, Cancer, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

kimmy0__0's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Minor: Cancer, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship

mayze's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

Interesting concept but the execution could have been better. 

The last half of the book feels rushed and predictable. The characters were well written and it's still a decent read. 

I feel that this is a self-help book disguised as a work of fiction, the last two chapters were pretty blatant about it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Abandonment, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Grief, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood

vii_412's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

4.0

"And that sadness is intrinsically part of the fabric of happiness. You can’t have one without the other. Of course, they come in different degrees and quantities. But there is no life where you can be in a state of sheer happiness for ever. And imagining there is just breeds more unhappiness in the life you’re in."

Me gustó el libro? Sí 
Lo disfruté? Sí 
Pero por alguna razón se sintió vacío, este es un libro de autoayuda, y entiendo porque a mucha gente no le gustó, sin embargo, ese es el propósito del libro, el dar una perspectiva optimista sobre la vida, el cómo nosotros decidimos sobre nuestro destino y el lugar en el que estamos, sin embargo, hay que tener en cuenta que la depresión es un tema MUY COMPLEJO, las personas no experimentan el mismo grado de depresión y estoy segura que sí hay personas que han llegado a la misma conclusión que Nora. 

Sí me parecieron algunas partes un poco lentas y aburridas, pero en general me gustó, me sentí un poco identificada con Norma, yo también perdí a una de mis gatita y sentí que el mundo se me iba de las manos, me siento en una posición en la que no sé qué hago con mi vida y que estoy estancada, y por supuesto que me gustaría saber cómo son las vidas de mis otros yo, pero eso sólo quedaría en mi imaginación. 

Sí te gusta este hype por los multiversos y quieres una historia optimista sobre la vida y la muerte, tal vez te guste este libro. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Cancer, Gaslighting, Medical content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Suicide, and Vomit

Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Car accident, Abandonment, and Alcohol

sarasblog's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This book reminded me of me and my battle with depression, how I constantly see myself in this negative light with no hope of changing the past, or what l could have become. This book however,  gives us as readers, (people struggling with depression) a certain kind of realistic hope. We have to keep moving forward in the best way we can 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child death, Animal death, Abandonment, and Death of parent

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

This is a really interesting concept, and I think it does a good job being honest that life is hard, and no matter what choices you make, it will be hard in different ways. But you have to choose where to find your joy (and also get the mental health help that you need!). I liked this book for an easy read because it was a tad formulaic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Animal death, Death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Alcohol, Cancer, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, and Terminal illness

Minor: Abandonment and Medical content

jlaz_13's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Animal death, and Toxic relationship