Scan barcode
A review by ramblingsofareader
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
2.0
Warning : Spoilers and rants ahead.
I have to tell you the truth. I selected this book simply because of the hype. Every bookstagrammer was raving about this book. What can you say? This was the Goodreads Choice Awards' 2020 winner for best fiction. So it must be good, I thought. Unfortunately, that was not the case for me. I must warn you, unpopular opinions ahead.
The book starts well. Its engaging and brilliantly written in first few chapters. I really enjoyed reading them. The story looked promising. But suddenly it started going downhill. I get the fact that the author wanted us to know that our choices makes our life. I get this makes one appreciate about their own life. I get this "no life is perfect" thing. I loved what he was trying to tell us with all those what if scenarios.
But I really can't understand the following facts. Why is it bad to have regrets? I accept regrets as a part of life. Our growth in life depends a lot on regrets according to my opinion. I don't understand why the book gives a vibe of you shouldn't have regrets.
And I don't like the way how he represents depression. Depression is a serious medical issue. It can make you suicidal. It can lower your quality of life. But depression doesn't magically disappear once you stop regretting. That's not how it works. He could have done a way better job addressing depression.
And what I couldn't bear was Nora goes into each and every one of her lives knowing nothing about herself. If you are clueless, how can we expect you to enjoy your life?
I know that I must be odd for not liking this book. But I really wanted to enjoy this book. The concept looked so promising that I had so much hopes. I love reading contemporary fiction. I love queer characters like Eleanor Oliphant. Therefore I expected a lot but at the end it was a disappointment for me.
I have to tell you the truth. I selected this book simply because of the hype. Every bookstagrammer was raving about this book. What can you say? This was the Goodreads Choice Awards' 2020 winner for best fiction. So it must be good, I thought. Unfortunately, that was not the case for me. I must warn you, unpopular opinions ahead.
The book starts well. Its engaging and brilliantly written in first few chapters. I really enjoyed reading them. The story looked promising. But suddenly it started going downhill. I get the fact that the author wanted us to know that our choices makes our life. I get this makes one appreciate about their own life. I get this "no life is perfect" thing. I loved what he was trying to tell us with all those what if scenarios.
But I really can't understand the following facts. Why is it bad to have regrets? I accept regrets as a part of life. Our growth in life depends a lot on regrets according to my opinion. I don't understand why the book gives a vibe of you shouldn't have regrets.
And I don't like the way how he represents depression. Depression is a serious medical issue. It can make you suicidal. It can lower your quality of life. But depression doesn't magically disappear once you stop regretting. That's not how it works. He could have done a way better job addressing depression.
And what I couldn't bear was Nora goes into each and every one of her lives knowing nothing about herself. If you are clueless, how can we expect you to enjoy your life?
I know that I must be odd for not liking this book. But I really wanted to enjoy this book. The concept looked so promising that I had so much hopes. I love reading contemporary fiction. I love queer characters like Eleanor Oliphant. Therefore I expected a lot but at the end it was a disappointment for me.