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A review by laurenmaria422
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.25
I can understand why the book is divisive. It is quite linear, moving smoothly along despite the complex nature of the setting, but for me, fiction is often an escape from some of the complexity of life that can be overwhelming. Others have criticized the book as a heavy-handed attempt at being a self-help book in disguise. I didn't quite see it as that. The book certainly doesn't have all the answers - mindfulness and gratitude are great and being proactive and trying to have a positive outlook are all good things to do, but they certainly don't solve clinical depression or being poor alone.
That said, the book still resonated with me. I don't think the point is "Suddenly Nora was cured of depression." I don't think that was meant to be the message, or at least that's not what I took away from it. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD at 26, my life has been full of both excitement and paralysis at how many possibilities there are. Wanting to do everything and feeling I need to be as good as I possibly can to make up for the lost years. Feeling regret over dropping out of engineering in university, turning down the offer to go to one of the best math and science high schools and wondering if I'd maybe have gotten into MIT and become an engineer had I done that, even though my life would have turned out different. Regret at friendships I lost. It's easy to drown in self-pity.
I appreciated the message of the book, however simplistic. It's a good reminder to slow down, be kind to others, and stop to really look at things, and to have hope, even when things really suck (and they do, often). I've been depressed before and I've had suicidal thoughts before, and sometimes these thoughts come up again, even years after I finally got out of the despair I was in. The only way to get out of that pit was to live. To engage with the world despite the fact that I felt like I didn't know how to live, and eventually I was able to feel something other than numbness. It's not some instant transformation over night and I still struggle with needing to do everything and be everything. We don't get to live a million lives instantly and change overnight like Nora, but I saw myself in Nora. Not really knowing what I wanted. Avoiding opportunities. Letting life happen to me instead of being decisive and present. It's not a perfect book, but it's one that will stick with me.
That said, the book still resonated with me. I don't think the point is "Suddenly Nora was cured of depression." I don't think that was meant to be the message, or at least that's not what I took away from it. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD at 26, my life has been full of both excitement and paralysis at how many possibilities there are. Wanting to do everything and feeling I need to be as good as I possibly can to make up for the lost years. Feeling regret over dropping out of engineering in university, turning down the offer to go to one of the best math and science high schools and wondering if I'd maybe have gotten into MIT and become an engineer had I done that, even though my life would have turned out different. Regret at friendships I lost. It's easy to drown in self-pity.
I appreciated the message of the book, however simplistic. It's a good reminder to slow down, be kind to others, and stop to really look at things, and to have hope, even when things really suck (and they do, often). I've been depressed before and I've had suicidal thoughts before, and sometimes these thoughts come up again, even years after I finally got out of the despair I was in. The only way to get out of that pit was to live. To engage with the world despite the fact that I felt like I didn't know how to live, and eventually I was able to feel something other than numbness. It's not some instant transformation over night and I still struggle with needing to do everything and be everything. We don't get to live a million lives instantly and change overnight like Nora, but I saw myself in Nora. Not really knowing what I wanted. Avoiding opportunities. Letting life happen to me instead of being decisive and present. It's not a perfect book, but it's one that will stick with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident, Vomit, Stalking, and Drug abuse