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A review by madscibrarian
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
dark
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was... fine. It was easy to read and it had a message to share. Honestly it reads like a Hallmark movie meets a self-help book.
Nora's life ends up being cut short, and she finds her afterlife starting in the Midnight Library, a place full of books that can take her to her life's infinite possibilities. What if she actually did stay in her brother's band? What if she did marry the guy she ran away from? What if she did study to be a glaciologist? Nora didn't find her current life all that meaningful, so this Midnight Library gives her a chance to see how everything would've played out differently.
I don't think it's the most creative story in the world; I have definitely come across similar ideas before. It's cool that it's based in a library, but the setting isn't unique enough to make it that new. The writing style isn't super atmospheric either, which definitely would've helped sell me on the overall story with the library setting. The ending is very predictable; you can probably guess how it's going to end before you even pick it up. Given how many weeks this book has been on the NYT Bestseller's list, I thought it would've been at least a little more original. I think people like it because it's easy to read and provides a hopeful message. Many may have needed it, especially given this past year.
I might have liked this a lot more if I read it before all the hype set in, but as someone who reads too much, I don't think this stands out.
Nora's life ends up being cut short, and she finds her afterlife starting in the Midnight Library, a place full of books that can take her to her life's infinite possibilities. What if she actually did stay in her brother's band? What if she did marry the guy she ran away from? What if she did study to be a glaciologist? Nora didn't find her current life all that meaningful, so this Midnight Library gives her a chance to see how everything would've played out differently.
I don't think it's the most creative story in the world; I have definitely come across similar ideas before. It's cool that it's based in a library, but the setting isn't unique enough to make it that new. The writing style isn't super atmospheric either, which definitely would've helped sell me on the overall story with the library setting. The ending is very predictable; you can probably guess how it's going to end before you even pick it up. Given how many weeks this book has been on the NYT Bestseller's list, I thought it would've been at least a little more original. I think people like it because it's easy to read and provides a hopeful message. Many may have needed it, especially given this past year.
I might have liked this a lot more if I read it before all the hype set in, but as someone who reads too much, I don't think this stands out.