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A review by rinnykitty
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
after finishing Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore, I had a bit of an existential crisis and realized all the lives I wont have. I started to think, how cool would it be if when we die, we get to pick a point of our lives where we made a decision and make a different one. So not reincarnation, yet our life flashing beyond our eyes in different ways. Or something.
And then I stumbled upon this book. I think my already existential thinking somewhat influences my rating of this book. It was exactly what I was thinking, awesome! Except whenever she chooses another decision, instead of starting from when that decision is chosen, it starts from what age she is in between life and death. Which makes if very awkward as she's in a life she knows nothing about, so a lot of time is wasted on her figuring out what the hell is going on.
Also, it started throwing quantum physics and string theory in there, and even though it wasn't that heavy or complicated, it still completely flew over my head. I had to just skip whole paragraphs that my stupid little brain couldn't comprehend. But dont worry, I saw that comment of "brains just try to simplify things that we see, making humans dumber", which yes I'm aware I'm a dumb bitch. And yes this book was a bit preachy with the philosophy and all that ar some points.
BUT. The ending made up for it. As someone who's afraid I'll grow up to be not only a dumb bitch but a boring bitch, the message was I gotta say, uplifting.
This book isn't only about Nora trying to correct her regrets, but also her journey on realizing she doesn't want to die. Even though this book could be complicated, boring, preachy.. above all that it also told the journey of realizing life is worth living wonderfully. It feels like a lot packed into less than 300 pages, I know.
And then I stumbled upon this book. I think my already existential thinking somewhat influences my rating of this book. It was exactly what I was thinking, awesome! Except whenever she chooses another decision, instead of starting from when that decision is chosen, it starts from what age she is in between life and death. Which makes if very awkward as she's in a life she knows nothing about, so a lot of time is wasted on her figuring out what the hell is going on.
Also, it started throwing quantum physics and string theory in there, and even though it wasn't that heavy or complicated, it still completely flew over my head. I had to just skip whole paragraphs that my stupid little brain couldn't comprehend. But dont worry, I saw that comment of "brains just try to simplify things that we see, making humans dumber", which yes I'm aware I'm a dumb bitch. And yes this book was a bit preachy with the philosophy and all that ar some points.
BUT. The ending made up for it. As someone who's afraid I'll grow up to be not only a dumb bitch but a boring bitch, the message was I gotta say, uplifting.
This book isn't only about Nora trying to correct her regrets, but also her journey on realizing she doesn't want to die. Even though this book could be complicated, boring, preachy.. above all that it also told the journey of realizing life is worth living wonderfully. It feels like a lot packed into less than 300 pages, I know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Grief, and Alcoholism
Minor: Car accident