The Midnight Library
- Downloads：7566
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-03-25 15:23:57
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Matt Haig
- ISBN：1443455873
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
Between life and death there is a library， and within that library， the shelves go on forever。 Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived。 To see how things would be if you had made other choices 。 。 。 Would you have done anything different， if you had the chance to undo your regrets？”
A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived， from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How To Stop Time。
Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books， each one the story of another reality。 One tells the story of your life as it is， along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life。 While we all wonder how our lives might have been， what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself？ Would any of these other lives truly be better？
In The Midnight Library， Matt Haig’s enchanting new novel， Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision。 Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one， following a different career， undoing old breakups， realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life， and what makes it worth living in the first place。
A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived， from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How To Stop Time。
Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books， each one the story of another reality。 One tells the story of your life as it is， along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life。 While we all wonder how our lives might have been， what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself？ Would any of these other lives truly be better？
In The Midnight Library， Matt Haig’s enchanting new novel， Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision。 Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one， following a different career， undoing old breakups， realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life， and what makes it worth living in the first place。
Reviews
Alexa
，
This was cute and I loved it。
Stephanie Kirchen
，
I absolutely loved this book。 I listened to the Audio Book， read by Carrie Mulligan and she was a splendid reader。 Highly recommended。
Gracie
，
Highly recommend to readers who enjoy stories that engage classic literature motifs in a modern/current-based society setting。
Maheen Zahid
，
“The sky grows darkThe black over blueYet the stars still dareTo shine for you”
Rebecca McGuire
，
This is the best book I’ve read in 2021。 It reminds me a bit of how I felt while reading “When All Is Said” last year。 The books both straddle life and death and the people in the main characters lives and their impact。 （**Strongly recommend that book**） They’re really not similar books， it is just a feeling I have with both and probably because I loved them both。Nora is living a mediocre life filled with regrets and after a very bad day， she decides she doesn’t want to live any more。 She arrive This is the best book I’ve read in 2021。 It reminds me a bit of how I felt while reading “When All Is Said” last year。 The books both straddle life and death and the people in the main characters lives and their impact。 （**Strongly recommend that book**） They’re really not similar books， it is just a feeling I have with both and probably because I loved them both。Nora is living a mediocre life filled with regrets and after a very bad day， she decides she doesn’t want to live any more。 She arrives at the Midnight Library， a space in between life and death， where she can read through her Book of Regrets and “try out” different lives based on different choices from her root life。 Nora is giving the ability to really see and experience a multitude of lives。 Each one a result of a different decision or choice （some small and some huge）。 She grows and matures as a person each time she experiences one of these lives and starts to understand that life is really all about perspective and living your life without letting regrets and disappointments （to yourself and to those you love） drag you down。 This book for me was so much about personal growth and learning about what can make you happy。 What do we hold on to as people。 How do we process disappointment and failure and not meeting expectations。 I loved that this wasn’t about a man or a job or a child or success “saving” this character。 It was so rich。 My favorite line “Mrs Elm’s eyes sparkled with sudden life。 ‘Well， that’s the beauty， isn’t it？ You just never know how it ends。’ And Nora smiled as she stared at all the pieces she still had left in play， thinking about her next move。” Highly highly recommend！ 。。。more
Rebekah
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I really enjoyed this book。 I liked that in the main characters journey you could feel the shift from depression to hope and joy。 It did give me wizard of oz vibes in some respects。 It was a book that was looking to teach a lesson。
Lese lust
，
Ich bin mir sicher， dass jeder diese Momente kennt， zu denen man sich im Rückblick anders hätte entscheiden können， sollen， müssen - dann， ja dann， wäre das Leben anders verlaufen， besser， glücklicher。Als Nora einen Selbstmordversuch unternimmt， findet sie sich plötzlich in einer Art Bibliothek wieder und erhält die Möglichkeit， diese Fehler zu revidieren， in ein Leben zu schlüpfen， das sie hätte haben können， wenn sie sich anders entschieden hätte。。。Nette Idee， süffig umgesetzt mit erwartbarem Ich bin mir sicher， dass jeder diese Momente kennt， zu denen man sich im Rückblick anders hätte entscheiden können， sollen， müssen - dann， ja dann， wäre das Leben anders verlaufen， besser， glücklicher。Als Nora einen Selbstmordversuch unternimmt， findet sie sich plötzlich in einer Art Bibliothek wieder und erhält die Möglichkeit， diese Fehler zu revidieren， in ein Leben zu schlüpfen， das sie hätte haben können， wenn sie sich anders entschieden hätte。。。Nette Idee， süffig umgesetzt mit erwartbarem Ausgang。 。。。more
Lauranne
，
What a sweet & charming novel！ I am surprised I did not find this bestseller disappointing （I know this makes me sound like a snob。。。 but I am just a bit picky about the books I like。 Anyway！）。 This time around， I loved the premise， the main character （who reminded me a lot of Fleabag， another character I am very fond of）， and the themes/discussions raised in the book。 In many ways， Nora felt very relatable （who does not have regrets？ I， for one， would love to see what lives I could be living ha What a sweet & charming novel！ I am surprised I did not find this bestseller disappointing （I know this makes me sound like a snob。。。 but I am just a bit picky about the books I like。 Anyway！）。 This time around， I loved the premise， the main character （who reminded me a lot of Fleabag， another character I am very fond of）， and the themes/discussions raised in the book。 In many ways， Nora felt very relatable （who does not have regrets？ I， for one， would love to see what lives I could be living had not made certain choices）。 I also love the inclusion of philosophy and other thoughtful reflections that give substance to the narrative without making the whole book sounds preachy。 I listened to the audiobook， which was great， but I think I may revisit this book later in the future （I mean， read it） to take note of the most thoughtful points raised in the novel。 I think it would be useful to have all of them written somewhere， for days when self-doubt and sadness overwhelm me。 。。。more
Laura Whitfield
，
A great escape。 Thought provoking and moving。 A timely read。 TW: Suicide
Humaira
，
This is a very sweet， hopeful book。Nora was a great character and I enjoyed listening to this story on audio narrated by Carey Mulligan。The only thing is I felt it was a little slow at times， and at times preachy。I didn’t feel Nora was that dynamic a character to make you turn the pages， but I guess her being so ordinary and living these extraordinary lives was the whole point。A very sweet book that’s incredibly enjoyable。
Dhi
，
I enjoyed this; it was an easy and ultimately feel good read， and the premise of exploring different possible lives was interesting。 That being said， I think it explored depression in a way that was very surface level -- Haig tried to rectify having to explore nuanced discussion around mental health by deeming Nora's experience as situational depression。 As such， lives in which she wasn't taking medication were indicators of a better mental state。 However， as medication can really improve a clin I enjoyed this; it was an easy and ultimately feel good read， and the premise of exploring different possible lives was interesting。 That being said， I think it explored depression in a way that was very surface level -- Haig tried to rectify having to explore nuanced discussion around mental health by deeming Nora's experience as situational depression。 As such， lives in which she wasn't taking medication were indicators of a better mental state。 However， as medication can really improve a clinically depressed person's life， it would have been nice to see the juxtaposition of another character whose mental health and general life seemed improved in Nora's encounters with them while they were on medication。 3。75 stars。 。。。more
Nellie
，
I read the first 150 pages or so and really enjoyed it and then the jumping around from life to life kind of lost me。 I finished because it was a book club book。 Honestly it made for a great discussion which I knew it would but I didn’t so much enjoy reading it。 I like the premise and what the author was teaching us - live life gratefully - with the cup half full attitude。 Grass is not always greener on the other side and don’t have regrets that eat at you。 I get it - it’s a good lesson。。。most l I read the first 150 pages or so and really enjoyed it and then the jumping around from life to life kind of lost me。 I finished because it was a book club book。 Honestly it made for a great discussion which I knew it would but I didn’t so much enjoy reading it。 I like the premise and what the author was teaching us - live life gratefully - with the cup half full attitude。 Grass is not always greener on the other side and don’t have regrets that eat at you。 I get it - it’s a good lesson。。。most liked the book at book club。 。。。more
Vanessa
，
I thought it was a sweet book idk how I felt about the ending
Mark
，
I read this book on the basis of its immense popularity among both individual readers and book clubs。 Its focus is on the daily choices we make and how they affect both our future and our personal happiness。 The protagonist has the magical opportunity to try on alternate choices to see how they fit and how much more satisfied with life she becomes。 While the premise is imaginative， and the author does a good job of suggesting widely disparate alternatives， I found the wisdom bordered on somethin I read this book on the basis of its immense popularity among both individual readers and book clubs。 Its focus is on the daily choices we make and how they affect both our future and our personal happiness。 The protagonist has the magical opportunity to try on alternate choices to see how they fit and how much more satisfied with life she becomes。 While the premise is imaginative， and the author does a good job of suggesting widely disparate alternatives， I found the wisdom bordered on something from a self-help book and not to afar what Dorothy discovered about life and home upon her return to Kansas。 。。。more
Shannon Levy
，
Well liked by all in my Critical Ladies book club。 Refreshing， uplifting， and a great read for the times。
Sophie Knapper
，
Brilliant book which offers a fresh perspective on trusting that your life has a positive impact and can change with your actions/way of thinking。 Even in fantasy lives that exist only in your head， where you have everything， doesn't necessarily mean you will be fulfilled， so it gives you a boost to be grateful for what you have right now。 Really enjoyed and recommend it！ Brilliant book which offers a fresh perspective on trusting that your life has a positive impact and can change with your actions/way of thinking。 Even in fantasy lives that exist only in your head， where you have everything， doesn't necessarily mean you will be fulfilled， so it gives you a boost to be grateful for what you have right now。 Really enjoyed and recommend it！ 。。。more
Marina
，
This book was the type of predictable， poorly written garbage one unfortunately stumbles upon in the bestseller list。 I started off feeling empathy for the main character （and hoping that the simplistic repetitive writing style was a fluke） and ended up predicting the entire book after the first few chapters。 The plot， the writing style， the characters。。。 Everything about this book screams unoriginal and written by an inexperienced writer， one who crams philosophy references to sound smart and m This book was the type of predictable， poorly written garbage one unfortunately stumbles upon in the bestseller list。 I started off feeling empathy for the main character （and hoping that the simplistic repetitive writing style was a fluke） and ended up predicting the entire book after the first few chapters。 The plot， the writing style， the characters。。。 Everything about this book screams unoriginal and written by an inexperienced writer， one who crams philosophy references to sound smart and mentions quantum physics for stupid reasons。 My book club is gonna get a lot of negative rambling from me。 。。。more
Paulinlong
，
A thoughtful， funny book about depression。 I listened to it on Audible and Cary Mulligan was great， I thoroughly enjoyed her version of all the versions of Nora。
Macy Key
，
This book has such a unique way to deliver an important message。 The last few pages really made me emotional。 Highly recommend。
Reka
，
This book is all hype， I really did not like anything about it， except Carey Mulligan narrating the audio book。 I found the story too predictable and full of chiches and platitudes。 For me it did not live up to the hype at all。 My book of regrets' front page is the regret of reading this book。 This book is all hype， I really did not like anything about it， except Carey Mulligan narrating the audio book。 I found the story too predictable and full of chiches and platitudes。 For me it did not live up to the hype at all。 My book of regrets' front page is the regret of reading this book。 。。。more
James Passaro
，
If I were to rate this book strictly on its message and Matt Haig's brand I would give it 4 stars。 The book is hopeful after it is depressing。 It has a decent message and is easy to read。 It also was extremely predictable in how the book could end。 It really only had one direction。 I would recommend it some people If I were to rate this book strictly on its message and Matt Haig's brand I would give it 4 stars。 The book is hopeful after it is depressing。 It has a decent message and is easy to read。 It also was extremely predictable in how the book could end。 It really only had one direction。 I would recommend it some people 。。。more
Pamela
，
I enjoyed reading this book， who knows what the result would have been if we had made different choices but this is life。
Sally
，
I really wanted this book to be one I’ll always have as a favorite。 But it waxed and waned between really good and falling short。 Wraps up nicely and not too fast。 I can see why others really liked it though。
Susan
，
I can see the appeal but sappy and overly sentimental for me， in the fashion of A Man Called Ove。
Alexandra Davis
，
It is by no means a perfect book， it's not why I'm giving it five stars。 It was， however， the perfect book to read after a year of the pandemic， social unrest， and struggling with mental health。 If you need a pick me up in your life， I 10/10 recommend this book。 It is by no means a perfect book， it's not why I'm giving it five stars。 It was， however， the perfect book to read after a year of the pandemic， social unrest， and struggling with mental health。 If you need a pick me up in your life， I 10/10 recommend this book。 。。。more
Nic Brewer
，
I really enjoyed listening to this sweet， fun， existential book。 I should qualify that， though: it is a book about wanting to die， about not being able to escape the crush of being alive， about grappling with disappointment and being disappointing。 But I am a neurodivergent person with a fifteen-year history of depression， and a few solid years of debilitating anxiety， so these things aren't heavy for me。 Because this is also a book about learning what it means to live and thrive and love， and t I really enjoyed listening to this sweet， fun， existential book。 I should qualify that， though: it is a book about wanting to die， about not being able to escape the crush of being alive， about grappling with disappointment and being disappointing。 But I am a neurodivergent person with a fifteen-year history of depression， and a few solid years of debilitating anxiety， so these things aren't heavy for me。 Because this is also a book about learning what it means to live and thrive and love， and those lessons in my own life have been hard-won and life changing。 So the existential dread of this book is vastly outweighed by its sweet hopeful journey and ending （beginning）， and I smiled to myself for almost the entirety of its last hour。 Plus， a magical library and a charming librarian！ I absolutely recommend this。 。。。more
Nikki Syverson
，
Too "fantastical" for my liking。 I found myself skimming。 Too "fantastical" for my liking。 I found myself skimming。 。。。more
Heidi
，
Certainly innovative。 Certainly quite the interesting concept that many of us dream about。 Wish it had larger type and font。
Jorik Breban
，
Mijn eerste vijf sterren in lange tijd zijn niet objectief – dit boek probeert niets meer te zijn dan het is; het loopt niet vol van revolutionaire literaire taaldanserijen。 Het is simpel geschreven en leest vlot。Maar wat een gevoel。 Een boekje zoals een warme knuffel op een winteravond。Uit interviews heb ik vernomen dat de schrijver ervaring heeft gehad met depressies en mentale onrust， iets wat in dit verhaal niet vermeden wordt。 Depressie wordt zachtaardig aangebracht， zonder te romantiseren， Mijn eerste vijf sterren in lange tijd zijn niet objectief – dit boek probeert niets meer te zijn dan het is; het loopt niet vol van revolutionaire literaire taaldanserijen。 Het is simpel geschreven en leest vlot。Maar wat een gevoel。 Een boekje zoals een warme knuffel op een winteravond。Uit interviews heb ik vernomen dat de schrijver ervaring heeft gehad met depressies en mentale onrust， iets wat in dit verhaal niet vermeden wordt。 Depressie wordt zachtaardig aangebracht， zonder te romantiseren， maar ook zonder te veroordelen。 Het is geen zelfhulpboek， het probeert geen ellenlange adviezen te geven of te preken – en daardoor het hoopvolste dat ik in heel lange tijd heb ervaren。 。。。more
Mori Bell
，
Cute， cooky book and a quick read。 It was my book club’s choice and I think it is perfect for just that - book club conversation。 I enjoyed diving into all Nora’s possible lives but in the end， the book lacked some depth for me。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Midnight Library
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Midnight Library&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Midnight Library&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0