I struggle with how to rate this book。 I really like the concepts and it starts out well and ends well, but half-way through I thought it would never end。 But the idea of recognizing that every choice leads to different destinations is fascinating to me。 So for the most part I liked the book。
Sophie Atkinson,
So I've fallen in love with another book I love Matt Haig's writing it makes me very very happy。 There's so much to this story and the main character Nora is so easy to relate to whether it the small or big problems。 I hugged this book when I finished So I've fallen in love with another book I love Matt Haig's writing it makes me very very happy。 There's so much to this story and the main character Nora is so easy to relate to whether it the small or big problems。 I hugged this book when I finished 。。。more
Maycee Angelo,
This book is a masterpiece! Instantly became one of my favorite books of all times because it saved me from the lurking negativity, constant regrets, and the feeling of not being good enough。You see, I'm currently in my 20s and we all know how hard it is - being stuck in a job that pays well, but cannot give you any satisfaction/sense of purpose。 And how social media creates fake imagery of success, hence, adding more anxiety and unnecessary pressure to people。 Amidst all these, even our own fam This book is a masterpiece! Instantly became one of my favorite books of all times because it saved me from the lurking negativity, constant regrets, and the feeling of not being good enough。You see, I'm currently in my 20s and we all know how hard it is - being stuck in a job that pays well, but cannot give you any satisfaction/sense of purpose。 And how social media creates fake imagery of success, hence, adding more anxiety and unnecessary pressure to people。 Amidst all these, even our own family expects a lot from us even if we're just barely getting by。We all chase something in this life and we want to get it as soon as possible。 However, the road is not easy。So yeah, I feel for Nora as I'm feeling it too。 I really saw myself on her shoes。 I understood her despair and if it was possible to swarm inside the book just to hug her and tell her that she was not alone, I would have done it。To everyone who's crumbling silently, I highly recommend this book。 It's a great eye opener。 Regardless of how many times we fail, there are still infinite choices waiting for us。 The possibilities are endless。 Yes, life won't always be pretty, but there's always hope as long as we're alive。 :) 。。。more
Randi,
Love the idea of the book。 The story went on too long。 I got the point after a few adventures into past regrets。 I would have liked to have seen more about what happened after。
Ilene Leventhal,
I listened to this one on Audible and it was read by the vastly talented Carey Mulligan。 I LOVED this book。 It has gently shifted my own perspective on my life and it’s infinite possibilities- and makes me gitty to imagine other mes out there living the lives I ventured away from。 What a soft, lovely, gently mind-shattering book。 Be infinitely happy to be here, and infinitely excited to see what’s next。
Bill Lynas,
In The Midnight Library Matt Haig tells the story of Nora, who has not had the life she wanted。 When she decides to kill herself she finds herself in a library where she can travel & live different lives that she never experienced。There are certainly plenty of lives for her to explore, & most of them are not long enough for the reader to get bored with the story。 It reminded me of the days when I watched the TV series Quantum Leap, for any of you out there old enough to remember it。Haig has a go In The Midnight Library Matt Haig tells the story of Nora, who has not had the life she wanted。 When she decides to kill herself she finds herself in a library where she can travel & live different lives that she never experienced。There are certainly plenty of lives for her to explore, & most of them are not long enough for the reader to get bored with the story。 It reminded me of the days when I watched the TV series Quantum Leap, for any of you out there old enough to remember it。Haig has a good enough idea for a plot & I thought it was a good book, but not the one I was expecting after all the rave reviews I read。 Many of you will love this book, so perhaps (like the character Nora) I suggest you jump in & give it a go。 Hopefully you'll find it more worthwhile than I did。 。。。more
Bonnie Sogoloff,
Here was an interesting concept, but the execution was fraught with annoying self pity。 The very predictable conclusion left me waiting for the inevitable, hoping it wouldn’t too long。
Alicia Groscost,
I absolutely loved the plot/concept of this book。 It was a little flat for me with no real climax at any point。
Betsy,
I hadn't realized that I had read one of Haig's other works, The Radleys, which was off-beat, but enjoyable and rememberable。 The Midnight Library is exactly the kind of book that I'm loving these days, so I'm not sure how objective my review is。 The premise is depressing with Nora feeling hopeless despair for a life that she feels is going nowhere and is filled with regret。 Although it felt quite clear throughout how this book was going to end (at least for a reader like me who reads a lot of b I hadn't realized that I had read one of Haig's other works, The Radleys, which was off-beat, but enjoyable and rememberable。 The Midnight Library is exactly the kind of book that I'm loving these days, so I'm not sure how objective my review is。 The premise is depressing with Nora feeling hopeless despair for a life that she feels is going nowhere and is filled with regret。 Although it felt quite clear throughout how this book was going to end (at least for a reader like me who reads a lot of books of this type) I enjoyed the journey。 It was pleasing to watch Nora exist in different lives and learn about herself and realize what makes her happy。 A journey through what could have been, by actually traveling to those what-ifs。 I really enjoyed the alternate realities angle and the setup of the midnight library。 For a book that starts off very depressing, this is a feel-good read。 。。。more
PETER ROLLASON,
As soon as I heard the concept of this book - I was hooked, I couldn't wait for it be delivered and get whipping through those pages。The basic concept is Nora looks back on her life, with regret at the things she did and didn't do - and bemoans the fact that she made all the wrong calls。 She decides then to end it all。 Except when she 'dies' - she doesn't , she goes to the midnight library, where she can live out lives had she made different decisions。 Fascinating stuff。The only problem is that As soon as I heard the concept of this book - I was hooked, I couldn't wait for it be delivered and get whipping through those pages。The basic concept is Nora looks back on her life, with regret at the things she did and didn't do - and bemoans the fact that she made all the wrong calls。 She decides then to end it all。 Except when she 'dies' - she doesn't , she goes to the midnight library, where she can live out lives had she made different decisions。 Fascinating stuff。The only problem is that I wanted the book to be about life decisions, the consequences of , and why those decisions were made - the book would have been better in my opinion if that was the sole focus。 However the story is diluted, in part, into how Nora copes with suddenly being jettisoned into a new life -how does she bluff the fact that she has only been in this life a matter of minutes, a sort of topic done to death in other books and movies。Not the less a great read and the pages flip along nicely。 。。。more
Jan Hawke,
A book about choices and the regrets we feel when (we think) we have made the wrong choice。 Reminiscent of Kate Atkinson's 'Life after Life' it morphed into 'It's a Wonderful Life'。 It is well known that Matt Haig has suffered from mental health issues and I'm sure he would not wish to denigrate the condition。 However a despair so serious that the sufferer attempts suicide is hardly going to be remedied by acknowledging the possibilities of life and stopping and smelling the roses。 Despite this, A book about choices and the regrets we feel when (we think) we have made the wrong choice。 Reminiscent of Kate Atkinson's 'Life after Life' it morphed into 'It's a Wonderful Life'。 It is well known that Matt Haig has suffered from mental health issues and I'm sure he would not wish to denigrate the condition。 However a despair so serious that the sufferer attempts suicide is hardly going to be remedied by acknowledging the possibilities of life and stopping and smelling the roses。 Despite this, it was a very readable novel, just perfect for my post vaccination fatigue and among the platitudes there were some real insights。 。。。more
Jonah Popa,
I thought this was a very good book。 It makes you think which isn't a bad thing。 Different lives。 Different choices。 What would they lead to in your own life。 I loved the way the book ended is all I'll say not to give spoilers。 I did truly enjoy it。 I thought this was a very good book。 It makes you think which isn't a bad thing。 Different lives。 Different choices。 What would they lead to in your own life。 I loved the way the book ended is all I'll say not to give spoilers。 I did truly enjoy it。 。。。more
Stephanie Lee,
It was a very enjoyable read - I loved every “swish” where Nora got sucked in and out of different lives。 However the plot was little too predictable (except for meeting Hugo) and everything in the end was very expected。
Onetruelove47,
This was a good book。 Makes you stop and appreciate your life。。。。and think about how things could be different if one thing was done differently。
Barbara,
I had a rather hard time getting into this book since it deals with a depressing subject。 I'm glad that I kept reading because Matt Haig pulls it all together at the end。 I had a few tears in my eyes。 Enjoy! I had a rather hard time getting into this book since it deals with a depressing subject。 I'm glad that I kept reading because Matt Haig pulls it all together at the end。 I had a few tears in my eyes。 Enjoy! 。。。more
Debbie,
Was an interesting read。 I liked the beginning & it was a very good ending。 Some parts were interesting but others seemed to drag on。 I don’t want to be a spoiler but it’s obvious we all have choices to make each & every day。
Hannah Cooke,
Such an amazing beautifully written book with a mix of science, philosophy, geography and more! A really really lovely read, thoroughly enjoyed
Nancy Waithera,
Meh 😒
Izzy,
4。5 stars!
bilalhussain,
Very inspiring。 It made me to introspect, to forget the Book of Regrets and start writing the Book of Life。
Claire Taylor Jarvis,
I read this book earlier in the year and loved every single word of it。 It is about a character who has lost sight of a future and feels there is no hope。 You may think this is a very dark subject to write about but the way the book has been written and journey of the main character really does give a feeling of hope。
Bobbie Serensky,
The premise of this novel is unique and thought-provoking。 I especially like the positive messages the author develops about the multitude of potential we all have to live any life we wish。
Emilie,
Really enjoyed this book - such an imaginative story of how you can feel trapped by your regret。 And what a little or a lot of experimenting and change in perspective can do。
Michelle,
I am a sucker for a feel good, life lessons book and this is one of the best I have ever read。
Liz,
I liked the message of this book。 It is interesting to think of all the possible directions a life can take but to also know you're right where you should be。 I liked the message of this book。 It is interesting to think of all the possible directions a life can take but to also know you're right where you should be。 。。。more
Laura,
This really didn’t live up to my expectations。I got to page 136 then skipped to the last 50 pages。 It just wasn’t for me
Tracy Newman,
I loved this book so much。 I could not put it down。 It challenges the way you think and makes you see life in a different way。 Well written and fluid, simply unputdownable
Shawna,
As I started reading this book I was worried I wouldn’t like following Nora throughout her infinite possible lives。 But before I knew it I was so emotionally involved that I couldn’t put it down and finished it at 3am。 Beautiful, beautiful little story。 Loved it。
Dee,
You are tired of living。 You no longer care about anything and just want to end your life。。。。If given the opportunity to change the course of life, to go back and fix what one did wrong, modify what one did right, unload past regrets, the flexibility, need, and the hope to see what the outcomes would be or could be by just doing one thing differently, would it be what one expected or truly wanted? The life you think you would want to live turns out to be the opposite。 The life you never consider You are tired of living。 You no longer care about anything and just want to end your life。。。。If given the opportunity to change the course of life, to go back and fix what one did wrong, modify what one did right, unload past regrets, the flexibility, need, and the hope to see what the outcomes would be or could be by just doing one thing differently, would it be what one expected or truly wanted? The life you think you would want to live turns out to be the opposite。 The life you never considered turns out to be what you were missing。 The progression, the journey。。。it’s all there。 Ideally, the premise was quite thought-provoking and well-written, but I did not expect a sci-fi, fantasy-type read。 It did not take away from the premise at all, in fact it made it more interesting and perhaps the only way this story could have been delivered。 I just felt something was missing; not sure what, though。 Still a good read。 It really made me think。。。 。。。more
Kerenza,
I absolutely love this book , I would definitely recommend。