The Midnight Library: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)

I really did like the statement "this is a self-help book disguised as fiction" in another review. I think that is a pretty accurate take. In the beginning, Nora bothered me. I was raised by people who felt like Nora and it just felt like a pity party that I wasn't interested in or dragged in to make them feel better. It's.. exhausting and tough to navigate. And slightly, I've caught myself doing it too. However, I liked the style/flow and kept on going. The concept of the Library (Because I think like this too sometimes, the "what ifs") and trying out multiple lives was neat and definitely kept me reading. I enjoyed this book, I probably wouldn't own a physical copy or read it again though. It was a nice quick read for me. ***Spoiler, but this line alone was worth it for me: "It was interesting, she mused to herself, how life sometimes simply gave you a whole new perspective by waiting around long enough for you to see it." I've been there and in the end, I can relate.

Unremarkable and Predictable. I only read it because I thought if you're going to write a book about the tired old "what if" story you would at least make it different from everything we've seen and read on this subject before. Not so. The only real surprises, if you can call them that, were the alternate lives Nora dropped into; those were obviously the writer's own ideas. But you knew exactly where it was going every time she started to feel that maybe this different life wasn't for her after all. I won't say how it ends, but being so predictable I don't really have to, do I?

Engaging throughout, this is an easy-to-read, life-affirming, feel-good book about embracing all that life offers you. Don't be put off by the beginning, where protagonist Nora Seed feels like her life has no meaning and all she is good at is letting other people down. And PLEASE DON'T stop reading when she contemplates ending her life. (Suicide attempt warning.) Instead, suspend your disbelief and enjoy Nora's exploration of the The Midnight Library, where she gets to peruse some of the lives she MIGHT have lived. Author Matt Haig offers all of us the chance to watch, vicariously, as Nora does what so many of us think about doing everyday -- answer some of life's most intriguing questions. What if I had stuck with that sport I was good at as a youngster? What if I'd not given up on my passion for music? What if I had married someone else? How would my life be different if I'd made even the smallest decision differently. This novel turns out to be original, ingenious, full of surprises and pure fun! And unless you are a completely callous human - you will end this book feeling better about your own life and choices. Don't miss it!