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Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

115 reviews

violade's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Those first 24 pages desperately need a trigger warning for depression/anxiety/suicide, and I am not saying this lightly. Reading about Nora's day before entering the midnight library is almost physically painful. 

I happened to read Midnight Library right after The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck (trying to catch up on my most recommended books), and the key takeaways match up nicely. Unfortunately my rather strong dislike of repetition tempered my enjoyment of this second bout with (what amounts to) stoicism/buddhism. I’m also a bit allergic to attempts of explaining magic and the metaphysical with Schrödinger's cat and many worlds, but that’s probably just me. The concept is really cool and I like happy endings, even and especially if they veer into the saccharine. I just wish the book had been more novel and less self-help/philosophy 101 — simply because its concept was so promising.
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gaiaa's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Had great expectations for this one, but got disappointed. It was sooo overhyped, the author had a great idea that has so much potential, but the book is just a 3/5. The beginning was meh, the middle parts kinda picked up and the ending wasn't my favorite. ngl the ending was boring. 
i liked the AU where she married happily, had a daughter, a happy life, her brother was alive and happily married and their relationship wasn't ruined. I think the book should've ended somewhere there, where Nora stays in that universe and is happy and content with her life. Would've satisfied me so much more than the original ending.
 

the concept was good nonetheless, but the book was a waste of potential:(
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neeshaw's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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harmony822's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

This book is just "It's a Wonderful Life" with more triggers and extra fantasy.
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prairieraven's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I waited to read this one. I was hesitant. I love stories about books and libraries... this was different. It was a dark theme (mental health, suicide, substance abuse, terminal illness) which I think the point of the book was about how life can change from dark places and changing perspectives. It was alright, I am not sure if I'd read it again.  I'll wait and see, the only other books of Matt Haigs I have read were children's books and so I think it could also be the shock of different genres of writing (kid vs adult, light-hearted vs heavy topic)
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hannahr's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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camillesuzannes's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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suzan's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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egmamaril's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

My experience was enhanced by listening to Carrey Mulligan's narration. This books started off promisingly but was ultimately a disappointment. I kept comparing it to other books that deal with memory and loneliness that I have have read or are reading that are so much better, like The Memory Police or Burnt Sugar.
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theespressoedition's review against another edition

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5.0

In high school, during what I believed to be the height of my depression, I read It's Kind of a Funny Story. I had never felt so seen. It made what I was going through feel less bizarre and more normalized and it also gave me hope for what was to come. Little did I know that depression would follow me into adulthood and suicide would be something I wouldn't just contemplate but would also attempt more than once.  

I'm nearing 30, crazy in love with a woman who makes my waking hours better than my dreams, and the founder of my own business. I could continue to list all the good in my life, but what I'm working towards saying is that, despite all of the incredible things that I get to experience daily, I still struggle with depression. It hangs like a cloud above me and sometimes the littlest things gather up and begin to feel like the worst things. I promise... this is leading up to something great!  

I sobbed my way through The Midnight Library because it was like I was seen all over again but from a new perspective. I had read a few negative reviews of this book before getting it for myself, but after reading it, I began to feel as though the negative reviewers must have never experienced a lick of depression in their life, because this book hit all of it right on the nose. It depicted the hopeless feelings and general lack of desire to continue on that many depressed individuals experience.  

However, it also did a phenomenal job walking the reader through just why it's so important to continue actively working to live! My gosh, the redemption alone made me grateful that I read this book. I've never been so thankful for the way a book highlighted WHY and HOW living is the best choice.  

This book can be incredibly triggering, especially if you're currently in a low state or have walked through similar circumstances. Please approach this with caution and be gentle with yourself. At the same time, I also want to shove it in the face of every person who has experienced these things because it truly made me cherish my life all over again and I think it can do the same for so many others.  

This isn't a self-help book, but it will help. It will help those who have walked under this dark cloud and it will help those who need to know how to walk through it with others 

Thank you, Matt Haig, for writing this book.
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