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heathera's review against another edition
Did not read triggers - suicide ideation and animal death in first chapter … no
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts
atjanedoe's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think this is a good book but not the book for me.
This may be a hard read for those struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts but it does help encourage your brain to look deeper. I think it’s nice the way the author showed negative events and emotions change given the perspective of what’s actually happening.
That being said, I found this a bit slow and boring. Halfway through the book, I felt like giving up cause what I was reading wasn’t pulling me in like the first chapter. The character lives through different choices of her life like an alternate or parallel universe. After the first two, I felt like my eyes were unfocusing and my mind wanted to skim through the repetition. I didn’t find the character lovable(possibly due to the British background) but she is relatable. I may have enjoyed this book more when I was in my self-hating youth era.
It is only a 288 page book and has easy to read language. I do appreciate the analogies with chess and green books (grass is always greener on the other side). There are some good literary device use here. I don’t regret reading it as it reminded me of the annoying pessimistic person I used to be. It won’t be on my re-read list, but it may be on yours!
This may be a hard read for those struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts but it does help encourage your brain to look deeper. I think it’s nice the way the author showed negative events and emotions change given the perspective of what’s actually happening.
That being said, I found this a bit slow and boring. Halfway through the book, I felt like giving up cause what I was reading wasn’t pulling me in like the first chapter. The character lives through different choices of her life like an alternate or parallel universe. After the first two, I felt like my eyes were unfocusing and my mind wanted to skim through the repetition. I didn’t find the character lovable(possibly due to the British background) but she is relatable. I may have enjoyed this book more when I was in my self-hating youth era.
It is only a 288 page book and has easy to read language. I do appreciate the analogies with chess and green books (grass is always greener on the other side). There are some good literary device use here. I don’t regret reading it as it reminded me of the annoying pessimistic person I used to be. It won’t be on my re-read list, but it may be on yours!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
fabi1998's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
the_mad_dy_hatter's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A lovely little parable to start the year! I thought the third act was a little bit predictable, but I didn't really mind because it was satisfying regardless. The prose was quick and easy to read, it didn't overstay its welcome.
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
polarheights's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism and Self harm
beccap92's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
cassianlamb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Vomit
Suicide mentioned a lot but never showed on pageolijordan's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Look, I think the concept was very interesting and it made a lot of good points about coming to be at peace with making choice in your life. The book explored existentialism, cynicism, purpose, connection, death and the will to live in a world filled with uncertainty. Do I think this book is an interesting study into the possibility of finding satisfaction out of your life and identifying the role of the perception of your reality in relation to it? Absolutely. Do I think it was executed as well as it could have been? No
Our leading lady Nora is struggling with things MOST people have at one point or other experienced whether it's the sudden loss of a pet or losing a job (not a spoiler). However, as we enter the world and rules of the Midnight Library, it becomes almost laughable at how on the nose the book gets. Don't get me wrong, sometimes people need to be explicitly told the message of the book (or in this case given literal quotes from philosophers) and even enjoy it. If that's you, awesome. I am not that person. Everything became predictable, generic and towards the end two-dimensional.
The lives Nora lived were really affluent or extremeties of her 'root' life which serves a purpose but I think it would have been much more interesting to see mundane decisions change and Nora live a relatively ordinary life. It's clear that in the first and last lives she lives, she actually shows the most progress and development in my opinion (more so in her last because duh) and these were 'normal' not Olympic swimmers, rockstars, etc. I understand the book needs to actually be interesting so obviously I understand why the author exaggerated the lives but it was the 'boring' ones I liked the most.
Regardless, it's a heart-warming book and some lessons really did stick out to me. Sometimes you need to here you are in control of your perception, your actions and that you won't know if anything changes unless you stick it out and try.
Our leading lady Nora is struggling with things MOST people have at one point or other experienced whether it's the sudden loss of a pet or losing a job (not a spoiler). However, as we enter the world and rules of the Midnight Library, it becomes almost laughable at how on the nose the book gets. Don't get me wrong, sometimes people need to be explicitly told the message of the book (or in this case given literal quotes from philosophers) and even enjoy it. If that's you, awesome. I am not that person. Everything became predictable, generic and towards the end two-dimensional.
The lives Nora lived were really affluent or extremeties of her 'root' life which serves a purpose but I think it would have been much more interesting to see mundane decisions change and Nora live a relatively ordinary life. It's clear that in the first and last lives she lives, she actually shows the most progress and development in my opinion (more so in her last because duh) and these were 'normal' not Olympic swimmers, rockstars, etc. I understand the book needs to actually be interesting so obviously I understand why the author exaggerated the lives but it was the 'boring' ones I liked the most.
Regardless, it's a heart-warming book and some lessons really did stick out to me. Sometimes you need to here you are in control of your perception, your actions and that you won't know if anything changes unless you stick it out and try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
fynnthereader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
This book was a rollercoaster of emotion. It didn't take the classic approach of sad to happy ever after, but a wave of deep depression to mediocre to happy to contentment to an attitude of inspiration to continue life and appreciate all the possibilities without allowing the past to ruin life. INCREDIBLE BOOK
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship and Vomit
caronte's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt