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sgpartyhat's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
The Midnight Library follows Nora Seed in the moments after her suicide attempt, as she finds herself in an infinite library of all the other possible lives she could have led, with the opportunity to lead them, if only for a while. It wrestles with themes of regret, potential, and hope. It tells its story well, unafraid of short chapters interspersed with occasional song lyrics and Facebook posts.
Things The Midnight Library is: hopeful, warm, predictable
Things The Midnight Library isn't: overwhelmingly profound, overbearing
I enjoyed the character growth. I enjoyed the worldbuilding. Nothing stood out to me as particularly mind-bending or life-changing, but watching Nora learn to live made me want to do so, too. The mix of supernatural and scientific was fun for this amateur physicist. The ending was sweet and expected, but done well.
The thing I liked least, weirdly enough, was the representation of depression. Despite Haig's clear effort, and near success, in representing the nuance of mental illness, there were a couple of moments that almost felt like Nora was magically "all better," or was going to be - often an unhelpful goal when you're struggling with your brain. That said, it's clear that Haig is writing from a place of experience, and while I've my fair share of mental health issues, I'm lucky enough to not really know what I'm talking about when it comes to this one.
Overall, I did really like the book. I would recommend it to anyone who feels ready to read a whole book about a suicide attempt - a whimsical, thoughtful, not-so-depressing one, but still. It was a good book to ring in a new year, and I'm glad to have read it.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Alcoholism and Drug abuse
molarbear31's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Minor: Alcoholism
audreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident and Gaslighting
cliffesofsaturn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Alcoholism and Drug abuse
rebeccaay99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
akendall20's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
bdingz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Self harm, Vomit, Medical content, and Stalking
chrysee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
know when some tragedy strikes and people say how they're always there if you need someone or there's always something to live for? they generally mean it, but it comes off trite instead of meaningfully.
that's what this book feels like. like this is how someone sees the ease of overcoming depression and ideation. all you need is love. all you need to do is wait a few more minutes. nora did what she was supposed to do, but when she needed people, they weren't there. instead, she went on an adventure of pop psychology and pop quantum physics and decided life was worth living after all because she did mean something to people (who never told her she mattered).
this book might have some interesting events (polar bear) but mostly not.
the most important lesson here is tell people they matter to you.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Death, Stalking, Car accident, and Death of parent
jaclyncolletti's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
annemyne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Stalking, and Car accident