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maplejuice's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
Despite the fact the story did not catch my attention at all for the first 100 pages, it completely turned after page 120. The story turned out to be the warm hug everyone who is insecure about life and themselves needed. The deep, philosophical and thoughtful phrases Matt Haig constructed with such care and the last 100 pages gave me the reassurance that everything will turn out okay. Thank you for this cosy blanket of a book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
audreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Very cool idea but needed a lot more time in my opinion. Felt so surface level, and as someone who experiences true depression, honestly a little insulting. It trivializes the concept and portrays such an outdated idea of what depression looks and feels like. I found the book entertaining and enjoyed the short chapters. About 3/4 of the way through I did kinda feel like I got it at was ready to wrap it up. I enjoyed the choices made in the end. Overall, though, it didn’t blow my mind or really change my perspective.
Content Warnings
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
rebeccaay99's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
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
meraki_nes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
I read this book in 2 days. Matt Haig’s writing is so visual that it completely transports you. The way this story tackles sensitive topics, like regrets and choices, made me reflect deeply on my own life.
The book invites us to question our decisions and delivers a hopeful message. Every reflection and event fits perfectly, reminding us that we are the architects of our own path. It truly makes you believe in the endless possibilities life offers.
The book invites us to question our decisions and delivers a hopeful message. Every reflection and event fits perfectly, reminding us that we are the architects of our own path. It truly makes you believe in the endless possibilities life offers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
chrysee's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
this book feels like ...
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
josiemeyer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
lv_ct's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
3.5
TW: Suicide, Death
Nora Seed feels as though her life is collapsing around her, and she is just a black hole.
Enter The Midnight Library.
In this library are books containing alternate universes, all surrounding Nora's potential lives and the regrets she holds not pursuing certain decisions in her "root life." Led by her old school librarian, she explores these lives, with a promise that when she finds a life she wants to stay in, she can. However, the ultimate question stands - what is it that Nora Seed was missing from her root life? And will she find the life she wishes to live before time runs out?
Notice: I do not believe this book is glorifying suicide. While there is something to say about suicide being used to "kick things off," Haig also uses Hugo's character to show that suicide is not how you enter the Midnight Library/explore these alternate universes/go on an adventure.
- Furthermore, I feel as though this book is not supposed to fully be an anti-suicide PSA, but more so a "live your life how you dream it." It is an inspirational tale of how the ordinary can be important. If you're someone like me who does fight depression and has dreamed of more fantastical living (*cough* daydreaming you were a Marvel hero *cough*) and felt as though you were missing out on your life, then I highly recommend this book.
Pros:
- This book feels very hopeful and inspirational, filled with many lessons to learn.
- I enjoy the style of writing that Matt Haig uses (but this is a personal feeling, I know others have said they do not enjoy it.)
- I am glad that Matt Haig does not make the moral of the story "Well she just needs to be married and have a child to feel better." Nora discusses how her own parent's mental health affected her and her brother's lives.
- This book got me emotional a good few times! There are moments where Haig's writing helps to depict Nora's emotions and it helped me envision those feelings.
- The "main regrets" Nora held were explored well. All of them feel pretty naturally depicted in their flaws (except for:
Arctic Explorer life. ) - Lots of good philosophical quotes/lessons!
Cons:
- The lessons are not as subtle as they could be, unfortunately. Often they are spelled out for the reader.
- I do wish there was more time to explore some of the "side lives" Nora experiences towards the end of the book.
- The fact that what was "disappointing" in
her Arctic Scientist/Explorer life (and what subsequently brought her back to the library) was the unsatisfactory sex with Hugo felt kind of silly to me. - I wish the relationship with her brother was dived a bit more into in the earlier parts of the book than the mid/later sections. It would have made a lot more moments a bit more poignant.
- Furthermore, I wish we could have just had a bit more of how her brother's life was affected by their parents.
We get an explanation of how his gay identity made life a bit more difficult when trying to live up to their parent's expectations, but it was kinda just thrown in.
- Furthermore, I wish we could have just had a bit more of how her brother's life was affected by their parents.
- I believe this book could have benefited from being a bit longer just to flesh out some bigger details.
Conclusion:
I enjoyed this book! It actually interested me in looking into more of Matt Haig's writings (How To Stop Time is up next for me!) and I think there are some good inspirational messages within it. It left me with a feeling of appreciation, and there were many moments in which I had to take a second to self-reflect. It's ultimately a book that shows that we all create our own destiny - a message that I believe a lot of people need to hear.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Self harm, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer
melli_sophie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Outing