Book Review: The Midnight Library
Author: Matt Haig
Reviewer: Fadya Bakr
Between life and death, there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book offers a chance to try another life you could have lived. We often spend our lives looking backward, paralyzed by the ghosts of past decisions. Matt Haig takes this universal human experience and turns it into a breathtaking journey of self-discovery in The Midnight Library.
The Breaking Point of Nora Seed
The story begins with Nora Seed, a woman who feels she has run out of reasons to exist. To her, life is a collection of “wrong” turns and letdowns. She is a talented musician who quit her band, a gifted swimmer who stopped competing, and a daughter who feels she failed her parents. When her cat passes away and she loses her job, the weight of her regrets becomes unbearable.
But instead of an ending, Nora finds herself in the Midnight Library. Guided by her childhood librarian, Mrs. Elm, she is given a chance to undo every regret she has ever had.
The Search for the “Perfect” Life
The core of the book follows Nora as she “tries on” different versions of herself. Through the pages of these books, she experiences her wildest possibilities:
- The Rock Star: She embraces the fame and fortune she once walked away from.
- The Glaciologist: She faces the physical dangers of the Arctic, testing her inner strength.
- The Olympian: She tastes the glory her father always hoped for her.
Yet Haig masterfully shows that while these lives are spectacular, they aren’t necessarily hers. In each life, Nora discovers that success does not guarantee soul-deep happiness. If she doesn’t feel a genuine spark of connection to that life, the library pulls her back.
The Turning Point: The Beauty of “Ordinary”
The climax comes when Nora finds a life that seems objectively perfect—a life filled with love, a stable family, and a sense of belonging. Yet she eventually realizes that even this “perfect” life is built on a foundation she did not lay herself. She learns the most difficult lesson of all: regrets are often illusions. We imagine that a different choice would have led to a flawless outcome, but every life carries its own sorrows, struggles, and complexities.
Why This Story Lingers
This book stays with you long after the final page because of its message about agency. Nora returns to her original life—the one she initially wanted to leave—not because it magically changed, but because she changed. She realizes that:
- Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be lived.
- We are the ones who give our lives value.
- The only “right” choice is the one we are making right now.
Final Verdict
The Midnight Library is a powerful reminder that while we can’t change the past, we hold infinite power over our future. It is a book for anyone who has ever felt like they missed their chance or stayed in the wrong place for too long. Warm, philosophical, and deeply moving, it reminds us that as long as there is life, there is hope.
