The Midnight Library
The Midnight Library
By: Matt Haig
[Fulfilling “A book about books” as part of the 2021 Spring/Summer Reading Challenge]
“It’s hard to predict, isn’t it? The things that will make us happy?”
This book was a Goodreads’ 2020 Choice Award Winner for Fiction and a generally well-liked book.
The premise drew me in: a library between life and death filled with books that allow Nora Seed to ‘try on’ other lives, picking ones where she made different (and/or better) choices than her ‘root life’ which she so desperately wants to end. A quest for the perfect life.
[I guess in that way it’s a smidge similar to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, except better and less of a devil love story]
Nora lives in Bedford—yes, think Bedford Falls from ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ because Nora, having just swallowed a bunch of pills, has embarked on an existential journey— not so different than George Bailey— where she learns about how the little things she does or does not choose to do could be important things that greatly affect her and others’ lives.
“Never underestimate the big importance of small things.”
Many refer to this as a self-help book. I suppose because the message of the book is to show how life is worth living. Nora, who is suicidal (and also very into Philosophy), goes through an interesting journey of her alternate lives and starts to realize what’s important in life. I’m sure this resonates with a lot of people and many readers found this story to touch their innermost struggles in a way a lot of other books do not. And if this book helps them see the light in their life, I am for that.
For me, personally, though, I didn’t find this book ‘helpful’ as much as ‘thoughtful’ or ‘insightful.’ I think it falls short in offering true and lasting meaning and purpose in life that’s outside of ourselves, but I do think it was a perceptive depiction of the inner turmoil and thought process someone who does not desire to live goes through. Especially knowing Haig experienced severe depression himself, it adds authenticity and understanding to Norah’s character.
I have not experienced severe depression so I found it helpful to understand people better who do. I realize I just used the word ‘helpful’ but in this context it is different than ‘self-help’ which is more about becoming a better person and/or overcoming a problem instead of just increasing understanding. I see the difference…
And so we have a contemplative fiction story about parallel universes. An infinite number of constantly changing storylines for our lives that contain every decision and alternate choice we could ever make.
[If you like this idea and would be interested in a more action-packed/thriller version of alternate-lives-chaos, I would highly recommend Brian Freeman’s book Infinite or Blake Crouch’s book Dark Matter.]
Nora’s intermediary library is run by a replication of Mrs. Elm, a librarian who played an influential role for Nora in a life-altering moment— when young Nora found out her father had died. Mrs. Elm coaches Nora through the process of acknowledging her regrets and checking out lives that attempt to correct a particular lament.
From big decisions to minute ones, Nora experiences a whole host of other jobs, lifestyles, locations, and relationships.
Grad school, getting married, having kids, staying in the band, having an alive cat, studying glaciers… Which ‘perfect’ combination of fulfilled hopes and dreams will make Nora happy enough to desire to continue living instead of throwing in the towel?
I think the premise of this book is brilliant because it is undeniable that the world is set on a course to discover and achieve happiness— whatever it takes. Our choices, our jobs, our relationships, our homes, everything is sifted through the filter- “Does this make me happy?” And not only that but “Does this make me the happiest?”
We think we know what will make us happy. And if we could just get that right combination, we’ll be good. “I’ll take 2 orders of ‘The Best’ with some ‘Extra Best’ on top. If it comes on the side, I send it back.”
I don’t think The Midnight Library goes quite as far as my beliefs in terms of the source of joy and lasting happiness, as it is a secular novel, but it does start the conversation and it triggers the philosophical thinking to challenge this ideal of ‘ideal.’ Hopefully it jars us out of our rat-race for the elusive perfect life and helps us gain a better perspective about what makes a “good life.”
Nora Seed feels trapped in her root life. Her parents are dead. Her cat is dead. She lost her job. Her brother is estranged. Her friendships are scarce and forced. What does she have to show for all her dreams and talents? She has nothing to give. The world is better off without her, she thinks.
But I love the progress she makes after sampling several other lives:
“The prison wasn’t the place but the perspective.”
Our perspective traps us. Our definition of happiness traps us. Our vision of paradise traps us. Our minds are imprisoned in a lie.
I’m pretty sure we could all see where Haig was going with this book as soon as we started reading, so these ‘spoilers’ are inconsequential. We are reading this story because we want to follow Nora on her journey and we want to see the character growth and to speculate vicariously through her that maybe our ‘regrets’ aren’t really what we think they are.
Nora chases happiness and her perspective is changed. Instead of despair, she finds the hope of potential. What could be.
Norah Seed is aptly named because she is, indeed, a seed. A seed with potential to grow into something great. She was put in the dark ground— rooted in her root life— and was watered with a little truth and now she is ready to grow and become what she was made to be.
Okay, that may be a bit extra and more headed toward the Gospel of my beliefs than Haig really intended with this story, but it still fits.
I think we live in a world that would benefit from reading this book. Let’s take away the filters of our lives and discover what happiness really means and stop selfishly chasing an illusion.
“There is no life where you can be in a state of sheer happiness forever. And imagining there is just breeds more unhappiness in the life you’re in.”
Escape the prison of your self-centered perspective and see the bigger picture of your life. A life full of contentment, gratitude, hope, outside of ourselves.
Annnnnnnnddddd………
Obligatory sidenote of British terms I learned or found interesting that I could have looked up but didn’t and here’s me using context clues, common sense, and creativity (the 3 C’s!!!) to define them for you:
TV Vet- TV celebrity who also can do cat heart transplants and shots
Compering- I didn’t write the context down so this is a complete shot in the dark: fighting with computers
Quiz Night- we all know what this is but I just read in The Office book that they were surprised Quiz Nights weren’t as popular in American bars as English pubs. I can neither confirm or deny this, but I do love to win trivial things
For ever- it kept throwing me off that they put a space here… and then I inevitably said it in my head The Sandlot way. Every. Time.
Plughole- toilet drain. But should we really call this a plughole if we actively try not to plug it…?
Racecourse- horse race or more philosophically: when we live life running in dusty circles and people yell at us and bet money that we suck
Marmite- something gross you put on toast. Like Vegemite. But made with marmots instead of veggies. OR it’s actually the exact same thing and Australia and the UK joined forces to experiment if people would rather eat something from a squirrel or the ground. Hit me with these results.
Double pushchair- a double stroller but said more literally. Can’t argue with that. But actually… what’s a wheelchair called then??
*If you are British, I 100% invite you to correct me. Except about Marmite. I refuse to accept any other explanation for that one.
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