Book: The Midnight Library

[elusivek]

The Midnight Library
Matt Haig
Amazon.com product link

THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON
READERS' MOST LOVED BOOK OF 2021
WINNER OF THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD FOR FICTION

'BEAUTIFUL' Jodi Picoult, 'UPLIFTING' i, 'BRILLIANT' Daily Mail, 'AMAZING' Joanna Cannon, 'ABSORBING' New York Times, 'THOUGHT-PROVOKING' Independent

Nora's life has been going from bad to worse. Then at the stroke of midnight on her last day on earth she finds herself transported to a library. There she is given the chance to undo her regrets and try out each of the other lives she might have lived. Which raises the ultimate question: with infinite choices, what is the best way to live?

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +

Possible Spoilers alert:

If I’m allowed to be honest, I disliked this book. I disliked the premises of this book. Still a high rating (4/5 stars) because writing and editing’s good.

I’m cool with the idea of parallel universes and such, but not so much the type that this book was going after, “try a life until you find one you like”. Just doesn’t sit well with me. It just doesn’t make sense, because… since that’s the premises of the book: you get to try out all your possible lives in that minute that you-have-died-but-are-not-dead-yet, then that’s all in your head. If that’s the case, then how are you meeting all the other “sliders”?

I guess if this was more of a “the dream you have at death’s door” I would have been a bit more convinced.

However, I have to agree with one line: “It was interesting, she mused to herself, how life sometimes simply gave you a whole new perspective by waiting around long enough for you to see it.” (Pg.280-281)

An enjoyable read, and another book off my challenge list. Thank you for the rec :-)

Prompt #47: A book featuring a parallel reality