The Midnight Library by Matt Haig: A Book Review
Genre: Fantasy
Haig writes a difficult story to tell in his work The Midnight Library. Surrounding a depressed main character in the act of dying, Haig gives motivational one liners and interesting parallels to different regrets we might have throughout our lives. Even more interesting is the constant idea that while we might regret having made some choices in our past we still feel draw to the choices we already made.
With effortless philosophy undertones (protagonist is a fan of philosophy so kinda saw that coming) and other different mentions of “what life is” and “what makes people happy”, Haig showcases the absurdity of such questions in common life constantly repeating that “the only way to learn is to live”. At the same time, though, Haig does great taking the big ideas and concepts surrounding his story and making them into something smaller, thus more manageable.
Giving both great detail and strength towards his show of mental health and metal illness, Haig also fills his book with great advice and encouragement while continuously filling the book with empathy and understanding. He even puts in some characters who’s lack of belief in such things hurts the protagonist and shows the former characters learning from it and apologizing to the MC.
In many way – if not all – Haig’s The Midnight Library was all encompassing in ideas, philosophy, empathy, and study. I highly recommend adding it to anyone’s TBR list.
Who would most enjoy the work and who should stay clear (if necessary):
Those with mental illness might enjoy with novel as well as those interested in philosophy (specifically metaphysics) or having a mid-life crisis.
This book does mention suicide as well as drug abuse – however, both are mostly glossed over.
Other books like the one reviewed:
Life Inside My Mind by Jessica Burkhard
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
| Plot: | 10 / 10 |
| Characters: | 9 / 10 |
| Writing: | 10 / 10 |
| Editor: | 9 / 10 |
| Total | 38 / 40 |
Title: The Midnight Library
Author: Matt Haig
Edition: Hardcover
Published: 2020
Publisher: Viking
ISBN: 9780525559474
If you want to get it: Amazon; Barnes&Noble
Rosey Reviews 