Beyond Time and Regret: An In-Depth Look at The Midnight Library

“Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?” — a question we rarely get the chance to wonder about amid our bustling lives. But what would we do if we were actually given this opportunity?

Yes, it does make us pause for a while. Such an opportunity has taken center stage in the fantasy novel The Midnight Library, penned by English author and journalist Matt Haig. The book was published on August 13, 2020. The tale unfolds around Nora Seed, a mentally drained 32-year-old, who finds herself in a timeless library, where she is given the opportunity to peek through the many lives she never lived.

The book was a New York Times best-seller and won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fiction in 2020.

The novel takes the reader and the protagonist to a library beyond the universe. A library that offers books of an unusual nature. They tell the tales of those lives that Nora could have lived if she had made different choices in her actual life. Forced by the circumstance, the protagonist dives into those lives to have a peek and see how many of her regrets were misplaced. In addition to this unfathomable library, a significant portion of the book is set in a real town in Bedfordshire, England. The setting perfectly captures the essence of small-town life in Britain, from where Ms Seed hails from.

The character of Nora Seed embodies many self-blameful, pessimistic, dispirited behaviors that many of us exhibit in our lives when life throws lemons at us and tests our limits. However, the compelling advice from the supporting character of Mrs. Elm provides Nora with many moments of contemplation and a tiny bit of provocation. 

Throughout the novel, the writer keeps a beautiful rhythm by accommodating emotionally charged and quieter moments with necessary space. The unique and innovative structure of the whole story is complemented by a gripping title in each chapter. Occasional mild sarcasm prevented the story from becoming overly heavy, keeping it engaging.

I found the story deeply relatable on many levels. Many of the disappointments, regrets, and sadness Nora felt were very familiar to me, which is why the story resonated with me so strongly. Often, after reading certain books, I feel heard, and The Midnight Library gave me that sense of being heard. As an added bonus, it also answered a couple of my queries.

The writer employs an approachable writing style, making the reading experience enjoyable, which also makes it a light read for those who are in the process of learning English.

The Midnight Library is a delightful read. On a rainy day, when one is feeling as gloomy as the sky, this one can give a gentle nudge of contemplation to the reader and might even end up convincing that, maybe, life is not so bad after all.

As Mrs. Elm states “The only way to learn is to live”, the only way to embark on this marvelous journey to the edge of the universe is to read The Midnight Library.

Spoiler Ahead!

For those readers who feel intimidated before starting something, rest assured this one has a happy ending!