Emma McAndrew
“The only way to learn is to live.” That is one of the many life lessons that has been resonating within me ever since stepping into Matt Haig’s fictional world of The Midnight Library. Best known for writing self-help books, which aim to destigmatise mental health, Haig disguises similar messaging with the genre of fantasy and adventure in this novel.
We follow Nora Seed as she enters The Midnight Library after trying to take her own life and embarks on a journey through the infinite possibilities of what her life could’ve been. It is a moving, thought-provoking, and sometimes comical tale that is set to inspire its audience to radiate a more positive approach towards our own lives.
Digestable
Matt Haig is a master of producing pieces of non-fiction that promote self-acceptance and mental wellbeing. The Midnight Library does exactly that, but is written in a less intense way that makes the heavy themes of suicide and depression easier to digest. Its snappy chapters and condensed number of characters makes the story easy to comprehend and is a fast-paced read – perfect for those who aren’t excited by extreme philosophical literature.
“light read with heavy themes”
Yet, this novel is themed almost entirely around psychology and the way we perceive our own existence. It delves deep into the science of parallel universes and depicts a long list of Nora’s regrets, with which many readers may be able to relate with, and arouses strong feelings of empathy towards Nora. I would describe it as a light read with heavy themes that are executed in a delicate manner through a very cleverly constructed concept.
Mrs Elm
The Midnight Library is explained as being situated between life and death, giving Nora time to decide if she would rather live before her spirit fully slips away. She is guided by her school librarian Mrs Elm who acts as a guardian angel figure for Nora (and personally is my favourite character). Her words of wisdom throughout the book are a key component of why this book is so memorable to me.
The pair share a history of significance to each other, making their relationship heart-warming and charming to read. We learn at the beginning of the novel that Nora spent many a lunchtime in the school library playing chess with Mrs Elm and that she was the one to comfort her when her father passed away in the middle of an ordinary school day.
These elements appear to be prominent throughout the story with regular references to chess and, of course, the fundamental setting of The Midnight Library that is filled with books of the various versions of Nora’s life.
Endless Possibilities
Nora is thrown into the countless lifestyles that she could have experienced over the years, which only end when the emotion of genuine sadness is suffered. With help from Mrs Elm to select the books wisely, The Midnight Library allows Nora to live the dreams that she had but did not chase. She is enabled to learn what her life could have been if she bought a pub with her ex-husband, became an Olympic swimmer, performed in a world-famous rock band – the list is endless.
“igniting subsequent philosophies of the butterfly effect “
From a reader’s perspective, it allows us to venture into a number of different worlds within the length of one novel, keeping the story enthralling. One of Nora’s most bittersweet moments for me is when she picks up the phone in one of her alternate lives, and is greeted by her late father. However, we soon learn that his existence in this universe means that someone else’s has had to be sacrificed, igniting subsequent philosophies of the butterfly effect to be thought about.
We also learn that relationships are warped in Nora’s different lives with the closeness between herself and her brother Joe posing as a rocky one throughout her diverse realities. And even when Nora lives what she believes to be her perfect life, she still ends up back in The Midnight Library with Mrs Elm after being overcome with the feeling of severe sadness.
Bottom Line
The moral of the story is clear throughout the book, and Haig’s experience with writing about mental health makes me trust the lessons that he is trying to teach to perhaps a new cohort of readers.
“This book has had a lasting effect”
The ending could admittedly be described as predictable, but the adventure-themed around Nora’s journey to the book’s conclusion adds to the impact of the novel. This book has had a lasting effect on me and has encouraged me to fully think about the message that Haig is conveying.
It has made me feel settled with my own life and the stage that I am currently at, reminding me not to rush and to be grateful for who and what I have.
I believe that everyone would be able to extract a similar mindset from reading The Midnight Library. But even if you are solely looking for an enjoyable story to get lost in without a deeper meaning attached, then this book can still be appreciated for the inventive tale that it tells.
Featured image courtesy of Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
Emma McAndrew
Emma is one of the Deputy Editors here at Empoword Journalism and a final year journalism student at Edinburgh Napier University. When she isn't studying or editing articles, Emma enjoys keeping active at the gym, going on walks, journaling and reading books.