The book I picked is called “ The midnight Library” written by Matt Haig. The style of the novel is fantasy. It was published on 18 August 2020.
Summary
The story opens with “nineteen years before she decided to die.” A girl “Nora Seed” is a thirty-five years old woman who is depressed about her life and eventually decides to die. As I mentioned above, the story starts nineteen years ago before she commits suicide. Through those nine years, she lost her dad, job, dream, hobby, her beloved boyfriend, and she even lost her cat in a car accident. she lost everything she had. And even more, she needed to live far apart from her best friend “Izzy” because Izzy moved out to Australia.
After she lost everything, she felt unneeded, isolated, and hated herself. She decided to take pills and overdose at the midnight.
When she woke up she realized that she is in somewhere covered by full of mists. When the misty vapor cleared, she realized that she is in the building. The size was the same as the church or a small supermarket. She discovered there are infinite amounts of books. When she was exploring that room she met Mrs. Elm who was her old school librarian nineteen years ago. She said the room is called “ the midnight library” and she is Nora’s guide. Mrs. Elm told Nora that Nora is now in the middle of the life and death zone. All the books have stories of the life where Nora could have lived. Nora could try all the stories she desired again and could stay in the library or the stories as much as she wants. The only opportunity she could die is she doesn’t feel disappointed in the life in that story, if her disappointment is felt in full, she will soon send back to the midnight library.
First, she tried living with her ex-boyfriend “Dan” who nearly had married her. She remembered his dream was owning a small pub in the country. Therefore, she asked Mrs.Elm to let her try the story between Nora and Dan. She tried and realized that life with Dan became bored than her memory and expectation. She only discovered that Dan eventually had cheated on her and happy memory would put too many expectations.
Next, she decided to go to the life where her cat “Volts” was kept in the room and wasn’t been hit by a car because she was very regretting that she didn’t keep Volt in her house and it caused her death. She is teleported to her room and found out Volt has died in the room. Mrs. Elm told her it was sad to see dead Volt again, but she could know Volt actually died because of her health condition. Nora also noticed Volt loved her so much, because the cat tried to hide from their beloved when they die.
Now, Nora is going into the story where Nora decided to go to Australia with Izzy.
Reflection
Honestly, until I moved into the part Nora started having another life. I couldn't keep reading the story for a long time. Because her life was very depressed and unhappy. All the words that express her life and feeling were very negative and the situations she faced were so careless. I just couldn't read them. However, since Nora got lost in
At the midnight library, I started loving this novel very much! I always wondered what is gonna happen after I die and was scared of dying. Although Nora’s story is between life and death, it makes me feel a bit excited about the life after I die. Every story she went, I could see that her thought is changing step by step in a good way.” I'm very excited to read how she is gonna change and how her life ends!!!!
P.S. I decided to change the novel from modern love since that novel is a collection of short stories and too hard to write a summary and reflection every single story. But I also liked that novel so I will try to read it when I have free time☺️
I love to read this kind of story talking about “real life.” Although you said the words are too negative, that’s what everyone will experience. Also, I would like to know how the world looks like after we die.
ReplyDeleteIt’s always hard to read a book about deaths and regrets, the combination just tear me apart all the time, I can cry in my heart for days… .
ReplyDeleteI think I will be interested in this book! I believe that everyone wants to have a chance to see your whole life again after you died. I can have second opportunity to decide my life. However, if I have to choose it again, I think I will still choose the same. Because I don't regret about my life, if I made a wrong decision, then just adapt and accept it. Everything can be overcome.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nightmare fantasy story, I couldn't imagine that if I continually lost my beloved ones and most of the thing I reliance on for years like trapped in traumas in every part of my life. Especially the character is in her mid adulthood, unlike twenties that people seems to be more likely apt to changes. It's a shame that you can't finish the book, I will be willing to know how would the author tries to put his character back to a somewhat normal life.
ReplyDeleteIf we think a bit further, what a coincident that Covid mess rendered life a fresh degree that most of us rarely used to. Someone else, at the same time, forced to leave their home thanks to wars. I now think it wouldn't be a surprise if the author simply showing a possible life a man could be. To stop me rambling more, how about I appreciated my life is good enough to cherish it. And hope as Mia said, everything can be overcome.