The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

 

I absolutely loved this book. It delivers a pretty simple message. We are so preoccupied with the "what ifs" and the "If onlys" that we sometimes forget to look at the lives we have and understand the gift they are-and continue to be as our lives unfold. Unfold in a way that should continually amaze us, but instead sends us sometimes into unhappy places. Has us trying to live a life that will make others happy, and not really make us happy. 

This is Nora Seed. She's thirty-five, single, and works in a music store. She's depressed a lot and takes anti-depressants to get through her days. Her parents are dead and her older brother is very distant. The final straw is finding her cat dead. She realizes her life is empty of love and really anyone caring about her, so she decides she's done and drinks a bottle of wine and take a bunch of pills. 

End of story, right? Kind of gloomy, you think? Nope. Nora wakes up in an amazing place: a library. It's a library like she's never seen, and only one other person is in it: her old school librarian Mrs. Elm. The one person who, when Nora needed it the most, showed her kindness. Mrs. Elm explains to Nora that she's in an in-beween place; a sort of holding spot for those who are on the cusp of dying. This is one last chance to read her book of regrets, and then choose a life to live-a life that may help Nora erase some of her life regrets. And if that life doesn't fix it, Nora can leave it and find herself back in the library to try again with another life book. Endless possibilities. 

At first, Nora is caught up in the what could have been lives: an Olympic swimmer, the lead singer in a famous rock band-all aspects of herself that could have been, if only she'd pursued her natural talents. However, each life quickly reveals the not so great parts to Nora, and she finds herself returning to the Midnight library over and over. It's an interesting theory about multiple lives all operating in parallel universes; thousands of you living thousands of different lives-all because you made a few different choices. All those little choices add up to drastically different lives--not only for Nora, but for all the people she knows.

Now it's up to Nora to see if she can find that one life that is the one she always wanted. If she finds it, can she stay there? What of her old life, the one she was so ready to leave? 

I've followed Matt Haig on Twitter and understand he's battled with depression. It clearly shows in the novel. Nora is someone we all know; that one person who slips through the cracks. We're so busy we don't pay attention. So busy making sure we do all the right things. But the message here is about potential. Realizing we have potential to do so many wonderful things in life. Embracing all the messiness of life. Instead of worrying about about what everyone else is doing, focus on yourself. Look at your own potential-explore and develop your talents. Revel in the possibilities. 

This was a quick read, but an impactful one. Nora will stay with me for a long time. A pick me up novel that arrived in my hands at just the right time. 

Rating: 5/6 for a powerful look at life, choices, regrets, and potential. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

A Good American by Alex George

I've read two amazing books so far this year, and it's only mid-February.  I can only hope this streak continues through the rest of 2013.  Life After Life by Kate Atkinson was superb; A Good American was so darn enjoyable I was reluctant to finish it and say goodbye to the Meisenheimer family.

I should also add that this book has another meaning for me.  In my book group at work--which consists of fellow employees meeting once a month to just talk about books--we decided to start off this year by putting a title in a "hat" that we wanted someone else in the group to read this year.  It could be any title you wanted.  We all had a bit of a time, since talking about books to each other means most of the time many of us have read the same books.  But, I was lucky--so very lucky!--to pick this title out of the "hat".  It just so happened to have been released in paperback that week, so I quickly bought it and dived in this week while on vacation.  

What can I say about this novel?  It starts out with Frederick and Jette; living in Germany, and falling in love.  Their passion gets the best of them, and they soon must flee a disapproving mother and quickly board a ship bound for New Orleans.  It was the only ship leaving for America quickly, and time was of the essence.  Jette is 7 months pregnant, and the trip is very taxing on her.  They have very little money, the clothes on their backs, and no plan of what they will do once they arrive in New Orleans.  And neither speaks a lick of English.  It is 1905 and the world is wide open.

The story continues as Frederick, with his magical singing voice, and Jette, feeling completely homesick, learn to find their way in America, ending up in Beatrice, Missouri.  Jette's giving birth helps them decide where they will stay.  

The rest of the novel follows the generations of the Meisenheimers as they live, love, and work in Beatrice.  Frederick's absolute love and gratitude towards America sets the tone for the sacrifices, opportunities, and tragedies that follow Frederick, Jette, and their children.  

It truly is a wonderful novel.  I was quickly sucked in, and couldn't put it down.  I always find it amazing that people will leave all they know for a complete unknown place--and so many millions did it to come to America and start a new life.  The courage that takes is astounding to me--someone who doesn't like driving in a city where I'm unfamiliar with the roads.  I feel like a complete wimp!  

This book will certainly be a top ten read for me this year, and it's so early in the year!  But I can't help it.  It is one of those novels that you hate to finish.  

Thanks to Kirk! for recommending this book to me.  I never read it in hardcover, and am so glad I finally picked it up in paperback.  Most definitely will be a staff recommends title for me at the bookstore.  And a staple for my book talks in the next few months.  

Rating:  9/10; wonderful characters that experience the same growing pains as America does from the early 1900's through the 1960's; written with just the right touches of humor and sadness that make this novel so unforgettable.

Available in paperback, hardcover and as an e-book.  Also has a book club discussion guide at the end of the paperback.  I would strongly suggest this as a book club read!  

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A Good American by Alex George