The Book Nook

Getting A Second Chance   If given the opportunity to relive your life, would you take it?  That’s the surprising proposal one woman receives in “The Midnight Library”, bestselling author Matt Haig’s exploration of regret and optimism. First, let’s meet Nora Seed, a talented woman of 35 who is dissatisfied with her life. She has an abundance of talent, but nothing to show for it.  Her athleticism might have won her a shot at the Olympics and her songwriting skills captured the attention of a major studio, but her choices destroyed both of those dreams. Nora’s life seems bleak and pointless.  Her best friend moved to another continent and her fiancée left after she ended their engagement.  One decision she made caused her brother to stop speaking to her.  He was the only family remaining and recent chance meetings have only sharpened her unhappiness.  After deciding her existence is superfluous, she commits suicide. She finds herself in front of a strange building and steps inside.  It’s an eerie library with aisles and aisles of books that seem to go on forever.  In the midst of this strangeness is something familiar – a librarian named Mrs. Elm, who was kind to Nora when she was a girl. The woman explains that everyone’s lives could have ended up any number of ways.  Different choices result in different outcomes.  Each book represents a different life Nora can live, starting right now.  There are infinite varieties and since Nora doesn’t want to return to her current life, she can pick a new one.  The question is: which one? While Mrs. Elm can’t decide for Nora, she can provide guidance.  She warns that that making a wrong choice is OK, but time is a factor and the clock is ticking.  Again, which life to choose?  That’s where the fun begins, although things won’t go as Nora expects.  Her choice will take her through an array of feelings.  She’ll continues to experience life’s negative and positive aspects.  She’ll also have new regrets, but will learn from her experiences. The story’s concept seems both simple and complex in this delightful blend of philosophy and speculative fiction.  While the author researched quantum physics to understand the underlying principles, he spares readers from doing the same, giving us an easy-to-understand explanation.  The writing has a playful quality with short chapters and straightforward prose.  Well-placed quotes from Henry David Thoreau greatly enhance this book, which was published in 2020. In spite of Nora’s regrets, there’s an overall feel of optimism without being overly sugary.  The story reminds us of the value of living more carefully without making if feel like a reprimand.  There’s a nice distinction between success and happiness. The author takes rather outlying ideas and brings them into the realm of normal and the result is a satisfying if possibly predictable ending.  That’s not meant to be a criticism because many readers reported the positive effect the story had on them.  I appreciate Haig’s ability to give us a listless character who yet holds our interest and make us hopeful for her.  We can relate to Nora and feel the author’s empathy for her situation. The library serves not only as a clever plot device but also as playground for philosophical questions.  In a recent interview, Haig said he wanted to pay tribute to libraries in general, which he feels are portals to other places.  He noted that many libraries in his home country of the United Kingdom were forced to close after politicians defunded them.  He expressed appreciation that Americans recognize the value of their local library and continue to support them. Examining “what might have been” is a universal theme that’s been explored in countless books, movies, plays and tv shows.  They may involve parallel lives, time travel, guiding angels or multiverses and offer intriguing concepts that are seeing renewed popularity today. The question of how to get another ride in the rodeo of life is right up there with “Why are we here?” and “Is there life after death?”.  What you’ll find in this story is a whimsical and entertaining story of optimism in the face of hopelessness. Earlier in life Haig struggled with depression and wanted to write something to give others hope.  The result was “Reasons to Stay Alive, his internationally bestselling memoir/self-help book that was on a British best-seller list for nearly a year. He has penned bestselling children’s books and novels and has won an award given to authors whose books have special appeal for young adults.  At last count his works have been translated into over 40 languages.  He currently lives in the U.S. with his wife and children.