Perhaps I was expecting too much. But The Midnight Library by Matt Haigg was a disappointment. It reads like a children’s story, even with the suicide angle. The 35-year old main character, Nora Seed (seed of potential) seems about as naive as a ten year old, which sets up the didactic exchange between her and the librarian Mrs. Elm (tree with many branches). The theme is then driven home – be grateful for what you have, you make a difference, choose to live, it’s a wonderful life, and so on.
Supposedly, Nora has studied philosophy extensively, yet her references to philosophical thought amount to nothing more than what you might see on a social media meme. While The Midnight Library is well-executed, skillfully written, and kept me reading along, it ranks very poorly, near the bottom, for originality. I was expecting something special. Instead, what I got was a rehash of beloved but completely familiar stories, so much so, that it borders on a rip-off.
Maybe it’s good to have an “update” for younger generations, with the main character’s smart phone always nearby, but I’m having trouble getting past the utter lack of originality. Who hasn’t seen, or at least heard about, It’s a Wonderful Life or Groundhog Day? Have you seen Family Man, or the series The Good Place? There are many, many books and movies that explore “the road not taken” and multi-universes, parallel time lines, and so on. The Midnight Library does nothing to expand on that theme and only lightly touches upon the science to justify the plot.
If you’re looking for a story that reads like a movie, almost a Hallmark movie, then this is your book. It is uplifting with a good, positive message. However, it’s also a story you can measure with many eye rolls. Yet I kept reading. Who stops watching those feel good movies? There’s a reason they’re holiday favorites. You don’t mind watching them again, for the eight billionth time.
So because of the uplifting theme and skillful execution, The Midnight Library will remain popular. It that respect, it is an excellent book. Although I don’t know if I kept reading because I was enjoying it or was impatient for the inevitable end. And strangely, I almost feel compelled to keep it on the shelf to read/watch again next year.
