We dont know if she will live another five years or five minutes. *Im sure if I actually came face to face with a polar bear I would NOT want polar bears. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. The Midnight Library study guide contains a biography of Matt Haig, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Such a gorgeous, gorgeous book. Fearne Cotton, host of theBBC Radio 1 Chart Show, [The Midnight Library] will follow in the bestselling footsteps of Haigs earlier books . eNotes Editorial. Midnight Library 3 Important Life Lessons From Matt Haigs The Midnight publication in traditional print. from St. Work hard at it. However, in one of her parallel lives, she learns that he is unhappy with her and cheats on her. However, on meeting Nora a complex but deeply likeable character I had faith that the book would be a compassionate illustration of an often stigmatised experience. Throughout the novel, readers cant help but question their past decisions, both major and minor, along with Nora. Work hard at it. Error rating book. When I started reading The Midnight Library I figured I knew exactly what was coming its a lesson in living life with no regrets, of not always wishing the grass was greener or imagining what your life might be like if only. GradeSaver, 29 December 2022 Web. The novels simple yet fantastical premise renders Noras story a modern day parable, exploring regret, pain and the richness of the ordinary in life. The library described in the book turned out to be different from what I had imagined, although it was intriguing all the same. On a beautiful page titledExpectation, Nora imagines What it would be like to accept herself completely, every mistake she had made every dream she hadn't reached. We dont know how she will spend it or who she will spend it with. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. The last date is today's In response, the wise Mrs Elm relentlessly reminds Nora of "the big importance of the small things, as Nora discovers that her actions in the root life that she tried to end, such as picking up prescriptions for an elderly neighbour, Mr Banerjee, really mattered. Good choices, she comes to understand, do not necessarily correlate to good outcomes. The Midnight Library was my introduction to Matt Haig and I thoroughly enjoy his writing. Most gossip is envy in disguise., Never underestimate the big importance of small things, A person was like a city. Other powerful moments in the book happen when Nora is experiencing extreme emotions love, fear, pride, adoration, strength theyre feelings at the extremes. As she explores her infinite possible lives, she encounters experiences from the ordinary to the remarkable, including narrowly avoiding being eaten by a polar bear in Norway having changed her university course from Philosophy to Geology and taking a role at the Polar Research Institute. After being able to see many different iterations of her life, and the impact her choices can have, she realizes there is still so much she can do to make her life better. This seems initially surprising, especially given the fact that she seemed to find many seemingly good versions of her life, but the reason for this becomes quite clear in the last chapter. Once the lava slows and cools, it solidifies and then breaks down over time to become soil - rich, fertile soil. WebMrs. Acres of disappointment and monotony and hurts and rivalries but with flashes of wonder and beauty. In the first life Nora travels to, she owns a pub with her husband Dan. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. It makes for a great philosophical read about the regrets we have in life. Why are Ravi and Joe upset that Nora left the band? When she survives her suicide attempt, she awakens with a sense of peace in her life that has previously eluded her. Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?. One of the pivotal moments in the book happens when, in one of her parallel lives, Nora is confronted by a polar bear. In this way, she experiences separation from her body, as it provides "clues" to cracking whatever "mystery" is part of the life she is exploring. Darling. That the prison wasn't the place, but the perspective., The thing that looks the most ordinary might end up being the thing that leads you to victory., Regrets dont leave. because a pawn is never just a pawn. Haigs novel suggests that the purpose of life is to live. In her real life, she often ruminates about their breakup. We don't have to have tried every variety of grape from every vineyard to know the pleasure of wine. It is easy to mourn the lives we My views may probably be a little surprising for some, given that this book is an award-winner and has a rating of more than 4 out of 5 on various review websites. You can't give up, Nora. "Doing one thing differently is often the same as doing everything differently.". This moment comes immediately after Nora escapes the library with the Book of Regrets. Dan is Nora's ex-fianc. As a consequence of her self-critical thoughts, Nora overdoses and is surprised to find herself in the library, where the time on her watch is stuck at midnight. The main theme of the novel is possibility. The chessboard works as a symbol in the novel of possibility. In another, shes a glaciologist. There are lives where you make different choices. This quote describes the continual strangeness that Nora experiences as she moves through these different lives. In this excerpt, Mrs. Elm explains how the Midnight Library works and the purpose that it serves. I dont think I could have picked a better book to kick off this year with, definitely makes me want to explore the other what ifs and not regret the things I may have missed in the past. To see how things would be if you had made other choices Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?, Sometimes just to say your own truth out loud is enough to find others like you., Of course, we can't visit every place or meet every person or do every job, yet most of what we'd feel in any life is still available. You just have to live it., Youre overthinking it. I have anxiety. I am staying here. Book Review: The Midnight Library | Pikes Peak Library District But there are also limitations to this style of narration. If you follow me on Instagram stories, youll know that I accidentally stayed in bed until lunchtime one day this week reading The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Ed. This means that the novel can only rely on Nora Seed, and if she stagnates, then so does the reader. Then, she is fired from her job of resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. The warped logic of severe depression is honestly and clearly expressed, as Haig describes the inescapable feeling brewing in the darkness when Nora sees Voltaire, her dead cat, lying on the road. At the beginning of the story, Nora is playing chess with Mrs. Elm, who remarks to her that her life is full of possibility. Already a member? Leave a comment and let me know. While the "Between life and death there is a library," she said. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Finally, there are plenty of allusions in this novel. This means that by the time you reach the middle of the story, the plot starts getting repetitive, and the development of the character stalls. It was weird, to have your own body offer clues to a mystery. A connection between herself and the world. As a reviewer, my own lived experience with existential depression and suicidal ideation meant that I faced this book with a tightness in my chest. The Midnight Library explores the complex psychological dynamics of choice and regret. TW: This article discusses suicide, suicidal ideation, antidepressants and self-harm, We first meet Nora Seed, nineteen years before she decides to die, as she plays chess in the school library with Mrs Elm, the matter-of-fact school librarian. It is also important in that it depicts Mrs. Elm trying to show Nora the value and importance of her life. Last Updated on July 8, 2021, by eNotes Editorial. date the date you are citing the material. Note: this article may contain spoilers for The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Whether its through a fictional characters narrative or summaries of his personal experiences, Haig encourages readers to let go of their past and make the most of their present, and The Midnight Library is no exception to this trend. This whole place exists because of you. The main themes in The Midnight Library are choice and regret, philosophy and the meaning of life, and relationships and forgiveness. From as far back as she could remember, she'd had the sense that she wasn't enough. "This is the best life," she told herself, a little desperately now. . She later reappears as a younger version of herself in the Midnight Library, where she assists Nora in traveling to her various unlived lives. She is despondently lonely and thinks that she no longer has a purpose. To see how things would be different if you had made other choices Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?". He tells us what life isnt through Noras The talented aspiring Olympic swimmer turned aspiring rock star now aspires only to stop living. All we know is shes been given a second chance, one she fought desperately for towards the end of the novel. This was not the life she imagined it to be. Accessed 4 Mar. The novels simple yet fantastical premise renders Noras story a modern day parable, exploring regret, pain and the richness of the ordinary in life. But there is no life where you can be in a state of sheer happiness for ever. This is the book of regrets. WebNora is the main character in The Midnight Library.She is a 35-year-old British woman who lives alone with her cat in the quiet town of Bedford. When I finished The Midnight Library I wasnt left wanting a nice sit down on a comfy sofa reading a magazine, as nice as that is I was left wanting to come face to face with a polar bear, to feel a rush of adrenalin standing up to speak in front of hundreds of people. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. You get the flow of the story quickly Nora reflects on a key milestone or regret, she makes a decision, and she experiences the consequences of that choice. The Midnight Library is out now in the UK and America. Yet Nora is not particularly tragic or heroic, so I found that I couldnt connect with her, which is a shame because there are no true secondary characters in the novel. . She is described as a sweet and happy child. When she loses momentum, she then finds herself stuck in situations that foster situational depression. After visiting all these alternative lives for a temporary amount of time, Nora rediscovers lifes potential and her personal will-to-live. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Containing every regret Nora has had in her 35 years of life, this book allows Nora to pinpoint choices in her life she wishes to undo and guide her towards a life in which she did the exact opposite. Plain and simple. She loves this life and finds herself feeling both content and fulfilled, working on a book about Thoreau and spending time with her daughter. Eventually facing disappointment with every regret she expunges, Nora returns to the library confused. Self-harm is discussed throughout the novel, with calmness and grace, as Haig describes the tell-tale scar lines that Nora notices on her body in some of the different lives that she enters. And that chaos builds with every single move you make., When you stay too long in a place, you forget just how big an expanse the world is. My Key Takeaways from The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Seeing this allows her to realize that Dan was never the right person for her and that she shouldn't regret having broken things off with him. But it is boring. Easy to wish we'd worked harder, loved better, handled our finances more astutely, been more popular, stayed in the band, gone to Australia, said yes to the coffee or done more bloody yoga. In another she is a swimmer and Olympic gold medalist. Melendez, John. How does Anita Desai use symbolism to develop a theme in "Games at Twilight"? When she finds herself in the Midnight Library, Nora is offered the opportunity to reckon with her regrets by finding out what would have happened if she had made other choices in her life. What are the main themes in The Midnight Library? The idea of success is complicated and questioned as the novel progresses. Nora blinked, and when she opened her eyes both she and Mrs Elm were standing in a different part of the library. Knowing now that her choices can have a dramatic and unforeseen impact, she feels more hopeful about how much she can change things. Midnight Library And imagining there is just breeds more unhappiness in the life youre in., Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. GradeSaver, 29 December 2022 Web. Standing, What can be a theme statement for the story "Games at Twilight"? More opportunities to have. Elm is the librarian from Nora's elementary school days. WebThe Midnight Library According to Mrs. Elm , the Midnight Library is the physical embodiment of a state between life and deathan in-between state. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. What she means is that often making a single small adjustment can permanently alter the course of a life. 2023 . Love it. This is a must-read for those of us given to endlesswhat ifs. BookRiot, Haig is one of the most inspirational popular writers on mental health of our age and, in his latest novel, he has taken a clever, engaging concept and created a heart-warming story that offers wisdom in the same deceptively simple way as Mitch Alboms best tales. Independent (UK), Just beautiful . The theme chosen really is a fantastic one. We dont know how Nora will spend her life. The Midnight Library Marmalade and Mustardseed Nora Seed is the main character of the novel. Symbolism is especially heavy in this story. Her parents who both had their own insecurities, had encouraged that idea. Book Club Discussion Questions for 'The Midnight Library By the end of The Midnight Library though I was left feeling like an even keel doesnt really cut it. The Midnight Library study guide contains a biography of Matt Haig, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The basic premise is that a woman called Nora decides to kill herself, and before she dies she finds herself in the Midnight Library. "And within that library, the shelves go on for ever. You alone, can climb the stairs of the strange, old Victorian mansion and be somewhat welcomed by your Hosts, Miranda Merrick & Mr. Midnight Library And with all the knowledge she gained from jumping to and from the many lives she could have potentially lived, Nora is determined to make her current reality one she would check out from The Midnight Library., About Annenberg Media This brainy, captivating pleasure read feels like what you might get if TVsTheGood Placecollided withWhered You Go, Bernadette. People, Clever, emotional and thought-inspiring. Jenny Colgan, author ofThe Bookshop on the Corner, Amazing and utterly beautiful,The Midnight Libraryis everything youd expect from the genius storyteller who is Matt Haig. Joanna Cannon, author ofThe Trouble with Goats and Sheep, Noras life is burdened by regrets. Long after Nora has graduated and forgotten about those after-school chess sessions, she finds herself utterly disappointed with all aspects of her life. Matt Haig: The Midnight Library review - The Arts Desk Matt Haig Quotes The novel opens with her playing chess with Nora and talking about the possibilities of life. She is described as loving and warm. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. You are giving up at the worst possible moment. I was both intrigued and uneasy about the use of a fantastical library to explore something as real and horrific as suicidal depression. Each life that Nora samples represents potential, yet none of them satisfy Nora. I cant describe how much his work means to me. This suggests that the relative importance of any one of these individual lives is only incidental, and to live mired in universal regret is to ascribe an unnecessary degree of importance to the reality at hand. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? However, death is not that simple, as Nora embarks on a journey of other potential lives she could have lived. His books are YA, but theyre not advertised as YA. Assuming the errors were somehow removed from the book, do you think you would have felt differently about the book had it been sold to you as a YA title? The Question and Answer section for The Midnight Library is a great Midnight Library "What literary devices are used in The Midnight Library?" The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. Of course, they come in different degrees and quantities. This moment comes after Nora has traveled through a few different lives. Symbolism In Night By Elie Wiesel - 1614 Words | Internet Public One cement-grey book, however, is different from the rest. Nora's father dies when she is fairly young. And don't give a second thought when people mock it or ridicule it. To be the world, witnessing itself., Sometimes regrets aren't based on fact at all, The lonely mind in the busy city yearns for connection because it thinks human-to-human connection is the point of everything. The physical And yes, it is about that the plot isnt surprising in that sense but its about something else too, which Im not sure I had expected or appreciated quite as much. Nora's cat's name is Voltaire, and this alludes to both the philosopher himself and his character Dr. Pangloss, who says that he lives in the best of all possible worlds. There is also a dog named Plato in the story, and indeed, Nora is searching for the ultimate reality. The Midnight Library study guide contains a biography of Matt Haig, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. As Nora watches the lives of those around her change shape in accordance with the fluctuating circumstances of reality, she comes to realize that the motivations of those around her are as genuine and complex as her own. Faced with a number of promising opportunities in her lifehigh-level competitive swimming, a pending marriage, a record deal, a move to AustraliaNora has, at each turn, chosen inaction. WebIn the Midnight Library, Mrs. Elm says that she can't overlook minor decisions, because, in chess, every piece has the potential to radically change the course of a game, just like these choices can reshape a life. The dialogue flows naturally and the characters come to life. We just have to close our eyes and savour the taste of the drink in front of us and listen to the song as it plays. This is the key realization that ultimately leads her to a greater chance at happiness in her root life. . But once you sense that vastness, once something reveals it, hope emerges, whether you want it to or not, and it clings to you as stubbornly as lichen clings to rock.. She tells Nora about how it exists as a space for her to see different versions of what her life could have been. What she thinks in this moment is that there isn't really a so-called perfect life, but rather a series of lives with their own specific challenges, even if some appear more exciting than others. She realizes, too, that she can always make new and better choices going forward. We know well by now I think that life isnt about being blissfully happy all the time, but often this is replaced with the idea of the pursuit of contentment a low key level of satisfaction that comes from appreciating small things in life, managing our own expectations and generally trying to keep on an EVEN KEEL. TW: mentions of suicide ideation and attempted suicide, Somewhere between life and death, Nora Seed finds herself wandering the marble hallways of a never-ending library; The Midnight Library.. eNotes Editorial, 19 Feb. 2022, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-literary-devices-are-used-in-the-midnight-3023590. The novel opens with her playing chess with Nora and talking about the possibilities of life. In each of them, she gradually gathers details about the life she is inhabiting from conversations and the physical feeling of her body. T he main themes in The Midnight Library are choice and regret, philosophy and the meaning of life, and relationships and forgiveness. Whats more, you dont have to come face to face with a polar bear to feel them theyre in you right now, in this life, just waiting to be felt. Though this immediate danger quickly passesNora survives the encounter with the polar bear and is complimented for her bravery by the other members of the expeditionthis is an important moment in the book as it shows her definitively deciding she wants to keep living. 1614 Words7 Pages. Julia Nemirovskaya) review - writing battle-lines, Sally Adee: We Are Electric review - currents that run through us all, Extract: The Northern Silence - Journeys in Nordic Music and Culture by Andrew Mellor, 'I let it emerge': an interview with Fiona Benson on the cusp of the TS Eliot Prize announcement, Jaan Kross: A Book of Falsehoods review - plague, power and deception in 16th century Tallinn, 10 Questions for writer and translator Saskia Vogel, Bob Dylan: The Philosophy of Modern Song review - a book that contains multitudes, Kelefa Sanneh: Major Labels review - diary of an omnivorous musicophile, 10 Questions for Bruce Lindsay, biographer of Ivor Cutler, Patrick Duff: The Singer review - agony and ecstasy of a rock'n'roll life.