The Midnight Library

[Newnamefor2021]

Anyone read?

Interesting book, I guessed the ending as soon as she got into the library but even with that I enjoyed, read in less than 24 hours.

I loved it but my favourite book by Matt Haig will always be The Radleys.

I quite enjoyed it. A bit of light relief following a few heavy reads.

This isn't really my usual type of read, but it was recommended to me by a friend who read this for her book club. Overall I enjoyed it and was curious to know where Nora would go next. The only thing is that I found some parts of the opening scene a bit unrealistic, such as the coldness of the woman working at the shop: her comments would be classed as very unprofessional. After I finished it I thought that perhaps Nora might eventually get together with Ash and have a daughter named Molly!
I liked the first part of Haig's Reasons to Stay Alive, and admired him for being open about his depression. But in the second part of the book, where he philosophises more and then writes others' comments from (I think?) Twitter, it just felt like it lost its personal touch. Then again, I know from both books that philosophy is a big part of Haig's life.

I’m half way through this. It’s okay, but I’m not gripped.

It doesn’t help that I’ve just read another time-travel book, “1986 Fix’, where the main person goes back to 1986. It’s similar in that he tries to right the wrongs. I feel it’s not trying to be as clever as ‘The Midnight library’ so works better.

Finished the book now and did get into it. No one seems to describe it as a ‘time travel’ book, but in many ways it was.

One major flaw of the book was the main characters name, Nora. How many Noras do you know? The name is too old for the main character in the book. I think it took me a while to picture her as a younger person, not an oap.

I just finished it this second and was about to start a thread about it!

I'm clearly not as cynical as I thought. I absolutely loved it. I tend to just read 'in the moment' without thinking about how it will end and I really had no thoughts that she would end up back in her old life.

I absolutely loved the last few chapters and actually shed a few tears right at the end when she was playing chess with Mrs Elm. I haven't been so moved by a book in a long time.

@Standrewsschool

I’m half way through this. It’s okay, but I’m not gripped.

It doesn’t help that I’ve just read another time-travel book, “1986 Fix’, where the main person goes back to 1986. It’s similar in that he tries to right the wrongs. I feel it’s not trying to be as clever as ‘The Midnight library’ so works better.

Ah I read that book some time ago and really enjoyed it. Ive read a few more from same Author which I also enjoyed!

I’m reading it and really like it. It comes across as gentle and sincere. It’s such a breath of fresh air in a world obsessed with crime, plot twists etc. Why do so many people seem to think a good twist is crucial to good writing?

Or to a good story, I mean. I often feel manipulated by a twist (like in Eleanor Oliphant) & find them to be contrived.

I love a good light story for before bed. I don't even need a real storyline, just somewhere to escape to. For some reason I just couldn't get on with this. I think a PP might have hit the nail on the head, it seems to be a self help book but dealt with in a very superficial way and trying to disguise itself as a novel. I tried the audible version which has great reviews but found myself zoning out a lot and having to restart whole chapters. I don't have an objection to books with a message and have read some very moving novels in the past but this one misses the mark.

I plodded through the audiobook. Thought provoking and touching at the end , but not enjoyable listen if that makes sense ?
I’m glad that I finished it though and didn’t return as I was very tempted to .

I thought it was one of the worst books I have ever read. It was like a teenager’s writing - I can’t believe it got even got published.

I enjoyed it but felt it was 'young adult' literature.

I recently read it and I am afraid I am one of the grumpy ones, but managed to finish it.
I agree that it is a type of self help book in disguise.

Personally it reminded me a bit of The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo, just not as cleverly written.

I loved the concept but felt like it was written for nine year olds. It could have done with a more discerning voice.

I liked the audiobook of this. Not great literature but it was good to listen to on my walks. Can anyone recommend anything else I might like it they also liked this? Just something fairly easygoing that I can dip in and out of on my many walks with the pram.

I enjoyed it but found it hard to get my head around the main character. Maybe it was the name. I also felt as though Matt Haig got bored in the middle of the book and skipped over lots of detail because he couldn't be bothered.

I thought it was disappointing. And very predictable.

Dull, predictable, not as clever as it thought it was.