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The Midnight Library
2021 Monthly Group Reads
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April Group Read Discussion: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Hi! Sorry for the late check in. I had my second covid shot today and then my family played a game over zoom so my schedule is all sorts of topsy turvy today. No spoilers only to say at this juncture that I really enjoyed this book.
My question for the day.
How did you hear about this book?
Had you read anything by Matt Haig before?
I first discovered Matt Haig in 2019 when I read How to Stop Time for a prompt. I loved it and totall had a couple of Matt Haig books on my list. Then my librarian friend last year posted a list of what she'd read during the NYC lockdown and this boo was on her recomended list along with some other books/authors I really liike and that pushed me to move this book up my list!
Brandy wrote: "Hi! Sorry for the late check in. I had my second covid shot today and then my family played a game over zoom so my schedule is all sorts of topsy turvy today. I'm not sure where I heard about The Midnight Library, whether it was a ŷ, an advertising blurb, or if I saw the book in the bookstore. I have read a number of Matt Haig books, including, How to Stop Time and The Radleys,
I'm not reading The Midnight Library with everyone but I'm interested to see what you all think. With Matt Haig books I seem to either love them (The Humans) or hate them (How to Stop Time).
Sarah wrote: "I'm not reading The Midnight Library with everyone but I'm interested to see what you all think. With Matt Haig books I seem to either love them (The Humans) or hate..."Well that is really interesting as I loved How to stop time and literally am just starting The Humans today. I mean obviously peoples taste aren't the same and people like and don't like a whole array of different things but it will beinteresting to see a love/hate thing with the books but in opposite directions!
How did you hear about this book?I'm pretty sure I learned of it during the ŷ Choice Awards. I read the description and thought it sounded like my kind of book. I've enjoyed alternate lives/doing it all over type stories for years.
Had you read anything by Matt Haig before?
I requested this from my library last November, and the wait list was pretty huge (it grew to over 1000 by the time I got it). As I waited for it, I read How to Stop Time by the author because that one didn't have the huge wait. I didn't like that one as much because the premise wasn't for me - it was just really long life, not alternate lives based on different choices.
I learned about Matt Haig several years ago when I taught The Radleys in my Vampire Lit class. I read How to Stop Time last December, and The Labrador Pact a few years ago.My husband wanted The Midnight Library for the holidays last year, and it went into my TBR pile when he was finished with it.
I read this book back in January when I was going through the ŷ Choice Awards picks and I had never read anything by Matt Haig before. I used this for "a book about do-overs or fresh starts" instead of magical realism, partly because magical realism makes up about 3/4 of the books I read, so I've got a lot of options there xD I considered using it for "character with your dream job" but it felt a little like cheating, haha.I loved this book so much. I'm at a place in my life where the protagonist's journey resonated very strongly with me and gave me a more hopeful perspective on the future.
Alex wrote: "I read this book back in January when I was going through the ŷ Choice Awards picks and I had never read anything by Matt Haig before. I used this for "a book about do-overs or fresh starts..."Love this!
What were your feelings about Nora when we first meet her?
How did you hear about this book?I heard about this book on ŷ. Several of my friends are reading or have read it. I also saw that it was the April choice of the month for the POPSugar challenge
Had you read anything by Matt Haig before?
I have not read anything by Matt Haig before, and this is the first time I've heard of him as an author. However, I know this book has mixed reviews, but I look forward to reading it with this group.
How did you hear about this book?It was nominated for the 2020 ŷ Choice Award, so I gave it a go.
Had you read anything by Matt Haig before?
Not really, but I have one other book by Haig.
Do you have a character in your life that you think would be a good character for your Mrs. ElmI went to a very odd school at the age of 7. I think I was there for 2-3 years and I for sure left when I was 8 after my parents split up. I kind of regret that at this moment but probably not enough to enter my book to see how that life would have turned out. The head of that school had very strong beliefs about using art and music and poetry in education and that was great. She had classes of really, really, really well rounded students but she also would get an idea at like 12:15 on a Tuesday and come and stop all the classes so she could explain to us about Beethoven, or Protein in our diets, or chinese philosophy. There was no way of predictiong and the teachers in English and Math would be like, "I mean this is nice... but.... they are going ot be tested on fractions." I wasn't at the school very long and I'm not sure how much she did or didn't influence my life path but I feel like her kind of eclectic energy is what I picture for my own personal Mrs. Helm.
I started reading a few days ago. I was really hesitant for this book because of the very serious issues addressed, I wasn't sure this would be something I would like to read about. BUT, I really, really like it so far.I have never read anything by Haig and I didn't know this book till now.
When I was a teenager we used to often visit a grandmother of one of my friends. She always invited us in for thea and biscuits and always listened to our teenager problems. She always had an advice to give, she was such a wonderful person, she would definitely by my Mrs Elm.
I first heard of this book when it was up for voting for the April monthly read. After finding out this book was chosen, I saw it at Costco and bought it. I've never read anything by this author before. I started the book yesterday and it seems interesting so far. It seems to be a little bit like The Five People You Meet in Heaven.
Brandy wrote: "Alex wrote: "I read this book back in January when I was going through the ŷ Choice Awards picks and I had never read anything by Matt Haig before. I used this for "a book about do-overs or..."She made my heart hurt a little, honestly. Our personalities and choices aren't the same, but I've been in that place and I get it.
Do you have a character in your life that you think would be a good character for your Mrs. Elm?I thought about this all afternoon, and realized none of my teachers/librarians really fit. I've finally decided on Dave, one of the adults who worked with the youth group at my church when I was in junior high. He wasn't the youth minister, because we didn't have a formal one until a few years later. Dave was the person I talked to about college, and he was ultimately the person I credited with my decision to study what I wanted, rather than something that would make for a good job. I even played chess with him a few times on a mission trip. I can absolutely see him as the Mrs. Elm type.
Good question!
What were your feelings about Nora when we first meet her?Nora is the epitome of all the depressing books I read in the past: far away from a place to call "home", broken relationships with family and lover, forsaken by the only one she cared about, frustrating career choices, etc..
So, yeah, I can sense the doom of it all for her..
I loved this book! 5 stars!
Mod
I don't remember exactly, but I'm pretty sure it was somewhere on ŷ.
Have you read anything by Matt Haig before?
I have not. I was a bit hesitant about this one, but am going to brave it.
My copy should arrive next week, so I'll read it then.
Mod
I never thought I would see "Vampire Lit class"! LOL I'm old and don't get into vampires, so this made me laugh! But I think it's so cool for those who do read the vampire lit! :)
Mod
Wow. Cool! I hope it does the same for me! :)
Mod
Huh. I loved the two Albom books I've read. This makes me a bit less hesitant! Thanks!
To be honest the first book with the country pub was all ready my favorite because in another life I would love to live in the English countryside. But then yeah...
I just started the book tonight and for some reason it's reminding me if The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, which I love. I'm about 40 odd pages in. To answer the first question, I actually found out about the book through a Unitarian Universalist podcast I listen to. It was centered on books about meaning/interconnectedness. The other book recommended was The Hidden Life of Trees, which is also on my TBR.
They say in the book that not all of the libraries are libraries they could be recordshops or old blockbuster videos, or whatever... What do you think your midnight library would look like?
Lindsay wrote: "To be honest the first book with the country pub was all ready my favorite because in another life I would love to live in the English countryside. But then yeah..."Honestly I think like Australia that there is a version of that life that is a great life. Just not so much that life with Dan. Was his name Dan?
JC wrote: "I just started the book tonight and for some reason it's reminding me if The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, which I love. I'm about 40 odd pages in. To answer the first question, I actually found out ..."
I also really, really liked The Storied Life of AJ Fikry.
How did you hear about this book?I'd probably heard about it before, but I didn't pay attention to it until it was chosen as our group read this month.
Had you read anything by Matt Haig before?
No, I haven't.
What were your feelings about Nora when we first meet her?
I wanted to give her a hug. I've been where she was, and I don't wish that on anybody.
Do you have a character in your life that you think would be a good character for your Mrs. Elm?
I think my great aunt Irene would be my Mrs. Elm. She was such a gentle, loving person. She didn't have children of her own, but she loved when children came to visit. She was a great listener and storyteller. She did so many interesting things in her life that you would have never expected from her.
Was their a specific timeline you wished Nora would visit?
I haven't finished the book yet, so she may do this, but I wanted to see a timeline where she went whale watching with Izzy. I felt like Australia was a great life for her, except (view spoiler).
They say in the book that not all of the libraries are libraries they could be recordshops or old blockbuster videos, or whatever... What do you think your midnight library would look like?
Definitely a library. I'm a librarian so I'd be shocked if it was anything else.
For me it would definitely be a library as well, I can't think of anything else. Ever since I was a child I love to visit the library!
Mod
I'm curious ... do you think this book is magic realism? There's a difference of opinion based on the community book tags.When I think of magic realism, I think of wallpaper that changes based on the character's mood (The Girl Who Chased the Moon), a garden where only red plants can grow because of who died there (The Red Garden), a character whose life coach is her actual Life (The Time of My Life). Everyone notices and expects these things to happen. They're so normal as to not cause distress or wonderment.
For this book to be magic realism as I understand it, I think Nora would have had to have known about The Midnight Library ahead of time. Since she didn't, I would consider this a modern fantasy.
(That being said, I'm really glad the group selection prompted me to read this book because I would have ignored it otherwise and I'm really enjoying it.)
Heather wrote: "I'm curious ... do you think this book is magic realism? There's a difference of opinion based on the community book tags.When I think of magic realism, I think of wallpaper that changes based on..."
I agree with you completely.
My litmus test is:
Can you take *all* of the "magic" bits out of the story ----- and still have a story?
You most assuredly can with
The Girl Who Chased the Moon
The Red Garden
Two of my favorite authors, btw.
I find that the magical bits of magical realism simply enhance the story.
The magic bits underscore a change in personal growth or enhance a bend in the story arc somehow.
With a fantasy, stripping out the magical bits leave you, well, without a story.
But I usually hesitate to say anything, as in this challenge, it's: your challenge, your rules.
I absolutely loved this book, especially since it’s out of my “comfort zone genre.� The often wondered at which point I’d want a do over and realized that changes then, ever so slight, would have altered the happiness I now enjoy.
Lilith wrote: "My litmus test is:Can you take *all* of the "magic" bits out of the story ----- and still have a story?"
I like that. I might borrow that if I ever need to discuss magic realism again in the future.
Just read it last weekend, so thought I'd join in! I've finished it, so my responses here are from anywhere in the book.How did you hear about this book?
It appeared on a lot of lists as a book to look for. Usually anything with 'bookshop' or 'library' in the title tends to catch my attention, though.
Had you read anything by Matt Haig before?
No, I haven't. I may pick up more books by him now.
What were your feelings about Nora when we first meet her?
To be honest, it was like seeing myself in these pages. (view spoiler)
Do you have a character in your life that you think would be a good character for your Mrs. Elm?
One of my English lit professors from university reminds me of Mrs. Elm. She was single all her life, older, red-haired, smoker, feisty, no-nonsense but wise and sort of knew what you needed when you didn't yet.
Was their a specific timeline you wished Nora would visit?
I wished she would visit (view spoiler)
What do you think your midnight library would look like?
I'd be shocked if it was anything but a library, to be honest. Books and libraries have always been my life. Knowing my luck, it'd end up being a middle school [I'm a middle school teacher] with loads of stationary supplies. :)
I loved, loved, loved the magical realism question and discussion!! If you had the opportunity to try out some of your own dream lives, would you?
Heather wrote: "I'm curious ... do you think this book is magic realism? There's a difference of opinion based on the community book tags.When I think of magic realism, I think of wallpaper that changes based on..."
I didn't give it Magic Realism or Fantasy as a tag, mostly because I didn't think of them. I think one could (maybe?) even read it as Nora's own brain/body under stress and her subconscious battling it out.
Going in, I had absolutely no idea what it was about (didn't even read the blurb and summary) and that's probably a good thing, because I might have been disappointed if I'd read the hype or any of the glowing reviews beforehand. But with my ignorance in tact I quite enjoyed it.I found it a pleasant and charming story about life's possibilities and gaining perspective on oneself and life. I think it's a very readable take on the concept of alternate realities and learning to appreciate yourself and your life.
How did you hear about this book?
Good Reads Choice Awards
Had you read anything by Matt Haig before?
Nope, no idea what else he's written.
What were your feelings about Nora when we first meet her?
Stuck in a rut and very human.
Do you have a character in your life that you think would be a good character for your Mrs. Elm?
Maybe my favourite primary school teacher, Mrs McKenzie. She was an enormous help to me, particularly with learning to decode the written word--it's largely down to her that I can read.
Was their a specific timeline you wished Nora would visit?
Not that I can think of ...
They say in the book that not all of the libraries are libraries they could be recordshops or old blockbuster videos, or whatever... What do you think your midnight library would look like?
Definitely one of the three libraries I regularly visited as a child.
How did you hear about this book?An old high school friend wanted to start a book club and this was the first pick! I haven't been active on ŷ for months because COVID + teaching has been more than a handful, so I didn't know it was a ŷ Choice Awards nominee until reading this thread!
Had you read anything by Matt Haig before?
I've never read/heard of Matt Haig before! It seems like you either love or hate his books from what I've seen!
What were your feelings about Nora when we first meet her?
I was quite invested in Nora's life when we first meet her. I'm a bit younger than her, so I'm not in the same stage of life as she is, but I felt sympathetic to her struggles. I know a lot of people have connected based on their age/stage of life, but I think we can all relate to the worst day ever, being fired, a pet's passing, strained family relationships, etc.
Do you have a character in your life that you think would be a good character for your Mrs. Elm?
I imagine it would be one of my English lit profs, Dr. McWhirter. Teachers are the adults I've felt the closest to and opened up to the most, and he is one of the wisest people I know.
Was their a specific timeline you wished Nora would visit?
I have finished the book, so I'll say that (view spoiler). I was honestly bored halfway through because (view spoiler).
What do you think your midnight library would look like?
I suppose if my English lit prof would be my Mrs. Elm, it would be his office or my university's library.
If you had the opportunity to try out some of your own dream lives, would you?
Absolutely! Curiosity would get the better of me - I've always imagined what my other lives would be like. I would be afraid I would find a life better than the one I have right now (view spoiler), but I would do it anyway.
Catching up on the discussion and questions so far:1) How did you hear about this book? It's all over all social media, goodreads, and IG bookstagram.
2) Had you read anything by Matt Haig before? Nope, this is my first by him, and looking forward to reading more. Any good places to start for those that have read more?
3) What were your feelings about Nora when we first meet her? I felt for Nora- its human nature to have emotions and seasons where it feels like life is in the dumps and nothing seems to go your way.
4) Do you have a character in your life that you think would be a good character for your Mrs. Elm? Definitely my second and fourth grade teacher - Mrs. Redfield. She was a powerful source of positive energy and a love for reading that I have never forgotten.
5) Was their a specific timeline you wished Nora would visit? I was hoping for more mundane "regular" lives. I loved the intersection with the neighbor guy that she never gave any notice to. Loved seeing how much her life actually impacted others even when she felt otherwise.
6) They say in the book that not all of the libraries are libraries they could be recordshops or old blockbuster videos, or whatever... What do you think your midnight library would look like? Mine would be a library too. I think that goes without saying that books and reading are a huge part of my life and loves.
7) If you had the opportunity to try out some of your own dream lives, would you? Absolutely! I've very into this idea.
Catching up on the discussion and questions so far:1) How did you hear about this book?
I'd half clocked its existence on Amazon, but I didn't really pay much attention to it until it was the group read for this month, and magical realism is a genre I've never quite understood.
2) Had you read anything by Matt Haig before?
I read The Radleys a while back, but wasn't that keen on it. I'd also read To Be A Cat, which I enjoyed a lot. This fell somewhere in the middle.
3) What were your feelings about Nora when we first meet her?
I was uncomfortable, as being prone to depression myself, I saw too much of her in me (not that I've ever gone as far as she did). I'm also a cat lover, so Volts made me even more depressed about it.
4) Do you have a character in your life that you think would be a good character for your Mrs. Elm?
There were a couple of English teachers I had - one when I was 15, and one when I was 17-18. While it wasn't quite like Mrs. Elm - I didn't run away to hide in the library with them - they were very important to me for keeping my love of books strong.
5) Was there a specific timeline you wished Nora would visit?
Not sure about that. There is one I wish she'd stayed in, as it had so much potential (view spoiler)
6) They say in the book that not all of the libraries are libraries they could be recordshops or old blockbuster videos, or whatever... What do you think your midnight library would look like?
Another library here. Books are very important for me.
7) If you had the opportunity to try out some of your own dream lives, would you?
I honestly don't know. My real life isn't where I expected to be when I was at school and uni, hence the struggles with depression. But I have a hubby I love, cats I love and a job which pays the mortgage, which even if it isn't exactly what I wanted, does at least use words and languages, which are where my strength lies.
I'm joining in late because I started and finished this book in the past two days and didn't take time to check in here. So I'll answer my questions in a lump:1. I heard of this book in this group. I really didn't even know what it was about, but it had Library in the title so how bad could it be, right? I either love or hate magical realism, so didn't know which way this would go.
2. I have never read any of Matt Haig's books. That will likely change.
3. My first opinion of Nora was just what the author was going for - a messed up girl who didn't seem to have a good reason to be messed up. It's always easy to judge a life that you know nothing about. And yet, I could also tell that there was a possibility that I might relate to her in a way.
4. I'm struggling to think of someone from my youth that made me feel safe and loved with no expectations. It is probably more a reflection on me that I cannot come up with someone like that. So I guess I would go with my best friend from when I was 28 until she died when I was 54. She knew me better than anyone and still loved me in spite of it all. Fortunately, I have people in my life now that would fit as well.
5. Right from the start, I wanted the (view spoiler)
6. Definitely a library.
7. In a heartbeat. I think that would be a blast. I've always been a person who has wondered how decisions I've made would have played out if I chose another way.
I loved this book and there were so many quotes that spoke to me. 5 stars.
Thanks for all the great responses. What would your strategy be if you found yourself in a parallel life?
I'm sure it was important to the plot that Nora went into these situations blind but I was always a little frustrated that she wasn't doing more research into her current jump for my taste. I'd be all over the google trying to figure out how to fit into my life... but maybe that's just me?
I thought the same thing. She didn't do nearly enough research for my tastes. Granted, she often was thrown into situations where she didn't have time right away, but I would have been going crazy trying to figure out who I was as well as everyone around me.
YES to the research. I would be asking so many questions and going through everything I could reach to figure out the life I was currently in.
Mod
Through ŷ and probably through this group! :)
Had you read anything by Matt Haig before?"
I have not.
Mod
Exactly how I felt upon inhaling it this past weekend, Alex!
Mod
I could feel her pain. After 65 years on this earth, there are days when you wonder...why? However, I concentrate on living in the here and now just as much as I can at this point in my life, and I focus on the good things. And though they may seem miniscule some times, the good things are definitely there!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Midnight Library (other topics)Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine (other topics)
To Be A Cat (other topics)
11/22/63 (other topics)
To Be A Cat (other topics)
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Brandy B is the 'leading librarian' who has volunteered to lead this discussion!
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