As the library begins to disintegrate, signaling Noras waning existence, she must choose which life to commit to. The Midnight Library opens with a teenaged Nora Seed, who is smart and a talented swimmer. Nora passes by String Theory and notes that it has closed not too long ago. The Book of Regrets represents all the things Nora wishes she could change from her root lifethat is, the life she has actually lived. For a short while it seems appealing, but it soon becomes clear that the relationship has problems which Nora does not feel compelled to take on. The Real Meaning Of The Midnight Club's Ending & Story. Joe is no longer in the band. Nora's life hasn't quite turned out the way she expected, and a series of events lead to suicide. Doreen now says Leos too busy for piano anyway, against Noras futile protests. Nora heads there and sees that she has a flatmate named Jojo, a quirky conspiracy theorist, that she doesnt recognize. Inside the library, Nora is met by a familiar face: Mrs. Elm, her school librarian from childhood. The audience looks uncomfortable, but she sees that Ravi is smiling at her. Nora remembers playing chess with Mrs. Elm and getting the news that her father had died of a heart attack. It turns out, I didnt need a midnight library to shift my own perspective. " The Midnight Library ," by Matt Haig A library that contains an infinite number of books: talk about the dream. Eventually, Nora is heartbroken to appear in the Midnight Library yet again. In her e-mails, she finds an address for herself. Jason Sheehan knows stuff about food, video games, books and Starblazers. He realizes that he was dismissive of her panic attacks and it wasnt until Ewan got them, too, that he realized they were serious. Start earning points for buying books! THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARYBy Matt Haig. Nora also start volunteering at the homeless shelter once a week, and she considers getting a dog. Full. Dylan is a good person. Note: this article may contain spoilers for The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. At home, Nora sees Voltaires empty bowl and takes two anti-depressants. Nora considers that her lives have largely been about other peoples dreams her brothers dream about The Labyrinths, her fathers dream about swimming, Izzys dream about Australia, Dans dream about the bar, and even Mrs. Elms suggestion about glaciology. It would be different, yes, but that doesnt mean better. The Midnight Club will tug at your heartstrings and have you piecing together its mysteries all at the same time. But here's the problem. And there's a deliberateness to it all. She goes looking for Voltaire, but she finds that he is under the bed, but dead. I like how it works with the concept of alternatives lives. The various things wrong with Nora's life emerge quite quickly. As she is transported to Sydney, she senses she is in the water. Mrs. Elm says that Nora has become lost because she's still trying to live for other people. Overwhelmed by regret, Mrs. Elm instructs Nora to close the book. Nora wonders why Mr. Banerjee ended up in a elderly care facility in this life when he had been determined not to in her original life. Despite him being perfectly nice, Nora wasnt too enamoured with this life and she bids it farewell. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Back at the Library, things are falling apart. Joe shows up due to the voicemail Nora had left him before overdosing. A place of regret and possibility. There is sadness and pointlessness, soft meditations on the cost of fame and the dignity of smaller lives, lots of quotes from philosophers (because that's what Nora studied in school), and quiet thoughts about the weight of meaning in a universe where everything that can happen, does. Nora experienced it as a library because of the meaningful relationship she had with Mrs. Elm, her childhood school librarian. As she gets to one part, many of the regrets are related to Dan. Shes greeted by her school librarian, Mrs. Elm, who was always kind to her. And it is filled with nothing but books, shelves and, curiously, Nora's school librarian, Mrs. Elm. Nora has forgotten about the music lesson she was supposed to give Doreens son, Leo. On her way home, she spots Leo the boy she gave piano lessons to in her root life, calming his penchant for trouble in police custody. Matt Haig is the number one bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive, Notes on a Nervous Planet and six highly acclaimed novels for adults, including How to Stop Time, The Humans and The Radleys. She just lost her job and cat, has fallen out with her brother and best friend and generally assumes she's a giant disappointment. Different packaging; same us. What would've happened if she'd stuck with the band she and her brother and their friend Ravi had started rather than bailing just when they were about to get big? Does it take a lifetime or a just few seconds? Upon her arrival, the Midnight Library glitches slightly until Nora thinks about her desire to remain alive. Next, Nora goes by Mr. Banerjees house. 8. The sea turtles I would have squealed about on vacation. Nora finds a blank book, and begins to write. Humans are fundamentally limited, generalizing creatures, living on auto-pilot, who straighten out curved streets in their minds, which explains why they get lost all the time. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. Between life and death there is a library. Nora can stay in these alternate realities as long as she desires, but if she loses her will to live in the process then she will die forever. When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. publication in traditional print. After meeting another "slider" (as those who can bounce around between multiverse possibilities are called), and discussing the pop-science implications of a multi-dimensional existence, Nora muses on her situation: [She] had read about multiverses and knew a bit about Gestalt psychology. Neil, her boss, is nice about it, but questions why shes still even working there since he thinks shes meant for bigger things. There is one book that is different from the rest. 5. As a place, the Midnight Library isn't really a library (of course), but is instead a 101-level lecture in parallel universe theory, philosophy and quantum indeterminacy. Meanwhile, they talk about Noras her future and career plans. Angela Hauptis a freelance writer and editor. And the magnitude of that is staggering, given that a life can be determined or redirected by a single event. While Nora is in the library, the librarian reveals that she has the freedom to explore these alternate options in search of a more favorable reality. Shes professionally fulfilled writing a book on her favorite philosopher and about as content as one could hope. Her brother arrives, and the two share a heartfelt reconciliation; Izzy texts to tell Nora how much she misses her; and Nora gets rehired at one of her jobs. She knew that everything humans see is a simplification. What details do you notice that show that this story is not taking place in the United States? From there, Mrs. Elm encourages Nora to pursue less "obvious" paths. eNotes.com, Inc. The writer/director gave . 3. She sees that the lawn is overgrown. She finds herself in the cabin of a boat. Mrs. Elm explains to Nora that this is the Midnight Library, a space between life and death. As many of you know a book with a library speaks to me. Next, Nora asks to experience fame, and she is transported to a life where her band Labyrinth had made it big. Noras dad did not have a heart attack in this life because he ended up on a health kick as Nora was training for the Olympics. This finale explores the truth behind Brightcliffe's troubled history via flashbacks, while in the present, there are emotional goodbyes and the Midnight Club members bring a . Suicide, she decides, is the only way to escape the misery of a life full of regrets. to call for help. Hugo explains that quantum superposition is what allows all these infinite lives to exist at once. Also, in the original life, she and Joe had been there for her mother before her death. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime. 5 Highlights from The Midnight Library - One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2020 | by T.J.Parker | Books Are Our Superpower Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. Matt Haig's The Midnight Library tells the story of 35 year old Nora Seed, following the night she takes an overdose. But what sucks a measure of the color and life from The Midnight Library is that Nora, as a character, doesn't really want anything. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. Thats what Haig so beautifully demonstrates. Nora ends up letting go of that life and returning to the Midnight Library as it is falling apart. The system has broken down entirely, Mrs. Elm reveals, which means that Nora must be dying in her root life. The book weaves elements of science fiction and fantasy with philosophical contemplations on human mortality, happiness, and personal choice. Instead, Nora decides she wants to try a gentle life next, one about working with animals. Chapters 1 4 (The Man at the Door, String Theory, To Live Is to Suffer, Doors). Nora is then transported into a life essentially exactly the same as her original life. Perhaps endless. He doesnt recognize her, though, because in this life they were never neighbors. As she recovers in the hospital, Nora reflects on her ordeal and begins to feel grateful for the life she still has. How is Lydia's relationship with the past presented, and how do you . What if Nora had moved to Australia with her best friend instead of bailing to stay behind in England? Afterwards, Nadia is very happy to see her brother Joe and that they get along well. As she comes to see the value she had in her original life, Nora senses her grip on this reality is fading, even as she reminds herself how great this reality is. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . Mrs. Elm (or something that resembles her) is here and serves as Nora's guide, explaining that the Library exists between life and death. A memory so vague and intangible it will hardly be there at all.. Her relationships are in shambles and her cat is dead. The Midnight Library is the place where Nora gets to find out. Nora realizes that in her other lives there was an absence of love.