Maybe even the most seemingly perfectly intense or worthwhile lives ultimately felt the same. What are the main themes in The Midnight Library? They were in a band together and their relationship was fractured when Nora decided to not pursue a record deal or tour with the band. More books than SparkNotes. The physical It was weird, to have your own body offer clues to a mystery. The novel alludes to Henry David Thoreau, too, whose writings guide Nora to understand the difference between loneliness and solitude. In these depictions, the image of a chessboard is used to illustrate the idea that life is full of variable outcomes. The novel opens with her playing chess with Nora and talking about the possibilities of life. More opportunities to have. The Question and Answer section for The Midnight Library is a great Would any of these other lives truly be better? Embrace that you-ness. "What literary devices are used in The Midnight Library?" Love it. Most heartbreakingly, after choosing to go for a coffee with her kind neighbour instead of turning down his offer, Nora meets the seven-year-old daughter they could have had together. 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. Symbolism in literature was appeared in mid 19th century in France. Haig himself is an accomplished writer, and his books have been very successful in approaching the darker themes of mental illness, regret and death, often in unique ways. Knowing now that her choices can have a dramatic and unforeseen impact, she feels more hopeful about how much she can change things. Here, she finds herself slowly slipping away, despite wishing she could stay longer, as she knows this is not where she belongs. In one she is a famous rockstar. The theme chosen really is a fantastic one. Joe is Nora's brother. In The Midnight Library, thirty-five-year-old Nora finds out from a handsome young surgeon, Ash, that her beloved cat has been killed. Most gossip is envy in disguise., Never underestimate the big importance of small things, A person was like a city. Nora returns to her old life because she has a renewed sense of possibility. How does Anita Desai use symbolism to develop a theme in "Games at Twilight"? eNotes.com The lessons than Nora learns from her other lives feel less about letting go of regrets, and more about embracing the whole wide range of emotions of which human beings are capable. After losing World War One in 1918, the Germans were in an utter state of disillusionment and despair. All we know is shes been given a second chance, one she fought desperately for towards the end of the novel. WebThe Midnight Library Symbols, Allegory and Motifs The Midnight Library (Symbol). 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. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Maybe even the most seemingly perfectly intense or worthwhile lives ultimately felt the same. Aim to be you. She explains how dissatisfied she is to the world in one final Facebook post before attempting suicide. At the beginning of the story, Nora is playing chess with Mrs. Elm, who remarks to her that her life is full of possibility. She discovers that she also cannot teleport back to the library. Cooper, James ed. What does the first potential life reveal? The Midnight Library study guide contains a biography of Matt Haig, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. It is like stage fright only worse, for Nora can never really get off the stage of her own life. She eventually learns that her root life is the best one for her. It is to wake up every morning and do what makes you happy, whether that happiness is found in the most extravagant or modest lifestyles. The paradox of volcanoes was that they were symbols of destruction but also life. This means that the novel can You dont need to be famous or rich or medal winning to lead a spectacular life. eNotes Editorial. 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 The Midnight Library, thirty-five-year-old Nora finds out from a handsome young surgeon, Ash, that her beloved cat has been killed. Where the Mind Is Without Fear (Gitanjali 35), The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. 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. Why are Ravi and Joe upset that Nora left the band? 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. WebThat is not to say that The Midnight Library is a miss. 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 . This would not have been a problem had there been more to the main character. Just as, she supposed, it is hard to have a sense of the vastness inside any one person. She later reappears as a She is a woman in her thirties, who leads a life she finds lonely and disappointing. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. WebThe talented aspiring Olympic swimmer turned aspiring rock star now aspires only to stop living. And you can get to the other side and unlock all kinds of power., It is quite a revelation to discover that the place you wanted to escape to is the exact same place you escaped from. What I found instead was a general lack of complexity in Nora Seed, which I attribute to the overly simplistic style used to write her dialogue, reflections and reactions. This allows her to develop a sense of peace and forgiveness that had previously eluded her, and Nora finds herself forgiving both the real and perceived transgressions of those she loves. This theory is explored in the alternative lives generated by minor changes, like going on a date or not keeping a cat inside. Would your expectations have changed, and as a result, would your reaction have changed? Good choices, she comes to understand, do not necessarily correlate to good outcomes. He tells us what life isnt through Noras It is easy to mourn the lives we Want, she told her, in a measured tone, is an interesting word. 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. We dont know how she will spend it or who she will spend it with. After visiting all these alternative lives for a temporary amount of time, Nora rediscovers lifes potential and her personal will-to-live. The Midnight Library is available from NLB Overdrive and copies can also be bought from retailers such as Amazon. Remember how much you wanted life.". Its no coincidence that this strong emotion triggers such a powerful feeling in her, but Im just not sure Ive given this enough thought lately. 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. Nora blinked, and when she opened her eyes both she and Mrs Elm were standing in a different part of the library. One evening, she decides to put herself out of her misery and end it all. Through the terrifying encounter with the polar bear, Noras survival instinct is triggered, and she has a very clear and concrete thought that has previously eluded her: I dont want to die. Although Nora may never fully grasp the meaning of life, she does come to appreciate its value. Look at that chessboard we put back in place, said Mrs Elm softly. Throughout the novel, Nora contemplates the meaning of life in terms that are often influenced by major figures of Western philosophy. Last Updated on July 8, 2021, by eNotes Editorial. Mrs. Elm is the librarian from Nora's elementary school days. It is also important in that it depicts Mrs. Elm trying to show Nora the value and importance of her life. And don't give a second thought when people mock it or ridicule it. "A Conversation About Rain" to "The Chessboard" Summary and Analysis. In these depictions, the image of a chessboard is used to illustrate the idea that life is full of variable outcomes. Ultimately, with the help of Hugo Lefvre, Nora comes to believe that the Midnight Library is a philosophical construct by which her brain can make sense of the presence of parallel universes. In this excerpt, Mrs. Elm explains how the Midnight Library works and the purpose that it serves. She loves this life and finds herself feeling both content and fulfilled, working on a book about Thoreau and spending time with her daughter. Hugo references Schrdingers Cat, a well-known thought experiment that exists at the intersection of physics and philosophy. Nora Seed is the main character of the novel. You are giving up at the worst possible moment. These, and additional, sad occurrences leave Nora feeling unneeded in the world. "The Midnight Library - Themes" eNotes Publishing resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. 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. Mrs. Elm is her guide, a figure of authority but also of companionship and wisdom. He is described as being somewhat aloof and cold as a result of his continual journey through parallel timelines. When she survives her suicide attempt, she awakens with a sense of peace in her life that has previously eluded her.