The Midnight Library by Matt Haig: Art Doesn’t Have to Be High Quality to Be Good | Book Review

I stand strongly in the opinion that a book does not have to be of high quality to be “good”. I realize, of course, that the literal definition of good is “having the qualities required for a particular role”, which could very well entail stylistic yet composed prose, consistent and likable characterization, and an impressive plotline. However, as a fan of “fake deep” works, I herald resonance, relatability, and the feeling of being seen and understood above all. If this were not the case, it’s highly unlikely that I’d still call Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira my favorite book (no offense, Ms. Author of My Favorite Book).

Recently, I watched a PBS biopic about the Brontë sisters called To Walk Invisible with my mother, which I quite enjoyed. The part I was most intrigued by was upon asking my mother her thoughts, she first called it “interesting”, and then noted the facets of a high-quality project: good acting, strong characters (as to be hoped for when based on true people), and a compelling plot. While these are all valuable factors, and there’s certainly value in recognizing them, my focus was on the feeling evoked in me. Obviously, this is not a unique perspective to have (that art is indeed subjective, and should be treated as harshly or gingerly as necessary), but I feel it a notable thing to disclaim. While I may have an eye out for quality, it is second on my list to what I can get out of it myself. There’s a Thoreau quote used in this novel that I think encapsulates this notion splendidly.

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.

Henry David Thoreau

With all of this being said, I don’t think this book is of low quality, though I’ve seen many reviews claiming it is. Even the objectivity of “quality” is up for debate it seems, and I think that’s okay. I think it’s good, even, and in every sense of the word.

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Started Reading – March 25, 2022

14.58% “I like this concept, and I don’t really see how this can go terribly, so I have moderate hopes, I think”
49.31% “so far really glad that I picked this up!”

March 29, 2022 – Finished Reading
Rating: 4 stars.

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As a person minimizing the importance of quality and with quite a melancholic temperament (this is not a formal typing; I’m not yet familiar with that facet of personality deduction), all I could think while reading this was I wish I’d picked this up sooner.

I’d like to mention that this book comes with a few trigger warnings (you can find a full list here), most notable among them relating to depression and suicide. This novel focuses a lot on mental health, and I don’t want to speak for other people, but I found it handled well for myself and my comfortablity with the topic. I personally think it neither romanticizes nor trivializes the issue, though every person’s experience and relationship to such matters are attuned individually, and may have differing opinions. This book was described to me as starting off dark but getting hopeful in the end, and I will personally attest to that evaluation.

As a quick synopsis, this book centers around thirty-five year old Nora Seed, who is entirely discontent with her life. She is haunted by regrets of opportunities she failed to take. After a landslide of bad happenings, she finds herself in a place between life and death: The Midnight Library. In this place, she has the ability to explore all of those unlived lives, and is faced with a decision of choosing a different path for herself.

Though the story has been criticized as corny and cliche, it does its job and serves well enough in its position. I believe there is total merit in being unimpressed by the book, though I quite enjoyed the process of reading it. It’s a light read despite the subject matter, coming in under three hundred pages, and it begs the reader to self-reflect and look into their own lives and regrets. And with this, it doesn’t tear its main character or the reader down. It offers a hopefulness that, while obviously not a heal-all perspective, may help garner insight and perhaps a new outlook on the way one views life and regrets.

The actual mechanics of the magical realism factor are a bit shaky, with potential lives overlapping with other people’s potential lives (the idea of “sliders” in the story come up, people who take advantage of this in-between place to float through lives with impermanence). This didn’t make much sense to me, but I was too wrapped up in Nora’s journey and the parallels I was drawing between her and myself, that this didn’t irk me so much. If it does make sense, and I’m just not equipped to comprehend it, you may ignore this paragraph, but it was a flaw that arose in my mind.

As the March pick for the Goodreads group “Everyone Has Read This But Me“, I’m well aware that I am supremely late to the game on this one, but I’m glad that I picked it up (I enjoyed this one more than their February pick, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue — you can find my review on that one here). It’s right up my alley of fake deep books.

(To quickly clarify what I mean by “fake deep”, I use this term to relate to the cliche, navel-gazing type of novel that’s often rooted in coming-of-age stories like The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, and even the beloved/despised classic Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. While I utilize the word “fake”, I do use it to describe both things of heavy and light philosophizing. It’s more the idea that some will call out the piece and dismiss it, even if there is worth to what it says. If people love it because it’s “deep”, or hate it because it tries to be, I’ll probably refer to it as “fake deep” and include it in my all-time favorites.)

I would recommend it to people looking for a breath of fresh air in a life of the mundane and disappointing, but I certainly won’t preach on its altering effects, though it’s served me a bit in giving me a newer perspective. I gave it 4.5 stars first before evening it out at 4. It’s not perfect, but I enjoyed it — better than most of what I’ve picked up lately, which is nice.

What are your feelings and/or opinions on The Midnight Library by Matt Haig? Did you read it long ago, or have you yet to pick it up? Do you find it trite, or did you discover a deeper relationship to it? Did you like it? Why, or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!