The Midnight Library
Up until 2019 when the pandemic took hold, I felt mostly fulfilled. And then a drastic downward spiral of depression set in. My coping mechanisms were less than ideal. I spent two years trapped inside myself without any notion of how to be content with my life (and a damn fine one for all intents and purposes).
One pastime that held my feet to the ground was reading. Although my favorite genre is historical fiction, I do venture outside of this section of the library at times. I don’t remember how I stumbled upon a fantasy novel by author Matt Haig called “The Midnight Library.” I frequent a little site called Goodreads so perhaps it pulled up in some ‘other books you might like’ section of the page, but however the suggestion came to me, I am forever grateful.
Can a book really change your life? Well, I believe so, but I won’t say it did for me directly. Indirectly though, absolutely and without a doubt.
“The Midnight Library” begins counting down the final hours of our main character, Nora’s, life. When her final moment reaches culmination, we join her within the walls of The Midnight Library. Her own personal librarian guides her through a search for a life she finds fulfilling and worth living. But with each new life she believes she was meant to live, she finds only disappointment and emptiness. I can relate to this journey.
I didn’t think I was quite into mid-life at this stage in the game, but guess what? That feeling of restlessness? A strong desire for change? A whirlwind of questions like, ‘what the hell am I doing with my life?’ and ‘what do I want to be when I grow up (asked at 40 something years old mind you)’ seeped into my everyday life. And you know what? I wasn’t the only one! I kept finding friend after friend who sympathized with these same sentiments. What the hell was going on?? And the more important question yet, how do I climb out of this hole when I’m not quite sure how I ended up inside it to begin with?
Firstly, I have some amazing friends, a top-notch husband and a stellar network of family members. Having folks like this in my life falls directly into the ‘lucky as hell’ category. And although it took me years to get here, their guidance, inspiration, wisdom and continued support led me to realize which book off the shelves within my own Midnight Library was right for me.
Well, here I am and here we are. For me, writing is a creative outlet I can share with others. Reading (and I am an avid audiobook listener) allows me to step outside myself and travel back in time and around the world. It keeps me thoughtful and often inspires me. This first blog entry is in dedication to Matt’s beautiful book. Within the entries to come, I will share my own stumbles and triumphs, thoughts and witticisms, and probably many curse words. Thank you for reading!