BOOK PROMPT

How Matt Haig’s Book Midnight Library Proves You Are Exactly Where You Are Meant to Be

In response to Christmas Prompts | Prompt Times 10

“The only way to learn is to live.” ― Matt Haig, The Midnight Library

Every year during Christmas, the firm where I work celebrates Secret Santa. To ensure I am surprised in a good way and to spare the headache for the person gifting me, I always add a book to my wish list that makes it easier for the sender.

This time around, I selected the book ‘Midnight Library’ by Matt Haig and let me tell you why it was a creepy yet enjoyable read for me.

First, I firmly believe that you don’t choose books, books choose you and to prove it, below is a picture from the book.

This book has the exact day and date of when I was born — Tuesday, 28th of April.

Now you can imagine I was taken aback and felt goosebumps. A random pick had my exact birthdate; what are the chances? 1 in a million?

But I knew that this book somehow picked me. It somehow made its way to me as it wanted to teach me something essential. The most critical being — ‘you are exactly where you are meant to be’.

“Sometimes regrets aren’t based on fact at all” ― Matt Haig, The Midnight Library

We listen to this as an affirmation, don’t we? Where we tell ourselves right now, this very moment is where we are meant to be. But we refuse to believe it when we start comparing ourselves to others.

However, this book knocked me on my head and here is how I learnt that where I am is the best place to be.

The story starts with a 35-year-old-woman named ‘Nora’. She thinks she has let down every possible person in her life and decides it is better to die than to face the miserable life she is in. So she overdoses and lands in the middle of somewhere — between life and death to be precise — in a place called the ‘Midnight Library’.

This library is headed by Nora’s school librarian, Mrs Elm. She explains to Nora the library’s rules and how each book contains a life she wished she had lived.

Thus begins Nora’s exploration of the lives she wished she could live, and I won’t reveal which life she chooses in the end because I was hoping you could read this book.

“Never underestimate the big importance of small things” ― Matt Haig, The Midnight Library

Anyway, as I finished reading this book and took a moment to stare at the wall for full two minutes, I just wanted my mind and body to imbibe the lessons this book taught me —

• No life is perfect. There will be ups and downs no matter what life we choose.
• It’s all about perspective. We think that our most minor actions make no difference, but on the contrary, they make the most profound difference.
• We can choose how to brighten our lives if only we stop looking at what’s worse, be grateful for what’s fantastic, and work towards what will make life better.

“As Thoreau wrote, ‘It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” ― Matt Haig, The Midnight Library

We all get multiple chances to rectify our mistakes. But we don’t want to take that chance as it requires hard work and a bit of apology and embarrassing moments. But beyond these moments is a life that is waiting for us in which we can find happiness and live the way our hearts desire.

If only we stop and introspect, if only we stopped comparing and working towards what our hearts desire, if only we stopped judging other people’s lives and start being compassionate towards people’s struggles, our lives will be much better than what we think of it right now.

So, this was my Christmas read. The book chose me, and it somehow knew this was exactly what I needed.

And if you ever have the thought, ‘what if I had said yes and chosen that life that was waiting for me?’ I suggest you read this book and you will get your answer.

Happy Holidays!

This write-up was inspired by Hamsalekha’s response to this very book. It was such a coincidence that we read the same book at the same time. :)

Thank you Marrisa W. for these thought-provoking Christmas book prompts.

It was perfect timing for me as I just finished reading the book Midnight Library and was looking for a way to share my reading experience. Thank you. :)