This is a great adaptation

I fully admit that this was a total cover/title buy. But I’m glad I did - it’s a great read. 

Set in 1950’s America, the central characters are faced with the dangers of living in the Jim Crow era, while fighting privileged assholes that practice some shady magic. It’s an unusual combination, but they actually tie together really well. 

Matt Ruff originally pitched the concept as a tv show; the chapters are quite episodic so it’s not surprising. And now that there is a show, I’m very interested in seeing how it’s been adapted. 

There’s a bit of an author interview at the back of the book, which I really recommend everyone read. He explains where the concept came from, and addresses the fact that he’s a white man writing from a Black character’s perspective. I’m not the person to say whether or not he got it right, but I can say that it was very engrossing and left me with a lot to think about. 

Holy crap, this book... I loved it. It’s YA gothic horror (!) and it ticks off all the right boxes: old creepy house, ghosts, secrets etc. And the ending went in a direction I totally didn’t expect - I swear my jaw dropped while reading it. It’s the perfect October book.

I managed 50 pages, but the central character is incredibly irritating. I couldn’t take it anymore!

I’m struggling to put into words just how important and special this book is - everyone needs to read it. Matt Haig has written about depression before, but this time he approached it more philosophically, sending his central character on a journey towards a new outlook on life. 

The Midnight Library is an incredibly thoughtful work of fiction; if I was the type to highlight my books, I would have run out of ink. There are so many inspiring quotes and phrases I want to hold onto and remember.  A second reading may be in order - have I mentioned how special this book is?!

Fair warning, the beginning of the story can be tough to get through if you’ve had suicidal thoughts in the past. It gave me a fair bit of anxiety, but I really encourage you to keep going - it’s worth it.  Honestly, I think everyone needs to read this book, especially if they’re struggling.