I would like to thank amazon for amazingly delivering the book so kudos to them. "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig presents an intriguing premise through its protagonist, Nora Seed, who finds herself in a library between life and death. This library allows her to explore different lives she could have lived had she made different choices. While the concept is fascinating and taps into the popular idea of the multiverse, the execution feels somewhat predictable and lacks depth. Nora Seed’s journey across various lives echoes the common trope of "what if" scenarios, where she jumps from one version of her life to another. The narrative explores themes of regret, choice, and possibility, but the exploration of the multiverse is superficial. The idea that Nora can remember the lives she experiences, though it takes time, adds an interesting layer to the story, but the scope of the multiverse itself remains underdeveloped. For instance, when Nora meets another character in Svalbard who can also shift between lives, it raises intriguing possibilities that are ultimately left unexplored. It feels as though the premise of the book is almost entirely based on a quote from Sylvia Plath’s "The Bell Jar": "I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked... and as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet." This quote encapsulates the paralysis of choice and the inevitable loss that comes with indecision—central themes in "The Midnight Library." However, where Plath’s metaphor is rich and evocative, Haig’s exploration feels less nuanced. Throughout the book, Nora quotes philosophers like Kant and mostly Thoreau, but these references are often superficial. Though she may cite their ideas, the book doesn’t delve deeply into them. The philosophical musings seem to serve more as a backdrop to the central message of "carpe diem" rather than being fully explored or integrated into the narrative. This stands in contrast to the seamless blend of philosophy and storytelling found in the works of Haruki Murakami, where philosophical themes feel organic and deeply intertwined with the plot. Overall, "The Midnight Library" is an enjoyable but ultimately forgettable read. It’s a book that touches on big ideas but never fully engages with them, leaving the reader wanting more depth and exploration. For me, it’s a one-time read that I would rate 3 stars 🌟