The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

 

The Midnight Library is the perfect book to read in January–a time for starting over and making New Year’s resolutions.

Nora Seed, the novel’s protagonist, needs to start over; She has lost touch with her dreams. She is also unmarried, estranged from her brother, and friendless. She has lost contact with her best friend, Izzy, who moved to Australia.

Adding insult to injury, Nora was recently fired from her retail job and her cat, Volts, has just died.

Nora decides to end her life but, fortunately, she is given a second chance in this humorous yet metaphysical novel.

Nora ends up at the “Midnight Library” a place people go when they hover between life and death. While its a construct of their minds, its also a place where individuals called “sliders” can make new choices.

Nora becomes everything–from a scientist, to world class swimmer, to rock star–yet still feels hopeless and lost. In an ingenious twist, Nora gets the perfect life yet still feels unsatisfied. Nora’s despair nearly leads to catastrophe, yet, she ultimately prevails in this inspiring novel.

 

Book Review: Migrations by Charlotte McConghy

 

A family “curse” has made Franny a perpetual wanderer; and thus, she never stays in one place for long. Even as a child, she loved birds, mostly crows, but now she decides to track the last few migrating Arctic terns. Against all odds, she convinces the captain of a fishing vessel, Ennis, to let her become part of his crew.

Fanny promises the captain that if follows the arctic tern’s flight path he will earn his largest catch of fish yet. The novel is set at a time of ecological disaster when nearly all animals, including fish, are on the brink of extinction. This “golden catch” would give Ennis a chance to redeem himself in his family’s eyes or so he says.

The maritime trip to Antarctica also gives Franny a chance at redemption. Though she tells them she is a scientist tracking the arctic terns for scientific research, Franny harbors a huge secret which is only gradually divulged. Migrations offers a startling portrait of highly complex character who is unimaginable brave and fiercely determined.

This is a novel that does not shy away from the largest questions and the most daunting topics: animal instincts, madness, desire, survival.

McConaghy’s latest novel also involves wildlife, Once There Were Wolves.

Book Review: The Lost Apothecary

 

Caroline's quest:

"As distraught as I'd been in the last few days, I felt more alive in London--enveloped in an old mystery, an old story -- than I could remember feeling in years. I resolved to continue digging. To push through the dark and look inside of it all."

After learning that her husband has been faithful, Caroline goes on a trip to London by herself. Even though the trip was supposed to be an anniversary trip with her husband, Caroline goes alone and embarks on a personal quest.

The novel is empowering because it features a character who wants to reshape her circumstances.

Much of the novel is about pushing past the surface veneer and seeing the secrets that lie below. After going mud larking, Caroline finds an artifact, a blue apothecary jar with an engraving of a bear. This object reignites her love for history and scholarship that she had long repressed. Before marrying James, she had wanted to pursue a degree at Cambridge in the U.K.

Caroline learns the dreadful truth about the apothecary jar when she does research and even uncovers the centuries old apothecary and its relics. The apothecary register told the story of women who came to the shop seeking help and redress from men who had wronged them

Both a historical mystery and a thrilling treasure hunt, The Lost Apothecary intrigues readers on many levels. The apothecary, Nessa, is a historian recording the stories of women whose stories would otherwise be forgotten. In uncovering Nessa and Eliza's story, Caroline breaks free from her past and reconnect with her dreams.

Most of the story is realistic but there is a hint of the supernatural in it as well.