The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (Adult Magical Realism Book Review)

The Midnight Library
by Matt Haig
Published by Viking
on August 13, 2020
Genre: Adult, Magical Realism
Length: 288 pages

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Synopsis:
Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices... Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?

A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well-lived, from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How to Stop Time. 


My Thoughts:

Nora Seed is a middle-aged woman who has lived a life of many regrets and decides to die, but instead finds herself in the 'Midnight Library' where a very special librarian from Nora's past helps her choose which life to start over with. This fantastical library allows Nora not only to choose a new life to live, but to give up on it and choose again, and again, and again until she finds the life she can be truly be happy in. 

The Midnight Library has been one of the most hyped books of the year so far and it's definitely worth it in my opinion. 

It's about life choices and second chances, and despite the taboo content (suicidal ideation) it is a beautiful and oddly uplifting story that is easy to 'place yourself into' and compare to your own life, including the regrets you may have and wondering how you'd do things differently. 

This book really had me thinking and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who struggles with their mental health or with aging and death.  

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Night Animals by Gianna Marino (Children's Picture Book Review)

Night Animals

by Gianna Marino
Published by Viking Books for Young Readers

on July 14, 2015
Genre: Children's, Picture Books 
Length: 34 pages
Ages: 3 - 5 years

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Literary Awards:
California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Primary (2018)

Synopsis:
Something's out there in the dark!

First Possom hears it. Then Skunk. Then Wolf comes running. "What could it possible be?" asks Bat.
"Night Animals!" the animals declare.
"But you are night animals," Bat informs them!

Children will love the oh-so-funny animals in this twist on a cozy bedtime book.

Our Thoughts:

Possum is hiding from night animals when Skunk happens by and asks what he's up to, so they hide together. Soon they're hiding place is crowded and they wonder what they are hiding from. Night Animals, of course, and the woods are full of them!

This is a great story about nocturnal animals that are a little afraid, and then a little more, until their fear has grown out of proportion! Of course, they finally realize that they, too, are night animals!

A cute reminder that it is easy to let your fear (or other people's fear) get the better of you.

This silly story makes the perfect bedtime story or even better, the perfect story to read at bedtime while camping in the woods at night! Among the Night Animals!  

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SHOUT by Laurie Halse Anderson (Nonfiction Book Review)

SHOUT

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Published by Viking Books

on March 12, 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir, Poetry

Length: 296 pages

Ages: 14 - 17

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Synopsis:

A searing poetic memoir and call to action from the bestselling and award-winning author of Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson!

Bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes about, and advocates for, survivors of sexual assault. Now, inspired by her fans and enraged by how little in our culture has changed since her groundbreaking novel Speak was first published twenty years ago, she has written a poetry memoir that is as vulnerable as it is rallying, as timely as it is timeless. In free verse, Anderson shares reflections, rants, and calls to action woven between deeply personal stories from her life that she's never written about before. Searing and soul-searching, this important memoir is a denouncement of our society's failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #metoo and #timesup, whether aloud, online, or only in their hearts. Shout speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice--and once you hear it, it is impossible to ignore. 

My Thoughts:

Laurie Halse Anderson, the author of Speak, writes a poetic memoir of her life, and the things that made her come out and write Melinda's story. 

I picked this up kind of randomly at the library without knowing what it was about except that it was from the author of Speak, which I read about five years before, and that it was a memoir, which I've been reading a lot more of lately. It's a small book and also freestyle poetry, which I see from time to time but never bother to read, so I thought I'd give it a try for once. It turned out to be one of those books I didn't know I needed to read. I didn't think I'd relate but the topic was still important and relevant enough to read and I ended up realizing that I relate more than I'd like to. This is the kind of book that any female, and some males too, will relate to in some way no matter what. 

SHOUT was kind of hard-hitting and is a real life filled with real issues. This is every U.S. teen who struggled with poverty, broken homes, neglect, and abuse. This is every kid that stumbled along through school, failing at fitting in or making friends. This is every young girl or boy who's ever been assaulted or raped. This is a sea of voices who can't speak out, won't speak out, or have yet to speak out, and this author is speaking out for us by telling us her truth. Bless her. 

This was a really hard read. It's like reading someone's darkest truths. The ones that most people keep locked up and never speak of again. So much about this book was relatable for me, in so many ways. This felt like my childhood, my teen years, my life as a woman. The things that we don't talk about because we will be judged and blamed and shamed for them. She puts them all out there and lets us know that these things are not our fault. 

A must read. All the stars and more. 
CW for rape, assault, PTSD, substance abuse.