So you've read The Midnight Library now. In 100 words or less, identify the part of the book that is most likely to stick with you the longest.
What's your take away?Don't answer this question until you've finished reading the entire book. Claiming to have read the book without having done so would be dishonorable. Far better to take a late penalty than to sacrifice your integrity for a grade. Owning your life choices can be the first step to enlightenment.
I think the scene of Nora escaping the library will stick with me the longest. I finished reading the book a couple months ago and I still remember how it made me feel and what thoughts were going through my head. The theme of going from wanting to die so badly to wanting to live more than anything hit very hard for me.
ReplyDelete-Byron
The part of the book that stuck with me the longest is when Nora decided to see what her life as a glaciologist would be like. Both when she was shocked to realize she still wanted to live, and when she learned that she wasn’t the only one going through their own “library“ of sorts. It made me wonder how many people feel like no one can relate to them and their problems, when that’s far from the truth. It’s interesting to think about both from a narrative standpoint and in our day-to-day lives.
ReplyDeleteI think the part where the library is on fire and Nora is trying to write something that will bring her back to her root life is something that will always stick with me. It had me hanging onto every word. I especially will remember the end of the chapter when she finally figures out the correct thing to write, which was "I AM ALIVE".
ReplyDeleteI really liked the comparison of life to a game of chess that's used throughout the book. I think it’s a really good analogy to life that I never really thought of before. Like how every move in chess will open up a whole new strategy and set of possible moves, every decision we make in life will also bring new opportunities and a new direction.
ReplyDeleteI think the part of this book that will stick with me the longest is when Nora finally realized she wants to live. It takes her so long to accept that her life is worth living, but last minute, when it really matters, she loudly proclaims that she is alive. I think that no matter how bad things get or how many regrets you have, you can learn to let yourself live the life you've created.
ReplyDelete-Denna Bussinger
In The Midnight Library the chapter in which Nora realizes her dream of being a successful pop music artist is most potent to me. To possess such fame and such universal adoration - indeed, seemingly the whole world - and to be so devastated by the loss of her brother is a testament to her own humanity and the situation that the reader would be in as well. What does it matter that she possesses such wide adoration and is "a success" if the success has led to Joe's death? Humanity, ultimately, matters more than material or social gain.
ReplyDeleteThe part of The Midnight Library that will stick with me the longest is the life Nora has where she is a famous musician. She finds that she has a house in LA, concerts around the world, fans with her name as tattoos, and has dated her favorite movie star. But she finds that Ravi isn't playing, and that her brother is dead, it no longer matters to her. I share that dream, but my love for the music can never outweigh the love I have for those that play beside me. Life is nothing without your bandmates.
ReplyDeleteI think the part that will stick with me the longest is the concept that your life is what you make of it. We make choices everyday that will effect the rest of our lives. And while it's true we can't choose the outcomes, we can choose the next step. Mrs. Elm's words, "The only way to learn is to live," will also stick with me. The courage to try new things and make those scary choices is the only way to find the fulfilling life that everyone hopes for.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this completely. I struggled to decide what would stick with me the most-Mrs. Elm's words or what I ended up responding with. Especially with the new and scary things that seem to come often now, I have to remind myself that while change is scary, growth doesn't happen without it. Decisions that shape the rest of my life may be terrifying, but they lead to new, amazing possibilities down the road!
Delete- Adalyn Winters
Mrs. Elm's words stuck with me as well. I find it easy to relate parts of this novel to some things I'm currently facing in my life and the quote "The only way to learn is to live" has contemplated with me since I've read it. I believe this quote relates to change and the fact that it's inevitable and it made me feel like the choice was mine to decide what to do about the change in my life. whether or not to hide in the comfort of my familiar and ponder on the past and things I can't change or to live and learn in what's happening in my life currently.
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ReplyDeleteThe end of the book, titled, "The Things I Have Learned," will stick with me. The sentence "Those lives are happening, it is true, but you are happening as well," impacts my thoughts. I need to focus on what is happening to me, not what I should’ve done. Everything I have done up until now has brought me where I need to be, and everything I will do is going to shape the person I will become. I cannot live a life focused on my regrets, and Nora learned this in this book, seen through this title.
- Adalyn Winters
The part that stuck with me the longest was when Nora faced the Polar Bear in "Svalbard." I understood this to be the key moment where Nora realized that she did not want to die. This was the push Nora needed to realize that there was meaning to life and that there was purpose. This chapter showed that it was the first experience that Nora had in a long time where she found motivation to live. In each life before "Svalbard" Nora had things to look forward to and things that were hard to swallow but she ultimately "broke the ice" to thinking positively about living and the possibilities that were achievable even if it was under extreme and not so positive events.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter was the biggest takeaway for me as well. Up until this point in the book Nora has griped and complained about living and choosing new lives, but it was during this moment where she finally felt the urge to keep going. The desire to live, breathe, and experience whatever she wants was awoken. I also agree with the statement about the ice being broken. Every moment after this chapter she started to look at things a lot more positively and hopeful. She was no longer ready to give up and die. Nora wanted to live.
Delete-Elliot Riden
The part of the book that will stick with me is when Nora was a glaciologist. Up until this point Nora was not sure that she wanted to continue living, yet when she experienced the event with the polar bear she realized she was not ready to give up life. Nora also meets Hugo in this life and learns that she is not the only one experiencing multiple different lives. Nora wanting to live really resonated with me and showed me that despite whatever trials and tribulations you come across, life is worth continuing.
ReplyDelete- Zachary Idlett
The part that will stick with me the longest will be the very end when Nora was able to go back to her main life. The whole experience in the midnight library showed her how special life can be with each and every choice you get to make. I think the whole trip to the library changed her whole perspective on life, and now she gets to make what she can out of what she has in her actual life. This book showed me how I should be living my life to the fullest.
ReplyDeleteCarly Hendrickson
There was a little metaphor that I’m sure most people read over, but I loved it. At some point the book compares people to cities. It says that everyone is a city and we all have some bad neighborhoods, but we can’t let that define the entire town. We also all have some beautiful sights and characteristics in us. You can find both in everyone, but you can’t just focus on one of the two. You have to see the city or person as a whole. I’ll also remember about how love makes life worth living.
ReplyDeleteThe part that will stick with me is her post, 'A Thing I have learned.' Seeing so much growth from Nora was beautiful. I love the part she says, "Love and laughter and fear and pain are universal currencies," and,"We only need to be one person. We only need to feel one existence. We don't have to do everything to feel everything." Her words are a direct contradiction to the quote at the beginning of the book. I believe this type of growth is possible in real life too, and I think there's a lot of hope in that.
ReplyDelete-Jenna Whitehead
My favorite part of the book that has stuck with me the most is after Nora returns from the library. Seeing how genuinely happy she was to be alive was refreshing. From the way she spoke to her brother to how kind she was to Mr. Banerjee, her newfound outlook on life proves her root life was just as good as a life where she got to undo her regrets.
ReplyDeleteThe most memorable part of the book to me was the chapter in which Nora lives with Ash and Molly. The relationship between Nora and Molly was truly moving. Nora's love for Molly was an example of the moments worth living for.
ReplyDeleteThe point? Life is what you make it. You can't change the tragedies or the things that give you happiness, but you can change the way you live and think, how you react, and where you want to go. Voluntary responsibility gives life meaning. There are few things more meaningful than raising a child, which is what makes the chapter with Molly so special.
The part where Nora writes “I AM ALIVE’ is what will stick with me the most. This scene shows how life is a gift, no matter the circumstances you can always choose to live. This will stick with me and I will remember this anytime I am feeling like I have nowhere else to turn.
ReplyDeleteThe part of the novel that will stick with me the most is when Nora realizes that she loves her daughter like she has never loved anyone. I have a younger brother that I pretend is my kid, and I can relate to that. I didn’t think I wanted to have another brother so late in life, but immediately I fell in love with him. It broke my heart that Nora had to leave her daughter and that genuine affection she had for her. That same heartbreak is how I felt leaving him for college.
ReplyDeleteWhen Nora meets her daughter in one of her alternative lives. There is just something about the way she says, I'm paraphrasing here, that she must leave as soon as possible otherwise she is going to decide to stay because her "daughter" is bringing her such joy.
ReplyDeleteI do not want kids, much like Nora, but to see a piece of you like that in an alternative timeline could change that. The library is changing who she is fundamentally, and letting her find joy in things she previously had rejected outright.
The part of the book that is most likely to stick with me is when she encountered the polar bear. That rush of fear she got from that encounter made her realize how much she wanted to live. It gave her the hope she needed to continue looking for the "perfect" life. That part of the book made me realize that no matter how hard of a time you're having, life is always worth living and you should never give up hope on it.
ReplyDelete^^^^^^ -Abigayle Shropshire
DeleteThe part of the book that will stick with me the longest probably has to be her destroying the library. Nora's decision to destroy the Midnight Library signifies her recommitment to living. There is a liminal space between life and death represented by the Midnight Library. Through this space, Nora explores infinite possibilities, lets go of long-held regrets, and has some fun. After destroying this she is finally able to let go and live her "perfect life".
ReplyDelete^^^^ Jolee McIntyre
DeleteThe part of the book that will stick with me the most is her fresh mindset from returning to her root life from the library. She had taken in all of the things that she learned, had to ditch all of her supposed dream lives to come back to the one she originally decided to leave, and did so with motivation to make immediate change. It is pretty inspiring to see how fast she made things that she began to turn things around.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I believe the part of the book that will stick with me the longest is the ending, partly because I could see it coming thanks to experiencing enough stories in my lifetime, but also because it validates my feelings about life. In short, life should not be defined by our regrets, but by the possibilities of our future. And if you can't see a future, take a look back and find that path ahead based on the decisions you've made. It's ok to look back, if it means you learn the value of the here and now.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the takeaway is "The Incident With The Police." "The Perfect Life" was everything Nora had dreamed of, and had seemed complete to a fault. And knowing she could escape to this life of bliss, it took a reminder of her past obligations to tell her that, ultimately, choosing another life wasn't the choice to make. Though she had accomplished wonders in her world with Ash and Molly, there were people who needed Nora in her original life. It was the point where she had really, truly wanted to live.
ReplyDeleteThe part of this book that I will think about the most and take with me is the message on depression. Throughout the book, Nora's journey through her depression made me think about my own life. She felt stuck, but in the end she was free. I now have another perspective on how to think about my own life and how change IS possible.
ReplyDelete-Anna Stone
The part of the book that I think will stick with me the most is how she realizes every single life is changed by just one choice. It shows how every little thing may play a bigger part than what we think. By discovering all these lives are by choices she's made, it helps to amplify how she can still achieve them by making those choices now.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that the choices we make everyday drastically change our future stuck with me the most. Through her life, Nora made a lot of choices that she later regretted. At the end of the book, she realized that she would not be herself if she had not made those choices. Instead of getting caught up on her past choices, she set her eyes on the choices ahead of her.
ReplyDeleteThe part of the book in which Nora discovers the love she possesses for her daughter Molly stuck with me the most. Nora decided early on in the book that life was not worth living, but later discovered that the reason she felt that way was partly due to the lack of love she had to give or had received. The love she began to possess for Molly ultimately gave her the realization that she could accomplish all of these things in all of these separate realities; however, they were obsolete without love. - Corbin Vinson
ReplyDeleteThe part of the book that stuck with me the most was definitely what Mrs. Elm tells Nora about her exploring her other lives. The fact that she cannot explore every possibility, every eventuality, made me think for a very long time about my own mortality and everything I could do. Life is a precious thing, and this book made me reflect on that fact for longer than I care to admit.
ReplyDelete-Carson Dill
The part of the book that stood out to me was when the library was burning down and Nora had decided that she wanted to live. When she grabbed the blank book and wrote "I AM ALIVE," it was very powerful and it was a remarkable moment in the book. Nora had realized that her life was not over and that she has the potential to do whatever she wanted to do for the rest of her life. This was inspiring to me because although sometimes I feel like I am not worth anything, I am.
ReplyDelete-Seezan Thompson
DeleteThe part that will stick with me the most is when Nora realizes that you still feel depressed without companionship. You can have all the money and Olympic medals and cool items in your life but if you don't have any love, you won't enjoy life. I realized this myself this summer that there's no point in having infinite free time if you have no friends to enjoy it with. My sleep schedule was pretty bad over the summer, and before I made new friends that stayed up or convinced old friends to stay up, I was lonely.
ReplyDeleteCamden Wilmes
I would say the biggest impact on me was when Nora was talking abou the parental influences on her life. My parents are such a big deal to me. The way Nora remembered her parents made me so sad and just made me realize that everyone is different and everyones life is different. Different things make us who we are and I think that is very evident through this whole book. From the start to the finish, you see Nora grow and experience different things and live all these lives that leave an impact on her.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of the book was probably when the librarian said, “never underestimate the big importance of small things.” This was an awesome quote, one that has stuck with me in the short time since reading the book, and one that I know will be in my head for a while. At face value, it’s simply a warning to pay attention to detail, to make sure you’re doing the little things right as well as the big things, so that you can have the best shot of success. To me, however, it is also a reassurance, a line that says that even if the little things are all we can do, the only things that we have the time or energy for that day, we are still setting ourselves up for success just by doing something. Great quote, even better book.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that sticks with me is the scene where Nora is getting attacked by the polar bear and realizes she wants to live. This is because battling depression, I have felt like it would be more peaceful if I died. Then I got attacked by dogs, and seeing the dog on top of me tearing my arm apart made me realize that I wouldn’t be fighting to live if I didn’t want to (which is a crazy feeling to have during a time like that). The biggest takeaway from this book is that the life you dream of having isn’t what you think it will be. There is a good and a bad to everything, so just embrace the decisions you’ve made and don’t let them haunt you. -Sydney Moody
ReplyDeleteThe part that is most likely to stick with me the longest is the message to not dwell on past mistakes or missed opportunities. Don't get stuck in the past and wonder what you could have done differently or how your life could have turned out. Instead, use those experiences as a lesson to take advantage of opportunities that will come in the future. I often think about past mistakes I have made, and wonder why I couldn't have done something different. But in the end, I still move on, and try to change my present self rather than think about changing my past self.
ReplyDeleteThe most impactful moment for me was when Nora opens the last book and finds it blank. I think we knew all along that the only answer to finding the right life is to write it yourself and any other option is unsatisfactory because we are constantly changing never the same as we were the day before and so any life that various from ours is lived by someone that is not us.
ReplyDeleteI think the part that will stick with me the most is the life in which Nora was married to Ash. When she met her daughter, Molly’s resilience proved to Nora that she was stronger than previously thought. If Molly had this sense of power in her, that meant that Nora had some form of it inside her as well, which led to Nora’s complete mindset shift that allowed her to escape the library. Nora realized that while none of the lives were truly meant for her, she now knew how to fix her root life.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of chapter 24, Nora makes a statement to her brother saying " I have anxiety. I have no other type of thinking available." This stuck with me the most because it's such a powerful thing to feel. Your mind is secluded to one thought process, and that is fear. When fear is in the forefront, everything else becomes blocked of. When someone says you're overthinking it is feels like a slap in the face because you know you are but you can't do anything about it. You often can't have any words said to snap you out, just breath and let it take it's course. When Nora said this it felt so real to what people feel today.
ReplyDeleteThe different lives Nora was presented with throughout the book weren't just a result of her own curiosity and willingness to look deeper into her misery. Another person invested her mind and heart into Nora's possibilities. Mrs Elm provided the honest, brutal truth that Nora needed. She always seemed to ask Nora just the right questions in order to get her to be honest. Often times, even we need someone like that too. Someone who we can expect to say what everyone else is thinking. These people will bring the truth out of us, often when we least expect it.
ReplyDeleteWhat stuck with me the most was Nora’s final realizations in the chapter “A thing I have learned”. Nora concludes that she wants to live her life to the fullest from that point on, even if it isn’t the most astounding or dramatic lifetime. "We don’t have to do everything in order to be everything because we are already infinite". It really puts in perspective that sometimes we just need to live simply and feel our existence. Regret, pain, and grief are all things that that we will always experience, but it shouldn’t overpower us and our daily decisions. This is all a part of life and what it means to be a person.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I think the moment in the book that will stick with me the longest is when Nora first enters the library. The confusion in this new world she had entered is displayed beautifully. Every time I look at the cover of the Midnight Library, I am immediately flown back into that first scene. It was as if I was there as well, wishing I had the opportunity to go back and relive all my past mistakes and regrets. The takeaway for me is contradictory to the part that will stick with me the longest, however. My takeaway is that it is okay to have regrets and guilt. These are part of the human experience; they are things everyone faces. They help us relate to one another and shape us into the people we are today. With no regrets, there would be no learning, which would lead to no growth within our characters, which would make everyone so bland and boring. Our regrets and how we overcome them diversify us, because everyone has had different life experiences that no one else can replicate.
ReplyDeleteNever realized i didn't do this. the part of the book where she ironically fights for her life against the Polar bear. due to the fact this whole thing started because she wanted to die, she sure as heck had the chance to, but she didn't because in reality she doesn't. She does still have the will to live, even if it's just out of stubbornness. her mind decided to die, her body decided to live. it was not past midnight for her yet, her mind figured it was, her body and spirit knew it wasn't, so it fought for dear life
ReplyDeleteThe scene that has stuck with me throughout two readings of the book is Nora entering a life where she was a ‘good’ cat owner. Even when she wished to be a better owner, her cat was still dead. This chapter speaks to me because in life there are always things you blame yourself for, but no amount of regret/remorse could change the outcome of the situation. To put it into simple words: things happen and sometimes there is absolutely nothing you can do to change the outcome, and that must be okay.
ReplyDelete“Because, Nora, sometimes the only way to learn is to live.” -Mrs. Elm
The most impactful part of the novel was after Nora escaped the library. It sums up the book nicely and it leaves readers with a positive and inspiring message. After Nora escapes the library, she realizes that life is what you make of it. She also realizes that it isn’t worth it to have regrets and think about what you could be when you can make the best of what you are where you are in your life at that moment.
ReplyDeleteThe part of the novel that will stick with me the most is her first life when she stayed with Dan. This sticks with me because it is the first realization of Nora not being happy in the lives she thought she would have liked. It showed me that no matter how much a person may regret something, not everything will turn out perfect for them in the end.
ReplyDeleteI am stuck thinking about the scene of Nora escaping the library. After following her journey through all of her possible lives in the Midnight Library, having her describe being alive as “a former curse and present blessing” while she fights to live as the library burns down around her resonates with my on a deep level and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteThe part that stuck with me was the first life she experienced. How it seemed to better at first, but once she returned to the library she still had the urge to die. I takeaway from this book that we should have regrets with a grain of salt. If we sit and dwell on the what could have beens, we will be thinking forever. Life is not perfect in any sense and regrets are what make us human. We should learn from our regrets not ponder on them as that is what kills us. - Cody Miller
ReplyDeleteWhat stuck with me most is the through line of family. Seeing Nora speaking with her brother and seeing him be by her side after the suicide attempt. Frankly, it almost made me cry. Seeing someone who had no connection with her family and seeing that someone begin to love her family, and just love family as a concept again really hit a note with me. While she still has an unconventional relationship with her deceased parents it feels as if she had made peace with them. After finishing the novel, I went and messaged my family and let them know I love them.
ReplyDelete-CWR
The part of the book I keep thinking back to is when Nora realizes that Volts didn’t die because of anything she did, but because of things out of her control. I think it’s such a strong moment because I think we often blame ourselves or feel guilty when tragic things happen to those we care about. However, the reality is that there is nothing we can do to prevent tragic things from happening because they are outside of ourselves. The best we can do is accept it and let the regret fade away like in the book.
ReplyDeleteThe part of the book that stuck out to me was when Nora made the "A Thing I Have Learned" post. She started by saying, "It is easy to mourn the lives we aren't living." This stuck out to me because it really is much easier to feel sorry for yourself and dream about being someone else than it is to feel happy and content with the life you have. Reading this book made me think about how and why people have to try so hard to be happy, and also why it is so important that we do try.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though the part of the book that will remain with me is the point at which Nora finally and truly realizes that she wants to live. She has flashes of moments where she feels as though she's almost at that conclusion, but the moment she finally seizes it is so beautiful. It gives a comforting feeling to know that such certainty is possible. I have greatly enjoyed this book to completion.
ReplyDelete- Sam Ray
This was definitely the most interesting book I read this summer. I typically hate books that aren't chronological, so without this assignment I never would have picked it up for myself. I think that the big impact I got was to not try to think about the could've, should've, would've. If I spend all day everyday wondering what would life be like if I had done something different that I will never be able to truly love the life that I am currently living. We live in a world where there is this huge culture to get every last drip of happiness out of your life. People will spend all day trying to get the so called perfect life that will end all of their troubles. If I spend 7 days a week working a job to have a loaded bank account, I'm never going to have time to make memories and have experiences.
ReplyDeleteNora choosing life over both death and an eternity chasing after falsities within the library. She used it for what it was intended for, a tool to train herself to make good decisions and to recover her mental health rediscovering her love for life. She learned how to tell her own story, to be the author of the books she’d read and then as seen during the perspective shift and font change, she does just that. I think that is just beautiful.
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