
βNever underestimate the big importance of small things.‘
βNever underestimate the big importance of small things.‘
βAnd don‘t give a second thought when people mock it or ridicule it. Most gossip is envy in disguiseβ
#book2oftheyear
So I liked this book, it was good and I can understand why a lot of people said this was captivating and really stuck with them. I imagine that if this book had been out in 2018 it would have swallowed me whole. But I didn‘t really feel like it was as profound as it could have been and while it was good, it was a little lacking for me.
3.5/5 βοΈ
I have heard so much about this book that I honestly thought it wouldn't live up to the hype. I was wrong. I listened to the audiobook in one sitting, the way it was written kept me drawn in. It definitely makes you think about your own life and the choices you've made...what you are and aren't grateful for. It was really good.
This one's gotten mixed reviews, but I really liked it. I struggled a little with the background of the mc, specifically how many things she was extraordinarily good at before she abandoned it all. I also hated the 2nd-to-last chapter, where the author felt the need to lay out all the themes of the book π. I wish his editors had told him to trust his readers. Otherwise, it was definitely a pick for me. My January #Bookspin @TheAromaofBooks
This is the first 2023 book of my book club. I always wanted to create a book club to call my own. Last year I talked to some friends from Brazil and they accepted the challenge. It has been a great journey with them! I am starting this one tonight! Can‘t wait to see what Matt Haig has done! #bookclub
First read of the year. Sometimes we tend to be ungrateful for all the beautiful things present in our life. The book shows us how the feeling of regret can be harmful and devastating and the importance of moving on.
Added this to my stack after reading (and loving!) The Humans but found it a less dazzling read than its sibling. Core message about gratitude, each individuals human impact to those around them and the sort of butterfly effect π¦ is v profound and one i often ponder but i found the pace/ prose of the story to be not exactly my cuppa
#12booksof2022 This was a month that I read quite a few books and enjoyed a number of them, but for whatever reason, this book just got to me in a good way and got a lot of it.
This is one I will think about for a long time. A suicidal young woman experiences the multiverse in a reflective novel. She‘s given more opportunities at life, but will she truly live? 5/5 and one of the best I read this year!
βοΈβοΈβοΈ Having read (and loved) βThe Radleys‘ by Matt Haig, I always recommend him as an author. I realised I should probably read some more of his books to back up that recommendation π I adored the concept of this book - who wouldn‘t love a library full of alternate life choices you could‘ve made to experience before death? However, I must admit, I wasn‘t totally convinced by the execution of the story. Still, enjoyable and soon to be a film!
I got these two books from the library on Thursday. The library will be closed for almost 2 months as they're moving to a new building. I usually only get books for the kids as my library doesn't have that huge of an English books section. But the Matt Haig book caught my eye. And the cover of that German fantasy book looked stunning so I brought it too.
I think I'll start with the Matt Haig book first
A highly original take on what it's like to have depression, but more importantly how to move forward in a positive direction. Matt Haig has been open about his own experiences living with depression and anxiety and in doing so he validates the very real pain and suffering of the disease. Can't recommend this book enough.
I have mixed feelings. This was a quick read, and an engaging one for sure. Nora (MC) is easy to like and to identify with, and her struggles are all too familiar. But it felt, a lot of the time, a pretty heavy-handed statement, at times a little cliched, and it kept interrupting the flow for me. What tried to be philosophical seemed a little too self-help, and neat and tidy for what the character was really experiencing. Left me a little flat.
Is it bad that I picked this to read next because it was the only one left unread in the pile right beside me? π Regardless, onward!
I‘m not totally sure what I think about this book. I appreciate that the book showed that the lows of mental health can get very serious. At the same time, I wasn‘t totally a fan of how βself-help bookβ -ish it got towards the end. Rating: 3 βοΈ
This was just alright for me. I wasn‘t blown away but I didn‘t hate it either.. I can see the appeal and why it was such a hot book through the pandemic.. and that‘s fine. I‘m extremely meh on it. #readmyowndamnbooks
I wasn‘t overly sure of this book when I first started; it didn‘t seem to have a lot of depth and really dropped you right into the hot coals of Nora Seed‘s life. But after a week of passing it by, I picked it back up and was greatly rewarded for it. Matt Haig‘s understanding of the anguish/doubt that life brings really grabbed my attention when the storyline is reveled. Great writing, honest thoughts and beautiful story. 10/10 add it to the shelf
Who wouldn't want to be in a library where one could βtry onβ different journeys of her life to see what fit best? As I was reading, I found myself wondering if Matt Haig was a psychologist since this novel delves into the psyche of a disturbed individual. The fact that Haig himself had a nervous breakdown when he was 24 might contribute to the types of fiction/nonfiction he chooses to write. I couldn't put this book down and read it in one day.
I just couldn‘t get into this book, it seemed to jump all over the place. It was very hard to follow for me.
5βοΈ Really enjoyed this read for the second time this year. I got a little more out of than I did when I read it in August. Read for #lmpbc. Was my #doublebookspin book for October. #2022 #reread #fiction #psychgology #bookreview #bookstagram
This is my pick for #Story #ScarathlonDailyPrompts
When Nora reaches the library, it is filled with books about all her possible lives, all the possible choices she could have made and how it would have changed her story.
I really enjoyed this book!
#Scarathlon2022 #TeamMonsterMash
I absolutely loved this book. It was a very interesting concept: what if you could live all your potential lives? Which one would you choose? The main character gets to explore all the lives she could have lead, so different from her mundane life, and she has to decide which life to stay in. I also appreciate how it dealt with mental health issues like depression and suicide in a nuanced way.
I‘ve seen a lot of mixed reviews, but it was a pick for me. If nothing else it makes you think about your life choices and how they not only affect you but others. I‘ve seen derogatory comments about it sounding like a self help book, but the MC is a philosopher (of sorts) so it feels more like her coming to her own realizations to me.
I reread this for my local book club meeting this week. Even though I knew the story, I still enjoyed it just as much as my first read.
Some members of my club felt it became repetitive and I don't disagree. However, the last few chapters are where the "meat" of this story is for me and I love the ending.
Great book to discuss with others!
Some good quotes, not certain this is for me yet, though.
A pretentious self help book disguised as a novel. Cringeworthy quotes aplenty! The story could have been promising, however the lack of depth and character development resulted in this YA style fiction being very flat. The main character is in her thirties, yet acts and thinks like a teenager. There was no flow, just constant repetition. I had to force myself to finish.
I absolutely love the idea of a parallel universe, where we get to live all the lives we could ever imagine.
I want to be a writer.
And a Veterinarian.
And a soldier.
I want to fly airplanes.
I want to be a therapist.
I want to be a cowgirl.
And a vegan.
I want to live a million different lives... This is a beautiful story of redemption, forgiveness, and the courage to live. Fair warning, there is discussion of suicide.
ππHappy Reading!ππ
I may be in the minority here, but this is one of my least favorite books that I‘ve read so far in 2022. I just felt bored and had no connection at all to any of the characters.I‘m starting to think that Matt Haig is not the author for me.
My rating: βοΈβοΈ
Trigger warnings which I‘m sure you can find a full list of elsewhere. Very thought provoking book. It‘s a heartbreaker for sure but it gets you thinking about your own life.
I can see what this book is trying to be, but it just missed the mark for me. Anything about suicide is going to be a complex subject to write about and I didn‘t like the way this played out in the end. This hasn‘t been my experience with depression and suicide. It seems to suggest that a text or message from someone can change someone‘s mind. Idk.
The premise was interesting and I liked the discussions of philosophy but overall disappointed.
Starting this as my August book.
Lil late into the month...π
This #letterm was both an enjoyable read and an encouragement to me!
#AlphabetGame
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
This is my favourite #letterm book. I recently reread it and while some of the stories were a bit long and maybe a little unnecessary, this time reading it, I got a lot more out of it, especially since going through breast cancer treatments this past year. #alphabetgame
Loved this book and the journey through the library books. A must read.
#ArtfulAugust #bookAboutBooks
@Eggs @AlwaysBeenALoverOfbooks
Read it a second time in a month. Still can't put it into words, other than ... whatever didn't work out was never supposed to. The book puts all of your what ifs to rest. If you've read it, tell me how you processed it. I'd say this is definitely a must read. ππ
#TheMidnightLibrary #MattHaig
So I‘ve been listening to this one during my breaks at work or when I‘m alone in my office. I must say I wasn‘t expecting the beginning