The Midnight Train: To Read or Not to Read?
Hi Readers! I read Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library back in 2020. I reviewed it as: “The Midnight Library, in its simplicity has achieved a different level of poignance. It is unbelievably magical & whimsical, but at the same time insightful & thought provoking.” So, you can imagine the kind of expectations I had for The Midnight Train which was published recently, six years after the first one. Read more to find out if I loved it just as much or not!
~~GOODREADS DESCRIPTION~~
When your life flashes before your eyes, where would you stop?
No one can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there. The chance to re-live the moments that meant most. To see what kind of person you really were.
For Wilbur his best days were with Maggie, the love of his life. On his honeymoon in Venice.
Before he gave it all away.
He wishes he could go back and live differently. But to do so risks everything . . .
A magical, time-travelling love story, from the world of The Midnight Library.
~~THOUGHTS~~
The Midnight Train is the story of Wilbur Budd, who has died in his eighties, and is now on the Midnight Train to watch his life in significant moments which will make him understand who he really was. Wilbur never knew his father because he died before he was born. His mother and elder brother Dougie, flawed as they were, were all he had. And then Maggie entered his life and everything changed for him. He had someone to live for, someone to love, someone whose mere presence brought him happiness. We see Wilbur’s life, how he becomes a success and what comes at the cost of that success.
This premise itself for this book is so full of potential. It’s the multitude of life flashing before your eyes, containing the pride of living the best moments, avoiding pain from the tragic moments, regret from choosing the wrong paths and so much more. Despite the strict rules of the Midnight Train, he breaks them to shake the young Wilbur and shows him how NOT to live his life.
For a novel with heavy themes and an author with such beautiful writing skills, I found the book didn’t have any emotional depth. There was a death, but there was no grieving and the running away from pain after a death was not written with any emotion. There was estrangement, but there was no longing or loneliness for the missing ones. There was so much of regret, heartbreak, fear and anxiety, yet none of it got a chance to be explored. It was over, just as the theme of the book, in a flash, from one moment to the next. It was an entire life lived, yet there was no life in it. I was very disappointment when midway I realized that it was going to be a straightforward story with none of the poignance the first book had. I have rated The Midnight Train by Matt Haig at 2.5/5 stars!
Until next time,
About The Author
Aishwarya Shenolikar
Hello! I'm Aishwarya, an Introverted bookworm & writer. I have been reviewing books since 6 years on my blog - Mindscape in Words. My favourite genres are Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thrillers, Magical Realism, Poetry, Fantasy & Memoirs. I like the kind of books which evoke emotions on several levels leaving me wrecked, but also incredibly content. I'm dreaming for the world to paint a landscape full of words, more like Mindscape in Words. Hope you enjoy the view.
