Let me start this off by saying how obsessed I am with the idea of the multiverse right now. It probably has something to do with my connection to this book. It was also really well written and Nora was so relatable, so it was also great in itself.
Starting with the setting. Present day life with Nora was described as pretty grim. I’m sure this was intentional to set the tone for the first part of the book. She isn’t happy with her life and so the scenery and weather reflects it. Similarly, as she travels through each of the lives she could have lived, the descriptions also set the tone. When she’s an OlympicOlympic swimmer living on a strict schedule, the tone of the setting gave off the strict vibes. When she’s studying glaciers, the cold penetrates through the pages to really bring it to life. And the library is vast and magical, both of which are overwhelming and frustrating to Nora depending on the occasion she’s back in the library. It was all very well done.
A favorite scene would have to be when she realizes she’s going back to the library after she’s been living the life she thought would fit. The emotions were so visceral that I wanted to cry along with her. The sorrow and the regret she feels leapt off the page and into my heart. And how the librarian handles it and helps her figure out the final delimma was amazing and made me think of all my librarians over the years.
Nora was a great character from start to finish. She begins at her literal lowest point in life and has nowhere to go but up. A lot of people could and would just give up and let it be over. But she accepts the challenge of finding the life she deems worth living and puts her best foot forward. And as she experiences things she thought she’d given up on or would never have the chance to see, she understands why the Nora she is now couldn’t live that life or do that job. She grows to see herself in a different life and appreciate the person she actually is.
The entire premise of this book was super interesting to me, like I’ve already said. The idea of exploring other timelines where different life choices take you in different directions has fascinated me for a long time now. In this particular book, I enjoyed the way it was played out. I don’t want to say much more so I don’t spoil it, but every timeline she visited gave her so much room and opportunity to grow and learn and I really loved the person she’d become at the end. And the hint of a beautiful future for her was well done.
I hope my thoughts will urge you into reading this book. Or if you already have, I would love to know how you felt about it.
Thank you for reading 🙂