Page 18 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - March '23

Page 18, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Book Review

The Midnight Library school, who explains to is a successful surgeon and she the mother of their adorable
Nora that she is now in the daughter.
By Nils A. Shapiro Midnight Library, a place Or, as the author puts it (with ellipses added here to take
Have you ever wondered between life and death … the place of text left out for lack of space): “She had been a
what your life would be and that each of the many rock star, an Olympian, a music teacher, a primary school
like now if you had made books on the shelves is the teacher, a CEO, a PA, a chef, a glaciologist, a climatologist,
different decisions at various story of a life that would an acrobat, a tree-planter, an audit manager, a hairdresser, a
critical moments in your have been Nora’s if she had professional dog walker, an office clerk, a software developer,
life? Taken a different job? made a different decision a receptionist, a hotel cleaner, a politician, a lawyer, a
Decided to take that vacation from the one she did make shoplifter, the head of an ocean protection charity, a shop
trip instead of canceling it? at so many important points worker (again), a waitress, a first-line supervisor, a glass-
Asked a different girl out on in her life – each taking her blower and a thousand other things … There had, in short,
a date? Married a different down a different path toward been a lot of lives … Sometimes she was in a life for less than
person? a different journey. And now a minute, while in others she was there for days or weeks …
Each decision you make has the potential to change Nora was being offered an It seemed the more lives she lived, the harder it was to feel
everything about the rest of your life. opportunity to select a different life, rather than the one from at home anywhere.”
What if you were offered the opportunity to see what your which she has decided to escape. If she finds one that fulfills Importantly, what Nora – and we – learn is that the
life would have been like if you had made different decisions her, she can stay and complete it; if not, she will return to decisions we all make affect not only ourselves but others
at those critical moments? the Midnight Library and try another. But at some point her in our lives as well, sometimes profoundly, and must be
That is the intriguing premise of author Matt Haig’s time will run out. weighed in the consideration.
newest bestselling book, the third of his novels that I Mrs. Elm reaches for a particular volume from a shelf near There is, very near the end of the book, a one-and-a-half
have thoroughly enjoyed and will have now reviewed in her, The Book of Regrets, as a possible reference for Nora to page note ostensibly written by Nora, but which I assume
this column. The earlier two were: The Humans, about an consider. to reflect the views of the author. Under the title, “A Thing
alien sent to our planet by his kind to assassinate a college I will leave it for you to discover the life that Nora believes I Have Learned (Written By a Nobody Who Has Been
professor who has made a major scientific discovery they will make her happy, among them: Everybody),” it is a wise and thoughtful reflection about life
feel is too dangerous to be left in the hands of “inferior” • The life of a rich and famous rock star she became by that for me is the most memorable passage in these pages
Earthlings, and How to Stop Time, an equally captivating staying with her brother’s band. – one that deserves to be copied, printed and hung in every
story about the life of a 400-year-old man, member of a small, • The comfortable wife of the kind, gentle man whom she home as an uplifting reminder about the present lives we
secret global society of ageless humans who dare not let the had always regretted turning down years ago when they were have chosen for ourselves.
rest of mankind know they exist. Their one cardinal rule: young and he asked her out for a cup of coffee, and now he This one belongs in your library, any time of day or night.
Never fall in love! You can make no personal attachments.
Instead, he must change identities and move often before
people realize that he ages so slowly as if not at all. In the
present, he is a college history teacher – the perfect role for Susan Has Moved To A
one who actually performed with Shakespeare and lived
through the centuries of events he discusses with students.
A wonderful book! New Location!
The Midnight Library is another absorbing read, 288 pages
that I finished in three sittings.
Nora Seed is a 35-year-old woman who has given up on Androcles Hair Salon
life. She lives alone, except for her cat, Voltaire. Volts, for
short. Everything she had thought she wanted never panned 4031 Hood Rd., Suite C-108
out. Among the top high school swimmers in America and Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
certain to make the Olympic team, she decided to give up
the sport. A talented piano player, songwriter and member of
her brother, Joe’s, band, the Labyrinths, she quit just as they Susan
were about to get their big break. Inspired by her interest in
the environment, she considered becoming a glaciologist, but
gave up the idea. That’s the way her life has been, for reasons Swafford
she chalks up to problems in her relationship with her parents.
The book’s brief opening section begins, “Nineteen years
before she decided to die, Nora Seed….” Several pages later 561-312-0457
we begin, “Twenty-seven hours before she decided to die,
Nora Seed.…” A knock on her door provides for an already
depressed Nora yet another blow: A young man is sorry to
tell her that her cat, Voltaire, has been hit by a passing car 10%
and is lying on the street, dead. Nora writes a brief suicide
note, swallows a few antidepressant pills and a bottle of wine,
then passes out.
Not expecting to awaken, when her eyes open Nora is OFF
surprised to find herself outside a strange building. Inside
is a single giant room filled floor to ceiling with countless
aisles of books covered in shades of green, on metal racks Tues.
as far as she can see – all of the racks moving rapidly back Products starting at 69
$
and forth, stopping, then moving again. New clients only
Suddenly, she sees one person, a woman she recognizes:
Mrs. Elm, the kind, gentle librarian she knew from her high

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