It only took me over a year (and massive late fines) to finally get the concentration and motivation to actually finish reading this hilariously overdue book, but I’m proud to say I finally did it (and returned it).
Sure, it’s a kind of cognitive bias, but right now I feel happy to indulge in the interpretation that I was meant to read that book now, today, at this point of my life. The book was The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
I know it gets quite a bit of flak for being a bit trite and predictable, but I resonate with the main character alarmingly strongly and definitely feel like I’m more in that stuck stage of life at the moment, so I think I was inclined to like it anyway. The timing, though, with the progression of events and experiences over the last year and in particular the last week or two, made the book ring true and feel powerful to me rather than saccharine. Old self-helpy truths sounded new and vital again.
Any other time I might’ve rolled my eyes and maybe even hate-read it, actively countering every offering the book could provide, seeking out negative reviews to reinforce what I focused on, and would’ve been stuck in a resistant, cynical place for longer than is healthy, deluded in some idea that I was resisting manipulation and therefore worthy.
So I am glad I read it now and feel a little changed for the better, at least for today.
I haven’t checked my account yet… I think they recently abolished them, but this book has been considered lost since way before that announcement, that’s how overdue it was 🙈 When I get around to wanting to borrow another book I’ll stump up and pay, it’s only fair.
It only took me over a year (and massive late fines) to finally get the concentration and motivation to actually finish reading this hilariously overdue book, but I’m proud to say I finally did it (and returned it).
Sure, it’s a kind of cognitive bias, but right now I feel happy to indulge in the interpretation that I was meant to read that book now, today, at this point of my life. The book was The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
I know it gets quite a bit of flak for being a bit trite and predictable, but I resonate with the main character alarmingly strongly and definitely feel like I’m more in that stuck stage of life at the moment, so I think I was inclined to like it anyway. The timing, though, with the progression of events and experiences over the last year and in particular the last week or two, made the book ring true and feel powerful to me rather than saccharine. Old self-helpy truths sounded new and vital again.
Any other time I might’ve rolled my eyes and maybe even hate-read it, actively countering every offering the book could provide, seeking out negative reviews to reinforce what I focused on, and would’ve been stuck in a resistant, cynical place for longer than is healthy, deluded in some idea that I was resisting manipulation and therefore worthy.
So I am glad I read it now and feel a little changed for the better, at least for today.
Good work!
Does your library do fines or have they abolished them?
I haven’t checked my account yet… I think they recently abolished them, but this book has been considered lost since way before that announcement, that’s how overdue it was 🙈 When I get around to wanting to borrow another book I’ll stump up and pay, it’s only fair.