I have always loved Matt Haig novels. My favourite is still The Humans, which is wonderfully quirky and forces the reader to evaluate whether or not humans are good or bad, should or shouldn’t be the earth’s dominant species and how and why our emotions can save us….but that’s a different book written at a different time in Matt’s life.
Matt Haig’s recent books are feel-good novels that make us question our individual life choices by reliving them (Midnight Library and now, Midnight Train).
In Midnight Train, we meet Wilbur Budd, an 81 year old man, a very successful chain bookstore owner who has died alone in his great big house. He finds himself on a train, looking back on his life. The last thing he remembers is saying goodbye to his piano teacher, and suddenly, he is aboard the Midnight Train (which looks just like an old toy train he was given by his brother) with Agnes Bagdale, former owner of Bagdale’s Books who is now his “guide” through his past life.
There are rules to watching your life. “You get on and off the train as required. You never try to speak to yourself. And you must never be there when you fall asleep.” If he lingers too long in one time, he’ll risk his entry into eternity….but Wilbur has many regrets. He had avoided his mother for years, couldn’t get past the death of his brother, betrayed his best friend and worked so hard that he neglected his wife, Maggie, the love of his life, so much that she left him because by that time, he was so successful in business, he wasn’t the man she married. (shades of Scrooge)
Wilbur wants to set it right but is not allowed to interfere, so he makes the ultimate sacrifice, breaks the rules and enters his past life’s dream to try to help himself change before Maggie leaves.
It is no brilliant literary work, but it serves its purpose. It’s a good story, if somewhat predictable, somewhat like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It has a good message, and will keep you interested until the end. I still like The Humans more, but there’s no accounting for taste. Enjoy!
This book is available to borrow from the Caledon Public Library or if you’d prefer to own it, Booklore in Orangeville will give a 10% discount if you mention you saw this book review in JustSayinCaledon and ask for ‘Donna’s Discount.’
