Books to Inspire: January 2025

The Midnight Library

By Matt Haig

 

Front cover of The midnight library showing an open house against a star filled sky

 

 

As the calendar turns to January, many of us find ourselves contemplating new beginnings, reevaluating past choices, and imagining different versions of our lives. Matt Haig’s “The Midnight Library” resonates deeply during this time of renewal and introspection, offering readers a thought-provoking exploration of regret, possibility, and the power of second chances.

The story follows Nora Seed, a woman at a crossroads who finds herself in a magical library that exists between life and death. Here, each book represents a different version of her life, a life she could have lived had she made different choices. This premise mirrors the reflective mood many of us experience as the new year begins.

Haig beautifully captures the tension between wanting to rewrite the past and learning to embrace the present. The book serves as a poignant reminder that while we cannot undo our mistakes, every day offers an opportunity to begin again. As we step into a new year, “The Midnight Library” encourages readers to make peace with their past and find joy in the infinite possibilities that lie ahead, no matter how uncertain the path may seem.

Matt Haig is an English author and journalist. “The Midnight Library” was published by Canongate Books in August 2020. A hard copy can be found in the fiction section of the Neilson Hays Library. 

 


 

Lost and Found

By Oliver Jeffers

 

 

Book cover showing a boy and a penguin floating in an umbrella

 

 

 

“Lost and Found” by Oliver Jeffers is a beautifully simple yet profoundly moving story, making it an ideal read as we step into a new year. The book follows a boy who finds a penguin on his doorstep and embarks on a journey to return it to the South Pole. As the boy and the penguin journey together, they discover the importance of connection, understanding, and the unexpected rewards that come with helping others. This resonates with the spirit of January, a time when we often reflect on what we’ve lost and what we hope to find in the year ahead. Like the boy searching for the penguin’s home, many of us begin the year searching for purpose, direction, and belonging.

Jeffers’ gentle narrative and exquisite illustrations offer a sense of warmth and reassurance, reminding readers that even when we feel lost, the path forward often reveals itself in surprising ways. “Lost and Found” is a beautiful metaphor for the new year—a reminder that, through our connections with others and the willingness to take uncertain steps forward, we can find our way to where we truly belong.

Published by HarperCollins in September 2005, “Lost and Found” won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award. A paperback copy of “Lost and Found” can be found in the Children’s Corner of the library.

 


 

Prepared by Kit Lang. The Neilson Hays Library is Thailand’s premier English-language library. The Children's Program offers Saturday Story Time, a cozy Children's Corner, and special holiday events. Adult Programs include concerts, art exhibitions, book clubs, and book sales. Located in a UNESCO-awarded historic building with a garden and cafe on site: 195 Surawong Road, Bangkok 10500, Thailand. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.