What I’m reading: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

The Midnight Library has been on the bestseller lists since it was released in August 2020. It’s been described as "Just beautiful" by Fearne Cotton and "A beautiful book to get lost in" by Zoe Ball.

Matt Haig is very open about his struggles with mental health, particularly depression, and this book is full of his experience with that. The book is about a woman called Nora who finds herself in a life that she doesn’t want to be anymore suffering with very severe depression. I would warn the book should possibly come with a trigger warning for suicide at the beginning but as with all of Matt Haig’s books there probably will be an enlightening ending so don’t let it put you off reading. The book explores ‘The Midnight Library’ which is a world in between life and death where you can explore different lives you could have lived. It’s an opportunity to see perhaps the grass isn’t always greener.

I couldn’t put this book down. I love stories with repetition it has a feeling similar to films like Groundhog Day or Happy Death Day. It’s a really interesting premise with a deeper meaning that Matt Haig does so exquisitely. This book deserves all the hype it’s getting at the moment and it’s currently half price in most book retailers so the perfect time to give it a read!

4.22 on Goodreads

I give it: *****

What I’m watching: Bridgerton on Netflix

Bridgerton was released in December 2020 and the hype on social media is big. It’s the first period drama that you will not want to watch with your parents (Episode six - if you know you know!).

It’s based on the novels by Julia Quinn’s bestselling series and the fans are delighted with the screen adaptation. The series follows eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family as they look for spouses in equal high status in society, London. If you like Derry Girls, Nicola Coughlan is amazing in this very different role. The series has sparked quite a lot of debate on sexual consent from one of the scenes that I won’t reference for spoilers.

This isn’t my normal kind of TV series. I definitely got sucked in because I wanted to talk to friends about it and the memes. My advice would be give the first two episodes a go, if you’re not hooked by episode three, it’s not for you.

7.4 on IMDB

90% Rotten Tomatoes

I give it: ***

What I’m playing: Animal Crossing New Horizons on the Nintendo Switch

Animal Crossing was released in March 2020, the perfect outlet for the first of our never ending lockdowns. Since then it’s sold 26 million units. The game has been a safe haven for many over lockdown being able to run around online with their friends and do some wholesome activities like shop for clothes, go fishing or craft together.

At the end of January 2021, a new patch is due to be released with some new features. In the last patches we’ve seen the addition of snowy weather in the game and the underwater swimming patch. Last summer we even had a wedding to plan in the game so what could the next patch feature? There’s speculation that new patch will see a new festival event that will take place in February with a peacock called Pave.

Regardless of the update I’ll be watering my plants and buying my favourite villager Julian gifts in this game all month anyway!

90 on Metascore

I give it: *****

Rachel Hynds is a MA Creative Writing student at QUB

CULTURE - January's Culture Round-up