Two books I’ve read this summer have really stuck with me:
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Amazon blurb: “Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?”
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Amazon Blurb: “Would you choose to know how long you’ll live? It seems like any other day. You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out. But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live. From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise? As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?
All of us wonder sometimes, “what if?” What if I had moved to a different city, married someone different, gone into a different profession? What if I knew exactly how long I was going to live – what would I do? These two books tackle these questions. Without any spoilers, both of these books reinforced for me the power of living in the moment and appreciating what I have.