Book Review: The Night of Many Endings by Melissa Payne
Rating: ★★★★
In Summary:
Genre: General Fiction
Publication Date: 19 October 2021 (This book was reviewed in advance of its publishing date.)
No. Of Pages: 299 Pages
Keywords: Human Stories, Homelessness, Mental Health, Depression
Content Warnings: Suicide, Bereavement and Depression
Format: Paperback, E-Book, Audiobook
Image taken from Goodreads
Review:
The Night of Many Endings is a cosy book. An easy read that you could snuggle up with on a winter’s day. It focuses on a library, its librarian and patrons during a snowstorm that leaves them all stranded.
Through the course of the night, circumstances push and pull at the character’s defences; leaving them changed by the time the sun rises the next day. This might sound predictable, but it is the beauty of the storytelling that lifts the plot above general expectation.
Melissa Payne creates characters that are beautifully crafted and realistic. Giving a glimpse into the thinking of each character by offering them the focus of each chapter. Although the main story falls on the librarian - Nora, who can be a little frustrating at times - the other characters are a great ensemble, supporting and offering insight into the complicated humanity experienced through the storm.
There is a real American charm to the library and the town in which it sits. The sheer amount of snow suffered by the town sets it firmly in America, but details such as the diner and its waitresses - both young and old - give it a small-town Americana vibe.
This is the perfect book to read in a few hours, preferably with a big mug of hot chocolate and a roaring fire.
The Round Up:
Read If: You want an easy but emotional read
Similar Books: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Last Impressions: A great story to escape into for a while.
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