Nora's Life
What is the main characters full name?
Nora Seed
Who is the librarian who guides Nora through the library?
Mrs. Elm
What emotion is the Midnight Library built around?
Regret
In one life, Nora becomes a famous __________.
Rock musician / singer-songwriter
What is the book’s central message about life and choice?
Every life has value, and meaning can be found in embracing the life you already have
What kind of pet does Nora have at the start of the novel?
A cat named Voltaire
What do the books in the Midnight Library represent?
All the possible lives Nora could have lived based on different choices
What does Nora regret about her brother Joe?
Growing apart from him and quitting their band together
In another, she studies glaciers and becomes a __________.
Glaciologist
How does the book portray mental health and depression?
With compassion — showing that depression distorts perspective, but recovery and hope are possible
What tragic event sets the story in motion?
Nora’s cat dies, and she attempts suicide due to her overwhelming regrets and depression
What color is most associated with the Midnight Library’s setting?
Green
Why does Nora regret not marrying Dan?
She believes she missed her chance at love and stability — though later learns they would have been unhappy together
What animal does Nora encounter in the Arctic life?
A polar bear
What philosophical idea inspired the structure of the novel?
The multiverse theory — that infinite versions of one’s life exist based on different choices
What job did Nora have before entering the Midnight Library?
She worked at a music store called String Theory
What happens when Nora opens a book from the library?
She enters an alternate version of her life
Which major decision about her swimming career does Nora regret?
Quitting competitive swimming, even though she was very talented
What life involves Nora being married with a daughter named Molly?
The life where she married Ash
What does Mrs. Elm symbolize for Nora?
Guidance, wisdom, and Nora’s own inner conscience or compassion
In one of her alternate lives, what successful band is Nora part of?
The Labyrinths
What must Nora find in order to leave the library and truly live?
A life she truly wants to live — one that gives her meaning and acceptance
What does Nora learn about the nature of regrets by the end of the story?
That regrets are based on limited perspectives, and every choice brings both joy and pain — no life is perfect
How does Nora realize she doesn’t belong in any of her alternate lives?
Each life feels slightly “off” or incomplete because they don’t align with her true values and desires
How does Nora’s final decision represent acceptance?
She chooses to live again, accepting the imperfections of her real life and embracing hope