For readers of a certain age and inclination — game for a good cry, tolerant of wistfulness — Haig’s books are tried and true ... A parable posing as a novel ... You need to be in the mood for this one. You’ll want to leave your skepticism and cynicism on the platform ... What saves The Midnight Train from becoming a hokey morality tale is Haig’s playfulness. He knows exactly what he’s up to and appears to have fun doing it ... Is this a literary masterpiece to be shelved alongside the great thinkers Haig occasionally mentions? ... No, it is not. And that’s just fine.
While this is not a direct sequel to The Midnight Library, it is a sequel in spirit: written in the space between life and death, both novels consider the impossible ways a person might start over.
Wise and deeply empathetic ... He gently offers us an opportunity to reflect on our own achievements and missteps, recognizing that while we can’t rewrite the past, we possess the power to craft a more meaningful present and future.
This isn’t a subtle book and it’s not trying to be; it’s urging readers to think about their own choices, wherever they find themselves. A shaky balance between saccharine and sage will nevertheless appeal to the author’s fans and readers seeking balm.
