Bedford, England

The novel begins and ends in this small town in Bedfordshire, England. Nora grew up in Bedford with her brother and parents. Haig does not delve into any detailed description of the town; instead, he focuses on the houses and shops in Nora’s neighborhood which make up the total of her existence. It appears that everyone Nora went to school with still lives there, including Ravi, Dylan, and the newsagent. Bedford is teeming with figurative ghosts from Nora’s past; she cannot turn a corner without being confronted by some reminder of her failure. Haig presents the town as being stuck in the doldrums, just like Nora herself. Nora’s attempted suicide and subsequent launch into the world of the midnight library signifies her first time leaving Bedford.

The Midnight Library

As merely a figment of Nora’s imagination, the midnight library symbolizes her inherent obsession...