Variations on a Bookshelf
Alternate Timelines
The alternate timelines premise is characterized by changing the past and then observing the effect on the present.
​This premise can be characterized across a number of vectors:
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Precipitating event: health-related vs. mystical encounter
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​Scope: changing one decision vs. re-living the past
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Alternatives: exploring one vs many alternate timelines
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Type of change sought: relationship, health, career, family, mental health/happiness
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Guide: present or on their own​
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Other characters are aware of their time travel: yes vs no
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Starting point on alternative timeline(s): time of decision vs alternative present
Thoughts
I found myself drawn to The Midnight Library during a difficult point in my life, and it quickly became my favorite book. After I finished The MidnightLibrary, I searched for books like it and quickly became fascinated by the genre.
I enjoy the thought experiment of What If-- what if I had chosen differently, been bolder, more responsible, less responsible, changed careers, moved, etc. The mind goes to certain possibilities, and although we can never know if those possibilities would have come to pass, I think there is value is in asking whether it is still possible to create aspects of our own alternate timelines by making different decisions now.
I also think that if one has regrets, and the majority of us do, seeking out these types of books can be an attempt to process and try to come to terms with those regrets, perhaps understanding them in a different way than before.
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Regardless, I love the alternate timeline premise, and I have found a number of books that utilize it that I really enjoyed.
Books with an Alternate Timeline Premise
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The books are presented in no particular order, with the exception of The Midnight Library, which is first.
My favorite book. Through a series of events, a woman feels hopeless and attempts to end her life. She is then given the chance to explore all of the lives she could have lived if she had made different choices. I really liked the way that each life is examined and how the main character comes away with a realization. I myself felt lighter after each realization- this was an impactful book for me. I read the book first and then later bought the audiobook, which was also excellent in my opinion.
The premise is extraordinarily similar to The Midnight Library, but via an accident instead of a suicide attempt. If you loved The Midnight Library, it is difficult to say whether you will like this book. It is very similar, but I think The Midnight Library is better written. Also, I related to the alternate timelines in the Midnight Library much more than those in this book, and The Midnight Library was more emotionally impactful. That said, if I could do it over (see what I did there), I would read this book again, it's just not a favorite.
Emma is a wife and mother with a busy career. On a seemingly normal day, tragedy strikes. But, the next morning, everything seems to have re-set. The book follows Emma as she relives the day of the tragedy over and over, making different choices each time and experiencing the outcomes. This book was a bit mixed for me. I like the idea, and I really liked the end of the book. There were parts in the mid-beginning though that were a little slow for me, and I almost did not continue reading. I'm glad I did though, because that later parts really drew me in.
This book explored how life might have been different for Meg if she had made a different decision at a key point. I thought this was a great read- interesting and excellent pacing, a lot of interesting surprises. What I enjoyed the most though was that there were pros and cons to both the original and alternative life, and it felt a little deeper to me than the average alternate timeline book. It read more like a story that involved an alternate timeline than a lesson through an alternate timeline story, if that makes sense.
This is a unique concept. It's not exactly alternate timelines, but I've included it here for reasons that I'll explain. Oona lives her life in a random order, not strictly in order of chronological years. So, one year, she might be 16, the next 87, then 34. Why I think this fits the current category is that it elicits many of the same feelings of regret, wishing things were different, and experiencing life with those wished for features. I thought this was an excellent book. I really enjoyed reading it, and I couldn't wait to see what the next year would be each time.
This was a fascinating account of what it might be like if you could wake up as your 16-year old self in the life you were living at 16 and make different choices. The author did an especially good job of describing the unexpected details the main character (Alice) noticed and reflected on about herself, her dad, and various situations. It had a themes of family and grief and closure, but wasn't necessarily a sad book. I thought this book was a wonderful combination of interesting and healing.
Next Book Coming Soon!
Review coming soon!