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Good Morning, Midnight cover art

Good Morning, Midnight

Written by: Lily Brooks-Dalton
Narrated by: John H. Mayer, Hillary Huber
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Publisher's Summary

“A remarkable and gifted debut novel” (Colson Whitehead) about two outsiders—a lonely scientist in the Arctic and an astronaut trying to return to Earth—as they grapple with love, regret, and survival in a world transformed.

THE INSPIRATION FOR THE NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM THE MIDNIGHT SKY, DIRECTED BY AND STARRING GEORGE CLOONEY

Augustine, a brilliant, aging astronomer, is consumed by the stars. For years he has lived in remote outposts, studying the sky for evidence of how the universe began. At his latest posting, in a research center in the Arctic, news of a catastrophic event arrives. The scientists are forced to evacuate, but Augustine stubbornly refuses to abandon his work. Shortly after the others have gone, Augustine discovers a mysterious child, Iris, and realizes that the airwaves have gone silent. They are alone. At the same time, Mission Specialist Sullivan is aboard the Aether on its return flight from Jupiter. The astronauts are the first human beings to delve this deep into space, and Sully has made peace with the sacrifices required of her: a daughter left behind, a marriage ended. So far the journey has been a success. But when Mission Control falls inexplicably silent, Sully and her crewmates are forced to wonder if they will ever get home.

As Augustine and Sully each face an uncertain future against forbidding yet beautiful landscapes, their stories gradually intertwine in a profound and unexpected conclusion. In crystalline prose, Good Morning, Midnight poses the most important questions: What endures at the end of the world? How do we make sense of our lives? Lily Brooks-Dalton’s captivating debut is a meditation on the power of love and the bravery of the human heart.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY SHELF AWARENESS AND THE CHICAGO REVIEW OF BOOKS

“Stunningly gorgeous . . . The book contemplates the biggest questions—What is left at the end of the world? What is the impact of a life’s work?”—Portland Mercury

“A beautifully written, sparse post-apocalyptic novel that explores memory, loss and identity . . . Fans of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven and Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora will appreciate the Brooks-Dalton’s exquisite exploration of relationships in extreme environments.”—The Washington Post

©2016 Lily Brooks-Dalton (P)2016 Random House Audio

What the critics say

" Good Morning, Midnight is a remarkable and gifted debut novel. Lily Brooks-Dalton is an uncanny chronicler of desolate spaces, whether it's the cold expanse of the universe or the deepest recesses of the human heart." (Colson Whitehead)
"What does it mean to be isolated from the ordinariness of the everyday world, yet to find the extraordinariness of being close to another human being? With imagination, empathy, and insight into unchanged and unchangeable human nature, Lily Brooks-Dalton takes us on an emotional journey in this beautiful debut." (Yiyun Li)
"A truly original novel, otherworldly and profoundly human.... This beautiful story reminds us of our deep longing for connection - with those we love, with strangers, with ourselves. We come to understand that, across time and distance, in the face of isolation and emptiness, it is tenderness and communication that keep us tethered to each other. Good Morning, Midnight is a fascinating story, surprising and inspiring at every turn." (Keith Scribner)

What listeners say about Good Morning, Midnight

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really suprised by this one

i really liked it, kept me intrigued from beginning to end, im confused by the ending though, im going to watch the movie in a little but, so hopefully that will answer questions.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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a cautionary tale?

I really enjoyed this story. I wish the relationship Augie had with "his" Iris was more developed as well as the other astronauts traveling with Sully. But I did like that what happened on earth wasn't really the point; the result was the same regardless of type of cataclysmic or man-made (most bloody likely) global disaster. The story didn't wrap up with a neat little bow, which suits the many unknowns. I was wondering if there could be other people and what was waiting for all of them. Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A gentle but compelling End of the World story

Two people, connected in ways neither understand, coping with the loss of communication with a world which may no longer exist in any sense they recognize. I was drawn to this book through the trailer for a film version coming on Netflix and from what I can see the film version is a lessor vision.

Told as two parallel stories Augustine, a bitter man alone at an arctic research station after all communication with the outside world ends and Sully, an astronaut returning from a mission to Jupiter also experiencing a silent earth. Both broken, both seeking redemption. Narratively gentle with an overwhelming sense of sadness which is shadows by hope, however slight, that something will be salvaged for the protagonists and our world.

A worthy listen.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Slow, decently descriptive, but ultimately empty.

I ended up needing to listen to this at an increased speaking pace just to get through some of the slowest parts. As others have mentioned the story doesn't really progress into meaningful resolution or dig into what exactly happened.

The characters weren't engaging enough to enjoy learning about, ultimately.

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