The Midnight Train

Why do you think Haig chose a train for Wilbur’s journey through his life?

If you’ve read The Midnight Library, how did this book compare? The first book explores what could have been, while this one looks at what was. Which approach resonated more with you?

Some readers have compared this novel to A Christmas Carol. Do you see the resemblance? What does Wilbur have in common with Ebenezer Scrooge, and how is he different?

How did Wilbur’s difficult early life, from his father’s death to his mother’s resentment to Dougie’s struggles, shape the man he became?

Wilbur and Maggie’s marriage doesn’t end with a single betrayal, but with a slow drift as his ambition takes over. Did you find that more or less painful than a dramatic breakup? Can you relate to telling yourself you’ll slow down someday?

We see Maggie almost entirely through Wilbur’s memories. Did you feel you got to know her as her own person, or mostly as what Wilbur lost?

Wilbur remembers his honeymoon in Venice as the happiest time of his life. Is he remembering it accurately, or romanticizing it? What do you think he’s really longing for?

Wilbur is told he can watch his past but not change it, and he eventually breaks that rule. Was that choice an act of love, selfishness, or both?

What did you think of the ending? Does Wilbur get a true second chance? What do you imagine his life with Maggie looks like now?

The novel suggests that life is made up of moments we too often rush past. If you boarded the Midnight Train, which moments would you want to stop and revisit? Which might you be tempted to change?