Good Morning, Midnight: A Novel

by Lily Brooks-Dalton

“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

• ISBN10: 0812988191
• ISBN13: 9780812988192
• Publish Date: 4 July 2017 (first published 9 August 2016)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Random House USA Inc
• Imprint: Random House Trade Paperbacks
• Edition: Media tie-in
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 272
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780812988192

Reviews

[jamiereadthis]

By the end, I’m not sure which one was aggravating me more, the Augustine parts or the Sully parts. It could have been so good too— the ingredients were there. If the story hadn’t found the big reveals necessary. Or had so much repetition within so few pages. Or if just one person on The Aether had a personality. It did almost give me a panic attack about being stuck in space with those people, so well done on that score.

Some of that fault lies with me; I was spoiling for a story instead of a meditative parable, so I should have picked a different book.

[lisacee]

I listened to this book because I couldn't find anything to read from my tbr list. The description said it was named one of the best books of the year by Shelf Awareness, so I gave it a go.

I lucked out, finding it to be a hauntingly beautiful story about family and the end of the world.

[cornerfolds]

Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!

*Review to come!*

[Artemis]

Follow the The Artemis Reader for more reviews!

Good Morning, Midnight was a genuine surprise. Drawn in my the cover and the premise, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect out of this apocalyptic tale. Dalton weaves the story through two characters, Augustine and Sully who both experience the uncertainty of the end of the world. If you are looking for a unique perspective on the apocalypse genre, look no further than this book.

Augustine, an aging astronomer who refuses to be evacuated from the Arctic complex, remains and discovers a young girl left behind int he wake – Iris. Through his time with Iris, Augustine reflects on his life and the opportunities he’s missed out on. Sully who shares a similar disinterest in relationships and has left behind an ex-husband and daughter to pursue her dream. The characters started off a little slow and you are not a fan of long descriptive prose then you might feel a little bogged down in the details. But it’s in the details where this true character expose becomes a very strong story. How the world came to a “catastrophic end” doesn’t ever come into play, but the story is so rich with Augie and Sully’s character reflections that you almost forget you don’t know all the details.

Good Morning, Midnight is a slow moving, highly descriptive story told through two people who are not only physically distanced from the end of the world but have also emotionally already separated themselves from humanity. Dalton manages to capture the beauty of a silent world. The resolution was handled well, and all-in-all I feel the story has been fulfilled. This book definitely isn’t for everyone, but is worth a shot if you’ve got the time.