Matt Haig's 'Midnight Train' reminds us to slow down, forgive, and let go

By Jackie Harris,

Published July 30, 2026 at 2:31 PM EDT

Jackie Harris and Matt Haig on The Music Hall Stage in Portsmouth, June 1, 2026.

The Midnight Train by Matt Haig — *The Midnight Train* by Matt Haig

In June of 2026, NHPR’s Jackie Harris spoke at length with award winning novelist Matt Haig about The Midnight Train, the sister novel to his The Midnight Library.

The Midnight Train gently reminds us of life lessons we already know, but too often forget: to slow down, to be present, to forgive, to let go.

Hear Writers on a New England Stage Saturdays at 3 p.m. on NHPR Books, or download each conversation wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

This conversation was recorded before a live audience at the Music Hall Lounge in Portsmouth on June 1, 2026.

Writers on a New England Stage is a partnership between NHPR and The Music Hall in Portsmouth. This program is part of NHPR Books series which airs Saturdays at 3 p.m. along with recorded conversations from Authors on Main and Check This Out.

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Jackie Harris

I cover New Hampshire’s economy from a Granite Stater’s perspective. I report on housing, inflation, state revenues, businesses and more. My goal is to report on the ways the cost of living is shaping the economy on both the macro and micro level: from state revenues to Main Street, from small business decisions to household budgets. I hope to reflect the daily financial situations Granite Staters find themselves in and what policy makers are doing about it.

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Sara Plourde

Sara has been a part of NHPR since 2011. Her work includes data visualizations, data journalism, original stories reported on the web, video, photos and illustrations. She is responsible for the station's visual style and print design, as well as the user experience of NHPR's digital platforms.

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Olivia Comolli

Olivia Comolli is a programming producer for NHPR, starting in 2026. Originally from Massachusetts, she got her start at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, working for the local college radio there for her undergrad. At her college station, Olivia helped create new programs and deepened the diversity of music. After graduating in 2025, she did a bunch of odd jobs around the Boston area, including a podcast for bioengineering and working for the Red Sox organization. Olivia started as a programming intern at NHPR in June of 2026 and, after ten weeks, started as a producer for the programming department, in charge of programs such as NHPR Books and Live From Studio D.

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Matt Haig's 'Midnight Train' reminds us to slow down, forgive, and let go

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