Book Review – ONE DAY by David Nicholls
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| One Day – David Nicholls |
David Nicholls’ bestselling novel One Day is a startlingly real story told with exquisite humour, depth and compassion.
Synopsis:
‘I can imagine you at forty,’ she said, a hint of malice in her voice. ‘I can picture it right now.’
He smiled without opening his eyes. ‘Go on then.’
15th July 1988. Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year which follows?
One Day is a funny/sad love story spanning twenty years, a book about growing up – how we change, how we stay the same.
Book Review:
Has a novel ever made you laugh and want to cry at the same time? One Day did that to me.
Nicholls forces us to fall in love with his lead characters, Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew, as we check in with them each year on the anniversary of their first liaison. How can one not feel a connection to these characters when they think the same things we have all thought? How can one not feel empathy for these hapless individuals when we have all made similar mistakes in our own lives?
These characters feel so alive to the reader and are so genuine and endearing because Nicholls displays a real understanding of the difference between what people say and what they mean. The banter between Emma and Dexter is exquisite and often laugh out loud funny – wit and sarcasm at its very best.
“No, stay a bit longer. We’ll get another bottle.”
“Isn’t Naomi waiting for you somewhere, her little mouth crammed full of drugs like a little druggy hamster?”
In One Day, which on the surface is a ‘will they, won’t they’ story, David Nicholls has a created a wonderful and haunting exploration of the themes of love and friendship, self-doubt and frustration, regret and loss.
This is a sad ‘carpe diem’ tale for the real world – an enduring story, one without the cheesy Disney ending.
I listened to this in audiobook, often sitting for longer than necessary in my car after arriving at work, just so I could listen to another minute more. The narration by Anna Bentinck was brilliant (listen to an audio sample).
This is a novel I would give as a gift to those with at least 30 years under their belts – the messages will resonate for all, but most strongly for those with some life experience.
I cannot recommend this book more highly – it genuinely moved me. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
BOOK RATING: The Writing 5 / 5 ; The Story 5 / 5
BOOK DETAILS: One Day (Book Depository); One Day (Audiobook); One Day 
Genre: Drama, Romance, Humour
Author Information: David Nicholls has written for film and television (Cold Feet, Rescue Me, I Saw You, Tess of the D’Ubervilles) along with his three novels published to date. Go to David’s website for more information.
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| David Nicholls |
Movie: The feature film version of One Day, directed by Lone Scherfig, began production in July 2010, with Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Romola Garai, Rafe Spall, Jodie Whittaker, Ken Stott and Patricia Clarkson.
Other Resources:
Have you tried audiobooks? See where I get my audiobooks from and why I enjoy them so much!
I just finished this one o er the weekend! I must admit that I wasn't all that captivated with it until the very end, butafter what happened, I can't stop thinking about what happened!
Sounds like you're in the camp that believes this is one of the best books of the year!
I loved this book too
Have you read 'Starter for Ten' by the same author. If not, definitely give it a go!
I adored this book! And I have Starter for Ten to review soon….
No, this is my first from Nicholls, but it won't be my last… Which of his other titles would you all recommend more highly, for a 30-something reader – Starter for Ten or The Understudy?
I have to admit that I'm not particularly drawn in by the writing style of the quote you include, but this comes so highly recommended from you and several other bloggers that I'm inclined to give it a shot anyways. It seems like the kind of book that might surprise me.
Yes, don't necessarily judge the writing style of the whole novel by that small excerpt. I think banter and genuine tension between characters is often not done well. Nicholls is an example of an author that hits the right spot on dialogue for me.
I’m so excited that this is going to be a movie. I fully agree with you about gifting the book to people with a bit of life experience under their belt. (Thanks for the link to my review!)