Bookshelf: David Nicholls

*****

First, notice how many stars I gave it. I'd give more but I've made five as the ultimate, not to be given out lightly, amount, the highest honours. Just know I'd give it so very many more stars if it were allowed.

Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew met in college in Edinburgh but never got to know each other until graduation when they spend a night together talking about the future and watching the sun come up. And so begins a span of twenty years in which they both grow, together and sometimes apart, fall in love with people (many people), fall out of love, get jobs, get drunk, and grow up... well maybe. But the only cutouts we get to see of these twenty years is on July 15th of every year. At first I found it upsetting. I wanted to know what was going on in the other 364 days of the year. But after a while I settled into the routine and began to enjoy it because it allowed me to imagine things of my own instead of being told everything. It's fun, as the reader, to feel a part of the story in that way.
I fell in love with these characters, like really fell, and it took me a moment of dazed staring at my clock to get over the fact that, well, it's over. I finished the book and can no longer be a part of their lives. Which quite honestly was a little heartbreaking. But that speaks volumes of what David Nicholls does in "One Day".
His characters are organic. They are relatable. They are funny and awkward and have flaws. Great debilitating flaws. They suffer, they achieve, they fall, they get back up. They are amazingly real and it came across in not only the dialogue but how they grew as characters over two decades. God I wish the story wasn't over. It's sad, being a book addict, but I don't want to pick up any other book. It'd be silly to read "One Day" again because I've got five books on my dresser and another three on my coffee table waiting to be read. But I miss Emma and Dex already. What is wrong with me?
I don't know what else to tell you other than you really should pick up "One Day". The only thing that I disliked about the book was that the dialogue made me look like an IDIOT on the T as I laughed to myself. Thank you David Nicholls for that. Has that ever happened to you? I'm easily amused so it seems to happen quite often and I can never figure out what to do once my lips have parted in a huge grin, or worse an actualy giggle. Sometimes I pretend there's something on my face and reach a hand up and cover the entire mouth. Other times I try to think of something very serious and make my cheeks go slack. Either way, I look ridiculous. But I suppose if that's the worst that can be said about "One Day", well then it's really not that bad.
"One Day" is currently in post-production and obviously I will go see it just because, but a part of me, a rather large part, doesn't want film to marr this beautiful, fond thing that's been created in my head by this story. And honestly, as much as I adore her, I don't feel confident in Anne Hathaway taking on a Brit accent.
Regardless, you really must pick up "One Day". I can promise you that you won't be disappointed. In fact, you'll hole up in your room devouring the book, laughing and falling in love with Dex & Em. Em & Dex.
Now what do I do about what to read next?
Happy reading!
~Stephanie