Book Review: One Day by David Nicholls

Photo taken from Goodreads

Book Info

   

Title:  One Day

Author:  David Nicholls
Publisher:  Hodder Paperbacks

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages:  448 pages

ISBN - 13:  978-0340896983

Source:  Purchased, National Book Store

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Summary

From Goodreads: 

"Emma and Dexter 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 that follows? Twenty years, two people, ONE DAY."

Review 

One day, I picked this book up in the bookstore.  In one day, I read and finished it.  In that one day, I realized that One Day by David Nicholls is a book that will linger in your mind not just for one day.

Okay, pardon that slight bit of melodrama.  Let me assure you that this book has none of that melodramatic tendencies, that struggle to make the reader feel as the characters feel.  That will just come naturally, given that Mr. Nicholls have perfected the art of evoking a myriad of emotions in just a single paragraph. 

One Day is a story of love, friendship, and irony.  Love because it documented the slow and arduous pace with which Dexter and Emma's long friendship blossomed into love.  Friendship because of course, this started out as a friendship that involved a great deal of joy and adversity.  And last, irony because they never seemed to have the right place/right time/right person for anything.  Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley met on the night of their graduation day, and have remained friends ever since.  This book saw them as they matured and lived year after year on the same day that they first met.

But just because this is a book that is mainly about two people of the opposite sex does not mean that it is just that:  a love story.  There is more to this than that.  This is the kind of book that most writers would dream of writing, as the philosophical and humorous aspects of life are blended to create a memorable modern classic that will be sure to engage any reader.  The premise is very exciting, as it is not often that one reads a story in which there is only one particular day every year that is visited to create a continuous, well-paced prose.  The voice is genuine and candid, without any flecks of artifice or effort in conveying a believable narrative.  Dexter and Emma were wonderful characters to read about, and their yearly antics, shenanigans, triumphs, and failures were very real and simple, yet exciting.  Their story had that rare balance between truth and fiction that makes a contemporary book more intriguing than others.

Simply put, One Day is that perfect modern classic you have been searching for all this time.  But as much as it could be considered a literary masterpiece, it still gives you the capacity to simply enjoy its story for what it is, get lost in Dexter and Emma's world and become their friends; become this book's friend.

Rating

If you have any questions on this particular rating, please refer to my ratings system here.

Notice

All opinions expressed in this book review are my own and not influenced by any party in any way.

Please contact me for questions, comments, and suggestions.  

Book Review: My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares

Photo taken from Goodreads

 Book Info

Title:  My Name Is Memory 

Author:  Ann Brashares
Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton
Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages:  416 pages

ISBN-10:  0340953519

ISBN-13:  978-0340953518

Source:  Gift from The Boyfriend

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Summary

From Goodreads:

"Daniel has spent centuries falling in love with the same girl. Life after life, crossing continents and dynasties, he and Sophia (despite her changing name and form) have been drawn together-and he remembers it all. Daniel has "the memory", the ability to recall past lives and recognize souls of those he's previously known. It is a gift and a curse. For all the times that he and Sophia have been drawn together throughout history, they have also been torn painfully, fatally, apart. A love always too short.

Interwoven through Sophia and Daniel's unfolding present day relationship are glimpses of their expansive history together. From 552 Asia Minor to 1918 England and 1972 Virginia, the two souls share a long and sometimes torturous path of seeking each other time and time again. But just when young Sophia (now "Lucy" in the present) finally begins to awaken to the secret of their shared past, to understand the true reason for the strength of their attraction, the mysterious force that has always torn them apart reappears. Ultimately, they must come to understand what stands in the way of their love if they are ever to spend a lifetime together."

Review

I have always wanted to write a book.  I know that I have some really interesting plot ideas that would not just sell, but would also be a favorite of millions of readers - okay so that is just wishful thinking on my part.  The problem is that I do not have the patience to sit down and write a story worthy of a whole book.

The premise for My Name is Memory is actually one of those things that I used to think about that would make a really great book idea, and judging from what I have read from Ann Brashare's latest work, I am very right.  

The premise is this:  Reincarnation.  Soul mates.  Borrowed time.  How do you reach that one person whom you are destined to love forever across time?  In this novel by Brashares, the question of whether our souls could recognize other souls through lives and time is explored while set against a heart-wrenching love story.

I have to admit that there were some aspects of this story that I was not too crazy about:  First and foremost, is the seemingly never-ending cycle of living and dying - especially with Daniel - only to let that one important soul slip through his fingers.  He had been yearning for Sophia's love and forgiveness that he tends to throw away one life to get to another just so he could have another shot at being with her.  However, because fate could not care less, there has never been that good a time for them to get together.  That plot is interesting but it seemed that there was never a plan to bring this cycle to an end and finally give Daniel and Sophia the life together that they deserve.

But as disappointing as the never-ending cycle of living and dying is, the story still packed quite a punch.  The voices were very compelling and solid, realistic yet tinged with haunting magic akin to that of fairy tales.  The characters were highly sensitive and relatable.  I was so rooting for Daniel to finally have his chance with Sophia that I dreamed of talking to him and telling him what he should do, what he should look out for, and what he must do next.  On the other hand, Sophia was such a delicate but strong woman I so wanted to be like her - just not as vulnerable.  Because Brashares had ample experience writing young adult fiction, I would like to believe that it's because of that reason that she was able to write this whole novel without making it sound too heavy or sad or dramatic but at the same time still retaining the urgency and mystery in its tone.

Overall I would recommend to everybody to read this book.  However, be prepared to let this book control you, and not the other way around because I guess that's the only way that you would be able to accept wherever this book takes you and ignore its minor flaws and enjoy the big picture.

Rating

If you have any questions on this particular rating, please refer to my ratings system here.

Notice 

All opinions expressed in this book review are my own and not influenced by any party in any way. 

Please contact me for questions, comments, and suggestions.