book review: one day

One Day
by David Nicholls

When did you read the last book that made you stay up long past your bedtime to find out what happens? Do you know that feeling, where you just need to find out? You can’t keep the characters there in limbo? One Day is that kind of book. It is to be published in the US on June 15, but is already, according to the proof a “huge bestseller in England.”

The book chronicles a friendship between two people, Dexter and Emma. They meet on July 15th, the night before graduating from college. They almost miss becoming best friends. We follow the two as their lives develop. But the reader is given only one day per year of their lives to fill in the blanks with. For example, one day we are told that Dexter’s mom has something important to tell him but she decides to wait. We are forced to fill in the holes when we get to the next year; we must piece together what has happened.

Naturally, it is a love story, with a completely unexpected ending. Which was quite cruel considering I finished the book at 2 am on a Tuesday, or was it Wednesday? No matter. I hope the book is a great success here because it really is a wonderful book.

I loved this idea about how to live life:

“Better by far to simply try and be good and outrageous and bold and to make a difference. Not change the world exactly, but the bit around you. Go out there with your passion and your electric typewriter and work hard at...something. Change lives through art maybe. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things. Love and be loved, if you ever get the chance.”