One Day

A few weeks ago, I saw a trailer for this movie called “One Day.”  My heart instantly leapt when I saw the leading roles would be played by Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, two of my favorite actors.  I barely had an idea of what the movie was about but I noticed that it was based on a novel.  I immediately went online to reserve a copy David Nicholl’s book and all but 2 copies were checked out, so sadly the book came while I was in Cape Cod and I didn’t get a chance to read it until I got back.

The first night I had a chance to read it I was absolutely entranced by the two main characters, Emma and Dexter.  The book opens on July 15, 1988 with Dexter and Emma just waking up from one of those awkward college hook ups the night after their graduation from university.  The book is unique in the way that each chapter meets with the characters on that same date, July 15, for the next 18 years.  The first night I read it I forced myself to put it down after reading the first two chapters because I knew once I got into the story I wouldn’t be able to put the book down.  And I didn’t – I finished it in the 13-hour drive down and back to Virginia to drop my brother off at school. 

One Day is a wonderfully heartbreaking story about these two lives that, at the same time, were always yet never meant to be together.  At some chapters you find yourself absolutely in love with the concept of Dexter and Emma and then at other times the characters frustrate you beyond belief.  One reason I think I really loved the book was because of the way I related to Emma’s character.  At graduation, she sought out to change the world, full of optimism with the world at her feet.  It’s the typical feeling that many graduating seniors have, yet when you meet with her the following year she’s stuck in this job she absolutely despises, jaded and dreams shattered, complacent to just go to work every day, do her job, and go home.  She later decides to take hold of her life, following a new path not too dissimilar from mine and begins to find herself.  Her character was a classic portrayal of the recent college graduate and I can’t remember the last time I read a book and was so connected to a character from it.

Sometimes after reading a good book I choose not to see the movie because I do not want the movie to be the lasting impression I have of the book (which is why I don’t think I can ever watch Marley and Me).  I don’t want the actors to ruin the characters I created in my mind and I don’t want the director to leave out parts of the story that I loved.  For this movie, I have decided that I will go to see it after all because I love Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess and I don’t think they will ruin the story for me at all.  Plus it was directed by the same man who did An Education, which was nominated for a best motion picture Oscar so he must be good.  Has anyone ever gone to see a movie by themself?  I think I may try stepping out of my comfort zone a little and go see this movie by myself so I can completely engross myself in it, much like I did when I read the story.  If you are also planning on seeing the movie, I highly recommend reading the book first (as with any movie made from a book).  This was one of the most wonderful books I have read and now I can finally say I have a favorite book.  I gush about it to my friends and family and have reread certain chapters a few times already.  It has rekindled my love for reading and it’s a story I could read over and over and will never forget.

[This is not a paid review of One Day, it was just a book that I absolutely loved and had to share with you all.] 

Posted by Ali B at 9:43 AM