Crazy I know, but I’ve read something that isn’t a cook book! It dawned on me recently that I wasn’t making enough time to read and I missed that. For my birthday, Dale got me a kindle and I have read loads since then – I absolutely love it! But before that, Tesco Books blog asked me if I’d like to review one of their books. They came up with an interesting idea of grouping books according to how they make you feel.
I’d heard a lot about One Day by David Nicholls -some good, some not so good, so I thought I’d give it a try myself. They also sent me some vital goodies including a notebook, chocolate and a bookmark to help me on my way. Tesco had put One Day in the group ‘books to turn your heart in somersaults’ and for the most part, I think that is fairly accurate (although I may replace the word ‘heart’ with ‘nerves’!)
For those of you who don’t know anything about the book, and without giving away too much for those of you who want to read it, One Day is about two people – Emma and Dexter, who met for the first time on the night of their graduation. Each chapter then looks at what they are doing on that same day, every year for the next 20 years and weaves its way through their complicated relationship. It’s the sort of book where you quickly form (or are pushed towards forming) your own opinion about where you think their relationship should be heading and gradually, through many twists and turns, it makes it way there.
I found Dexter a difficult character to warm to and was not sure why Emma would find him so interesting, or stand by him as a friend or otherwise. She obviously sees something in him that I don’t! Emma, despite seeming a little dull at times, is much more likeable and my emotions veered from wanting her to pursue Dexter one minute, to hoping she’d run and get far away from his baggage-filled life.
I’m very conscious that I don’t want to spoil the plot for anyone so all I’ll say is that then ending shocked me. I’m definitely one for a happy ending and this book didn’t deliver on that front. However, it did make my heart turn somersaults, and actually left me feeling quite sad. Don’t expect to walk away from this book with a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart!
On the whole, this was an enjoyable and easy read. I’m not sure I found it as amazing as many of the reviews say it is, but it is worth a read. Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster though!
Thank you to Tesco Books for sending me a review copy of the book and the other bits mentioned above.
1 comment
Matthew (@thebibliofreak) says:
Jan 6, 2012
I think you’re review is very much in-keeping with my own feelings about the book. I can’t say that I loved it, and certainly don’t agree with all the swooning reviews out there, but it wasn’t terrible like some would have you believe.
My review: One Day by David Nicholls