We all have that one book that once we have read it, it stays with us forever. For whatever reason it made a huge impact. Whether it is because you can relate to the character, the situation or it just ‘clicks’ with you, you know after reading it, it is with you, part of your brain and part of your soul. The book I am referring to is One Day by David Nicholls. It was made into a film starring Anne Hathaway as the leading lady. I was so excited when I found out they were making the book into the film and I had high expectations. Unfortunately…it did not fulfil them and I was left feeling a little disappointed. Which initially surprised me as I really do like a film with Anne Hathaway normally, she played a great part in The Devil Wears Prada, and I think that is when she first caught my attention. Anyway….after some further consideration I realised perhaps the film was nt all that bad and it was in fact my actual love for the book, and the fact i had read it a couple of times, not only digested the information contained within the book, but pretty much memorised it, therefore noticing every little thing they actually left out of the film, and the parts they had changed.
This was the first book that I ever finished. FACT
This was the first book I actually ever cried at. FACT
This is the only book that has had an impact on me. FACT
By why? I hear you say…..
It is written within an era I was growing up in therefore I have a connection straight away…..the 80’s! I was born in 1980 and although the fashion and music in my opinion, leave a lot to be desired I still love the 80’s. The way people seemed to ‘make do’, the memories of my family, places I lived, toys I played with, holidays I enjoyed. These were the happiest ten years of my life, as at the age of 1o my parents separated and subsequently divorced, so I hold the 80’s up there as important, happy, iconic years of my life.
As I began to read the story, I really related to the main character Emma, and felt it could even have been me. Not actually me, but if I was to be auditioning as a part to play Emma in a film, based upon my love life and my expectation of my love life….it definitely could have been me.
One Day is a funny/sad love story spanning twenty years, a book about growing up – how we change, how we stay the same.
The story basically follows two people, Emma and Dexter-who meet at University on their night of graduation and the following day they go their seperate ways. However, on the same day every year they catch up on what is happening in each others lifes. It follows them for twenty years, showing how they change. You so desperately want them to get together and when it is right to do so for one of them, it is the wrong timing for the other. Many things happen and they change for the better and for the worse. Dexter follows the wrong path of drink and drugs and Emma just does not seem to be reaching her full potential. Eventually they get together and what happens next was such a shock, I cannot tell you! Well, actually…..I can tell you but it is still painfully difficult…..Emma is hit by a truck whilst riding her bicycle through the streets of London. I remember reading this book whilst in the bath and I actually sobbed. Not cried as in tears running down my cheeks….but full on balled my eyes out to the point my cheeks stung from the tears. This was such a tragic story. From the point of meeting Emma loved Dexter, but he was so silly not to realise it. Eventually, he finally came to his senses, sorted out his life, they get together and she is killed. ‘That would just be my luck, I thought!
It is n’t that I am a particularly morbid person in any way. I do however have an irrational fear of death. I am always pursuing ‘my one true love’ whoever that may be and I am so worried that if I find them they will be taken away from me. Riddiculous I know, and probably the reason I have never been lucky enough to meet my soul mate. The universe probably thinks I do not deserve it or cannot handle it. Quite possibly correct. The good news is, I am receiving counselling for my fear as it extends to all parts of my life, to a point where I can be quite self destructive in order to protect myself and/or others. I do this subconsciously, so a lot of the time I do not even know I have done it.
I have moved on to realising that I am just as entitled to a happy life with happy things in it that any other person. This has been a big step for me. I also now know that when good things happen it does not automatically mean things will be taken away from me.
This book was life changing for me. Not just because I, at the time, related to the story, but because it made me realise the intensity of my fear and after some years finally get some help. Never have I again managed to engage so much with a book, nor have I cried to that extent. Thank you David Nicholls for what is likely to be ‘the’ book that changed my life!
http://www.davidnichollswriter.com/one_day
Which book has had a lasting effect on you? We would love to hear about it 🙂
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