One Fine Day

by Leon Arden

.Robinson Blake leads a cautious and unexceptional bachelor life in New York City. He has one minor vice (a secret earning for his boss's wife) and two how to get up on time in the morning and how to end an affair with his eccentric secretary, Milly.Suddenly, Rob is caught up in a unique and terrifying calamity. A certain Monday becomes fixed in time and repeats itself over and over again, with Robinson Blake apparently the only person on earth who understands what's happening. Other people proceed through each re-run with no memory of what has passed before. Only Rob remembers.Rob's efforts to sort things right result in a series of comic and sometimes dangerous fiascoes. Then, surrendering to the erotic, forbidden possibilities of the situation, Rob sets about seducing the delectable Phillipa, his boss's wife. Every morning is a brand new day, and Phillipa must be wooed from scratch, though not always with the same degree of success.Finally Rob meets his nemesis, Mrs. Hawkmann, who is both the archetypical Jewish mother (Milly's) and a practicing, though not very competent, witch. Through Mrs. Hawkmann, who bears a striking resemblance to the late General de Gaulle, Rob is introduced to the Satanic forces he suspects may be responsible for this repeating day. But the final explanation of what is happening, as well as the solution to Rob's romantic entanglements, is as much of a surprise to the hero as it is to the reader.

214 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Josh Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arden claims the makers of "Groundhog Day" stole his idea and didn't give him any credit and it's hard to not side with the guy. The plots are uncannily similar, although "One Fine Day" does a get a little more metaphysical and spiritual than the iconic Bill Murray comedy. The characters are engaging, the plot is addicting (and quite steamy and hilarious at certain points), and the resolution is weird, yet satisfying. My only gripe is on some of the stranger dialogue and out-of-place character actions, but other than that, this is actually quite the hidden gem.