Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired discussion
This topic is about
One Day
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archived "Buddy Reads"
>
One Day by David Nicholls, start date Jan. 30th
This is also a movie.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1563738/
Might be fun to do a Read & Watch buddy read where we watch the movie afterwards and discuss the differences and preferences? Just throwing it out there, but either way, looking forward to buddy-reading this.
Looking forward to this. Have ya'll seen the movie?
Nope, I haven't seen it. I heard it was a tear jerker.
I haven't seen it, but I will try to before reading the book. I always enjoy the book more after watching the movie, catching all the stuff they didn't put in the movie. =)
Can I make a request for late January or February?
I'm just the opposite. I'd rather read the book before watching the movie. Late January or February sounds good for me for this. It'll give us time to settle in the new year.
I know I'm in the minority on that issue. I've just found that I nit-pick a movie if I've read the book before (like Twilight movies after Twilight) and don't loose myself in watching it. Sorta not looking forward to the Hunger Games for that reason. lol
Looks too sad for me, ladies.
OK, how about we start on the week commencing 30th Jan? I'm the same as you Heather, I never enjoy the movie as much if I watch it after I've read the book, but sometimes Hollywood does a happy ending where there wasn't meant to be one (My Sister's Keeper) and I'm left feeling slightly betrayed.... not that I take my reading seriously or anything :-)
that date is fine with me :)
Hi, everyone. I've read One Day, but would definitely like a re-read and discussion, so I'll join u. Hope you all love it as much as I did! I have also seen the movie, and enjoyed it as well, but I was glad I read the book first.
Great, Donna! CaroB is running this one and she is on vacation right now. It will be interesting to see what all of you think of this one. It must be good, Donna, if you want to do a re-read. ☺
will be great to have you here Donna!
Unfortunately, I have been requested to attend a work study out of state during this time, so I won't be able to join in.
OK I'm trying to download this ebook onto my laptop. When I click on download ebook I only get an 8 page PDf with pics and character descriptions from the movie. When I click on Amazon it says page doesn't exist. And I don't have a nook to be able to buy it from BN.com... Any suggestions?
I used www.kobobooks.com , Tracey. It downloads as an Adobe DRM eBook, but if you have a copy of Adobe Digital Editions (free downloadable program from Adobe website, if you don't), you can read from there.
Now sure if this will show up for you as my account is set up for Australian $ purchase, but here's the link I used: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/One-Da...
Heather wrote: "Unfortunately, I have been requested to attend a work study out of state during this time, so I won't be able to join in."Oh no! At least you an still see the movie, Heather.
no worries Tracey :-)
Are we all ok to start this one? Does the break-down look ok?
Break-down looks fine :) I may not start this until tomorrow night cause the book I'm reading right now has totally consumed me....240 pages in one day LOL
Wow Susan, which book?
I'll be honest, I couldn't get into it the first time I started reading it, back in Aug. But today? Not a problem at all LOL
Thanks, that's just moved up my tbr list!
CaroB's questions for Part One1. What are your first thoughts on Dexter and Emma's characters? Is there more than attraction there at the beginning? Do they remind you of anyone you know/knew at the same age?
2. Any comments on the writing style? Is the story grabbing you yet or are you finding it hard to get into?
3. I was under the impression, before starting this book, that they only communicated One Day a year. Anyone else think that?
4. OMG!! What did you think of Dex's letter?! Was it fate or just bloody bad luck?
5. Do you think Dex and Em are wasting their youth or just being typical generation-X twenty-somethings? I was sad to see that a year on Emma was still working at Loco Caliente, but don't you ever feel like you get so busy living one day after another, in your routine, that before you know it months or years have passed and you wonder where it's gone? lol, or is that just me?
6. Dex can be such a shallow doofus! And Em's low self-esteem is beginning to grate on my nerves. Is this just a case of opposites attracting or is there hope for more?
7.Hmm, The Rules. What was their purpose? I mean, why was there a need for the reassurance of having them set out only to break them? Or do you think the Rules were mainly for Ingrid's benefit? And do you think anything happened during the rest of the eight days?
Hi, Girls! It was hard to pry myself away from Gone With the Wind for awhile, but once I started in on this book again, I remembered why I enjoyed it so. So here are my responses to the Part One question set:1. I immediately liked Dex and Em, because they are such contrasting characters, so I felt it laid the foundations for a good story. Dex is obviously a player, but I had to give him points for actually sticking around as long as he did! From his point of view, the situtation was definitely getting a bit frustrating, but there was something that kept him from walking away. I'm not quite sure what that was at this point. Can definitely see his appeal for her, but not the other way around. Maybe that she was just so different from his other encounters? Maybe her quirkiness was intriguing? What do you all
think?
2. I love the writing style of this book, and I didn't find it hard to get into at all. Am appreciating it even more this second time around. I find myself with a constant smile on my face while reading. I think the dialog and trains of thought
effectively introduce and build the characters and the relationship. The style is one of the reasons I really ended up enjoying this book.
3. Yeh, before I first read the book, I thought it was a series of reunions over a 20 year span of time.
4. Ahh!! Dex's letter! (After all those ludicrous postcards!) I fell in love with Dex because of that letter! I loved their letter exchange chapters because it revealed their true feelings for each other in contrast to the hesitancy we saw in the first. I liked how the author used Dexter's encouraging words, declarations and romantic plans in contrast to her real, pathetic life working in Loco Caliente (I don't think I can eat Mexican food again without remembering Emma's descriptions!) and how the possibility of a new relationship is introduced (Ian) while Dex's letter sinks into the depths of the couch. Fate? Definitely! Did anyone notice that Emma's location was noted in the book inscription? For all her fervent searching for an address, Heidi never noticed that! I didn't either until this second reading. Perhaps she could have located her with that lead, but....
5. Oh, I think I can really identify with Em here . . . lofty ideals and big plans, but the daily, less frightening life just gets in the way and no energy or confidence to turn it around. And the clock ticks. I think that's true of a lot of us, really. Dexter is just, typical to his character, living the most enjoyable life he can find with no real concern about where it's going, exactly like his ambitions in the first chapter - life in a cool photograph with lots of fun and no more sadness than necessary - a tantalizing ambition for many young adults today, I think!
6. Again, you can really see the contrast in personality in their interaction on the hill, and why, despite mutual feelings of affection, the relationship goes nowhere. Em, stifled by her lack of confidence and over-thinking (What would have happened if she had just kissed Dex ?!) and Dex with his constant nonchalant avoidance of anything remotely serious and worthwhile. I wanted to slap him with his babbling about his exploits with
seemingly no regard as to how Emma might feel! But Emma's whining here irritated me more. Why doesn't she slap him? I mean, c'mon Em, at least shave ur legs! Life isn't that bad. Dexter is a shallow doofus, but somehow, I can forgive him more for that flaw. Em could probably get very tiresome, but yet he sticks around, because he sees what she can't despite his limited field of vision. I think we do see hope for the future here, as his carefree attitude is somehow a spot of happiness for her, despite the aggravations, and her more practical take on life is what keeps him afloat in his sea of decadance . Neither one may recognize or acknowledge that fact at this point, but it's obviously there.
7. The Rules! This is one of my favorite chapters in the whole book! So many almost moments!! Just when ur getting your hopes up... I think the rules were Emma's shield from her own emotions, but since she really didn't want to be shielded, they were all
too easily broken. Dex wasn't into them from the beginning, obviously. Since he steadfastly refuses to acknowledge serious feelings for Emma, breaking them posed no threat. I love how the story moves along on the surface with this constant undercurrent of the true state of things. Makes me think about how that is true of all of our relationships. Do I think anything happened during the rest of the eight days? Well, I know the answer to that, but I'm not telling ;).
Ohmygosh, I loved your answers Donna. 1, 2. I agree, they're very contrasting characters, but what sucked me right in was how real they were. Dex in all his youthful unrepentant shallowness and Emma in her obsessive self-conscious over-thinking. And I think part of their charm for me as a reader was how familiar they are. They're either like me at some stage of my life or someone I have known at some stage in their lives. Also, I'm a big fan of the "I'm drawn to you even though I shouldn't be" trope. This book is so far setting the scene beautifully for a realistic, if somewhat painful, personal and relationship growth and the writing style is a large part of that. Big fan already.
3. Glad I wasn't the only one.
4. Yep, Dex's letter was the moment I started to see him in a new light. That for all his seeming shallowness, he has moments of such great insight about Emma, but not about himself, his life or about his feelings for her. I hadn't noticed that about the location, but that's just caused another "Noooooooh!" moment in my head. Even though I know they're not ready - what an absolute pity! And kudos to the author for making me feel this much about his characters, this early in the book.
5. Donna wrote: "lofty ideals and big plans, but the daily, less frightening life just gets in the way and no energy or confidence to turn it around. And the clock ticks. I think that's true of a lot of us, really. ..." Beautifully said! I know I've often felt like that, and for my part, I'm a horrific over-thinker. Something I found really interesting though, as I was reading about Dex, I had mixed feelings. Glad that he realises how lucky he's been in life, sad because I can see how having everything easy for him so far has made him ill-prepared to handle any future hardships/tough times. As a parent, this is a real eye-opener for me. I've had to work hard in life, and don't regret it at all, but I'm doing my best so that my kids have an easier time of it. For the first time I'm wondering how/where to draw the line. How to give them enough that they're grateful, but not enough that they become arrogant or presumptuous... Anyways it got me thinking... lol, like I said, I'm an overthinker :-)
6. Yes, they balance each other out so that they're better people with each other. Very much hope for the future.
7. lol, I'll have to read on and find out.
CaroB, so glad ur enjoying the book! I too got invested in the characters very quickly. I'm a massive over-analyzer and dreamer, so I can relate to Em. I hope I'm not as much of a pessimist though - LOL! And yeh, totally agree that privilege has it's drawbacks. I know far too many over-privileged people who can in no way see the realities of life much less handle such realities should they ever be faced with them. Life is just a playground, like it is for Dex. But I like Dex, and I found myself caring what happens to him, because I could see that he has potential to be something better.
Hi, Ladies,I've got a couple of projects I have to do over the next three days, so I may not be able to read Part 2 until Sunday.
No worries Donna, that works for me too as end-of-the-weeks tend to be hectic for me. Do you want me to do the next set of questions or would you like to try your hand at posting some for Part 2? No pressure either way, it just affects how much highlighting I do on the kindle as I go:-)Susan and Tracey, will you be ok to catch up by then?
*HUGE SIGH* YES! I'll be able to catch up by then! I've been stressing cause I was behind on this and then I was supposed to start
in a buddy read yesterday and haven't. Thankfully, they're behind too.I'll post the questions for part 3 if no one has claimed them yet.
lol, there must be something in the air. I'm behind on almost all my reads at the mo, and so is everyone else I'm doing them with :-) Made me feel so much better, I thought I'd over committed! Or if I did, at least I'm in good company :-)
Susan's Answer's toCaroB's questions for Part One1. What are your first thoughts on Dexter and Emma's characters? Is there more than attraction there at the beginning? Do they remind you of anyone you know/knew at the same age?
I did like them right away. I have to admit, I've known some Dexter's in my life LOL I think there is more than just attraction there at first, otherwise Dexter would have left when he was thinking about it.
2. Any comments on the writing style? Is the story grabbing you yet or are you finding it hard to get into?
I'm liking the writing style. The chapters where they were writing letters, I loved! Yes, it's grabbed me :)
3. I was under the impression, before starting this book, that they only communicated One Day a year. Anyone else think that?
Yep, same as both of you. I thought we were going to see them getting together on that one day, not necessarily having seen or communicated through the year.
4. OMG!! What did you think of Dex's letter?! Was it fate or just bloody bad luck?
I LOVED his letter! When I read the end of that chapter at church last night, I was so sad that it didn't get mailed. Would Dexter have even remembered to send her money had he mailed it though? I think she would have been more hurt had she gotten it and Dexter not remembered sending it.
5. Do you think Dex and Em are wasting their youth or just being typical generation-X twenty-somethings? I was sad to see that a year on Emma was still working at Loco Caliente, but don't you ever feel like you get so busy living one day after another, in your routine, that before you know it months or years have passed and you wonder where it's gone? lol, or is that just me?
I do think Dex and Em are typical of their generation...they're only about 2 or 3 years older than me. And yes, life gets in the way of your dreams and ambitions most of the time (at least it does in my experience)
6. Dex can be such a shallow doofus! And Em's low self-esteem is beginning to grate on my nerves. Is this just a case of opposites attracting or is there hope for more?
Gosh, I hope there is hope for more between them. I hate that he is so insensitive to her feelings about him. What makes him think that he can sleep with every one that offers (female and male, as he's revealed) and she'll still be there waiting for him to come to his senses? Of course, with her low self-esteem, she will be waiting.
7.Hmm, The Rules. What was their purpose? I mean, why was there a need for the reassurance of having them set out only to break them? Or do you think the Rules were mainly for Ingrid's benefit? And do you think anything happened during the rest of the eight days?
I don't think the rules were for Ingrid's benefit. I think they were to protect Emma's feelings. I truly hope nothing happened on the rest of the trip; only because of the way Dex approached it. He was very nonchalant about it, knowing that she did have feelings for him at one point and not being entirely sure that they've changed. He's slowly breaking her heart piece by piece and that would hurt if he went back to acting like nothing happened.
Hi, CaroB,Don't want to commit to Part 2 questions 'cause I have a lot going on, but I'll take Part 4 if you'd like, since Susan is doing Part 3.
No worries Donna, I'll do part 2 :-)
Susan, hadn't realised you'd answered!#4 - I hadn't even though that he might not remember sending it, I thought he kept drinking for dutch courage to finish it, but then nothing was mentioned about him missing the book or the letter, so that was a good point!
#7 - Good point! I haven't read on yet, that's the plan for tomorrow for me, but I find myself thinking about these characters and it's actually making me look forward to the movie as well!
I've finished part 2, and am well into part 3 of this. My kids are ALL gone tonight, so my plan is to take a shower, put my pj's on and lay in bed and read. Aren't I such a party animal?!
I love the one in the bear slippers and pj's :)
I was trying to find the kind with the backflap, with sheeps and clouds all over... alas, you'll just have to imagine. Or did I guess you outfit pattern, Susan? LOL!
That's totally me. Ok, it would have to be a larger size than those girls. I'm more curvy than them ;)
Just checking in what you guys are saying about this and I'm glad I didn't attempt it while on the work study. I would have been an emotional mess I think. =)
oh, you'd be an emotional mess. I cried for the last 50 or so pages!!
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired
Books mentioned in this topic
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (other topics)Covet (other topics)
One Day (other topics)
Goodreads Synopsis:
It’s 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day—July 15th—of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself.
Participants so far:
CaroB
Susan
Donna
Tracey