"One Day" by David Nicholls

I've decided to begin writing reviews...might help me get an internship. Because what the world needs is more of my opinion.

Anyway, my review of One Day...no spoilers here!

Reading “One Day” by David Nicholls was like reading a novel about myself, and likely everyone else who has ever gone through college, fell in love, fell out of love, got a job they hated, succeeded only to immediately fail and vice versa. Whether you had an angsty, “the world is so screwed up so let’s listen to Rage Against the Machine and quote Ani Difranco” sort of phase, or an “Im going to drink 30 PBR’s every night and have sex with everything that moves” phase, or even if you didn’t have the guts but considered the idea for a moment...you will find yourself reflected in this book. Whether you’re just out of college or you haven’t been there for many years, you will connect to these characters on an intimate level. Where most love stories fail to recognize the characters as individuals and often focus on only what these characters are together, “One Day” follows the journey of Emma and Dexter through a lifetime of failures and success apart, while the reader gets small glimpses of what they could possibly be together.

For much of the book you’re wondering if these two characters will ever finally wake up and realize just how perfect they are for each other. You want to scream at Dexter “get your head out of your ass!”. But as Nicholls develops these two character in such an honest, true to life way, the reader starts to wish for them to discover who they are as individuals. We realize that maybe they aren’t perfect for each other, as much as we hoped they would be. Perhaps perpetual happiness together is an unlikely ending to this story. The happy ending that we wish for suddenly becomes not about Emma and Dexter seeing the light and falling into each other’s arms, but about them recognizing the light within themselves and sorting their heads out as separate people.

This is not a cheesy, weepy love story...I did shed a tear or two (who am I kidding, my rough outer shell was pierced to the heart and I cried like a baby). Though this is a story about two people who truly do love each other, it is more a coming of age story about how we continue to grow throughout our lives even as we become adults and think we’ve seen it all. It is a story that reminds you that life goes on, even when it seems impossible or you wish with all your soul that it wouldn’t.

“One Day” is a beautifully written, hilarious, smart story about two relatable, real people who just happen to have their paths cross. From lovers to best friends to enemies to possible lovers again, these two characters reflect a mirror for each other...they are what is real in a world where everyone has ulterior motives. It’s not the kind of love you yearn for out of fairy tales, and it’s not the kind of love that consumes you...it’s the kind of love that really exists in the real world, the kind of love that makes long, strong marriages..if you’re brave enough to grab hold of it. It’s the most real thing we can hope for, and for Em and Dex it’s all we can wish for that they take advantage of it.

Play it loud enough, it'll keep the demons away

The following is a list of songs that I love. They’re those songs that no matter how many albums you have on your ipod, you always come back too. I’m not claiming that they’re all fabulously skillful pieces of music (I don’t know enough about music to argue for their complexity or skill level)...I’m just saying that they all touch me every single time I listen to them. They’re those songs that you actually stop what you’re doing and pay attention to.

In no particular order...

Needed You Tonight- Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals

The whole song captures me but particularly Ben letting loose on “violin is my instrument of choice, it recognizes the paaaaaaaaaain in my voice” gives me goosebumps every time. (Arguably one of Harper’s best albums, in case you were wondering).

Honey Bee- Tom Petty

This song is just gritty and dirty and I love it. I particularly love Tom Petty at the beginning “alright here we go...this is a little number called give me some sugar little honey, natural, bee”. This song just makes you wanna grind up on the nearest human being. Not to mention, Petty may be old as dirt but the guy still rocks it out at his concerts, some of the best shows I’ve ever seen.

Narcolepsy- Third Eye Blind

So, yeah, I’m a 3EB junkie and this is one of my favorites. I particularly love “I read dead Russian authors volumes at a time. I write everything down except what’s on my mind” I particularly love when they break it down to half time towards the end.

Piano Man-Billy Joel

The reason I love this song is because A. it’s awesome and B. you can be in a bar anywhere in the world and turn this song on and everyone will start singing. Some of my favorite moments have been surrounded by friends and strangers a lil’ drunk and belting out this tune. “Yes they’re sharing a drink they called loneliness, but it’s better than drinking alone.”

Rosalita- Bruce Springsteen

One of my fav’s...I just love this song. It’s upbeat and it’s The Boss, what’s not to love?

My favorite part... “Well tell him this is last chance to get, his daughter in a fine romance, because the record company Rosie, just gave me a big advance! And my tires were slashed and I almost crashed but the Lord have mercy..and my machine she’s a dud, I’m stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey.” Plus he was 23 when he wrote this album...what am I doing with my life?

Hour Follows Hour- Ani DiFranco

I think Ani D is an excellent lyricist and this song really show it. It’s beautiful. I love the whole song but the part that really grabs me is “We can only hold so much is what I figure, try and keep our eye on the big picture, the picture keeps getting bigger. Too much is how I love you, but too well is how I know you and I’ve got nothing to prove this time only something to show you. I guess I just wanted you to see, that it was all worth it to me.”

Rain King (Live)-Counting Crows

One of their best recordings. This song is perfect and the transition to the Thunder Road cover is seamless.

James Taylor-Fire and Rain

gorgeous song. some of the best lyrics ever written.

Anyone wanna shout out any songs that hit them like a ton of bricks?