Where’s A Torch When You Need One?

I don’t know about the rest of you, but books and I… we have a love/hate relationship.  Just when I think I’ve finally hit that “plateau” that illusive level where the books stop sucking and I can ride a wave of beautifully penned literature, I get hit with a novel that makes me want to chunk it into a sink hole.

When I first let on that I was reading “One Day” by David Nicholls I got hit with a rash of the most entertaining tweets or emails I’ve ever seen. “One Day… as in the book written by the devil?” “Oh God, save yourself.. read the operator manual to your refrigerator instead.” Now, for any sane human these statements would lead to a mass exodus to the right, but for me, the girl that more often that not disagrees with popular opinion, it was like hanging a 10 pound bag of gummy bears in front of my face and then refusing to let me eat them.  I was GOING to read this freaking book, and I was hell bent on telling every last one of y’all just exactly what you were missing.

Dear everyone, I would like to apologize for not trusting you.

Emma and Dexter are complete opposites. Emma is a middle class, over-educated,  prude while Dexter is a handsome, rich and extremely self-absorbed playboy, but…to both of their surprises one fateful night after their college graduation has now bonded them for life. Friends at the best of times and enemies for the rest, both realize their lives are easier with each other than without, but living very different lives leaves a toll and a string of mishaps both feel reluctant to shove under the rug. Will Emma ever tell Dexter how she feels? Will Dexter’s drinking lead him to an early grave, and will either of them ever realize that expectations are worse than cancer?

I finished this book almost 2 weeks ago, and have since written 3 reviews for it.  The first was less than diplomatic, throwing out phrases like “WTF” and “I want to push Nicholls off of a cliff.” The 2nd was a little better only threatening the life of Emma and Dexter, and the 3rd…well… it was probably the worst seeing as how I wrote a 10 page rant about using British slang in nationally published (and recognized) novels. So please believe me when I say this 4th review comes with great reservations and a very tight grip on my general irritation towards this novel.  That said, let me start with the good (cause it’s the shorter list) the overall concept of this novel was great. Take two characters, let them lead their lives, and then check back in on them every year on the same date. Great right? Sure… until you add in the fact that this goes on for 20 years.  That’s right… we are subjected to the mundane trials of Emma and Dexter’s lives for 20, mind numbing, completely obnoxious, whiny years. But wait kids… that’s not that bad part. The bad part, the part that gets under your skin and makes you want to scream is the fact that the CLIMAX of the book happens around chapter 15. A climax that basically ends the books, so imagine my surprise when I had to keep reading… and reading….and reading.  Now, at this point I could keep rambling; tell you that the characters were less than impressive,  (whiny and boring) and that the language was frustrating (British slang mashed with half formed sentences) but what would be the point.  If you still want to read it after my obvious loathing then there is really nothing else I could say.

My overall take. Save your money, and hope to high heaven the movie version is better.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: sometime diplomacy is over-rated.

Click image for complete details.

[Rating:1.5/5]

About Misty

Your friendly neighborhood narcissist. I'm sarcastic, cynical and a bit cranky. I own a soap box so big that sometimes I have difficulty stepping down off of it, and I'm about 94% certain I have multiple personalities. I don't sleep enough, and I read more than any person should ever consider normal. I have anger management issues, especially when I'm stuck in traffic and I have an unhealthy obsession with my Kindle. I am a vampire lovin', zombie obsessed, book-in-hand, iPod freak. You either love me or hate me. You be the judge.

8 thoughts on “Where’s A Torch When You Need One?

  1. lol sometimes a bad review is just as important as a good one. Now I know I probably don’t want to read this and even if I decide I should give it a try just because sometimes I am perverse, I will not feel guilty if I get halfway through the first chapter and decide to chuck it across the room 🙂

  2. I agree with most of your sentiments on this book, however may I pick you up on one point.
    You complain about British slang in a book written by a Brit and set in Britain. What do you want? A rewrite for America? How many American authors change their books for the UK markets? Yes, NONE!
    Get over yourself.
    Apart from that, yes, the book is rotten.

    1. Wow… Ok, here is what I took issue with. I have read tons of books written by British authors set in GB and all of them were easy to follow. I am in no way asking for an Americanized version of the book, but a book that has been thrust at Americans claiming to be “The Next Great American Novel” should at least give the appearance of being “interchangeable” No, I am not a moron I can use context clue to understand the book, but the slang used was heavy (which for the record I would point out in an American penned novel as well) and due to it’s excessiveness caused the dialogue to feel choppy and forced. In short it made Nicholls appear as if he was trying to hard.

      You are the first person to ever tell me to get over myself & with that I congratulate you. 😉

  3. Dang it, I bought this book a few months ago when it was on sale for $5 at Amazon! And it looks so good! *sigh* At least you wrote this before I actually read the book.

  4. Wow – I’m really surprised you didn’t like One Day. I loved it and everyone I know loved it too. I actually recommended it to my sister as a book that I knew I could recommend to anyone and feel 100% confident they would love it.

    It’s a highly entertaining, moving read; very funny, fast-paced and enjoyable. And no, I am not related to the author (although I am British!)

    Anyway, just wanted to give another opinion because I really love this book!

    Mark Edwards
    Author of Killing Cupid

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