An ode to One Day
Even though I know exactly what happens in One Day, I cried for like three hours whilst watching the last two episodes of the Netflix adaptation (and for like 3 hours afterwards).
My reaction was so intense my boyfriend was genuinely pretty concerned but he then decided to cycle to work the next day and I simply cried as he left the flat???? What the hell Tom.
I first read the book when I was 16ish. My parents recommended it to me and I had no idea what was going to happen.
I was absolutely distraught. I couldn’t believe they’d recommended such an utterly heartbreaking and gut wrenching story.
Because it elicited such strong emotion in me, it quickly became one of my favourite books. I remember telling my A Level Lit teacher that it was my favourite book in our first A Level class and she responded ‘oh my god, SAME’ - which truly validated my choice of favourite book over a high brow piece of literature I guessed I was meant to have chosen.
And to this day the book is still one of my all-time favourites, I’ll recommend it to anyone.
The absolutely visceral reaction it evokes is something only an absolute masterpiece can achieve and for that I believe David Nicholls is one of the best modern storytellers of our time (and he’s a really nice guy and yes this is a flex to say I’ve met him ha).
And, to my surprise, I thought that the Netflix adaptation is truly a masterpiece in its own right. It captures the intense and complex nature relationship between Emma and Dex with such art. It brings the story into another life and gives it so much depth (in my humble opinion anyway).
When the film came out years ago, I went to the cinema with a friend (whose favourite book is also One Day) and we were both so disappointed. As is often the case for films made out of books, we felt short changed. It was flat, it didn’t bring out the beauty and complexities of the relationship, of youth, of love and friendship. Of grief, class, fame and so much more. It simply didn’t hit the mark. Sorry Anne Hathaway. So I was sceptical of the series but felt pleased that there was another opportunity to do the book justice.
Quite a significant amount of time has passed now since the book and the film first came out, and perhaps that helps. For those readers who loved the book in their late teens / early twenties, they’re now a similar age to Emma and Dex towards the end of the series. There’s an element of nostalgia attached and a sense of fragility to our lives that you don’t get when you’re younger. This most certainly will contribute to the intense feelings and emotions I felt when I finished the series last night I’m sure of it.
But for those viewers who haven’t read the book, whilst I’m usually screaming ‘READ THE BOOK FIRST’ and I essentially do still stand by this in every circumstance. For One Day, I’m really happy that the Netflix show does it justice and holds its own, and therefore I’m not nearly as aggressive as I usually am when people say ‘no I haven’t read the book’ even though THE BOOK is my FAVOURITE BOOK. Which basically means the show is elite, top tier, best adaptation I’ve ever seen??? (Too much of a claim??).
What I’m trying to say I guess, is that this is what top tier romance literature and storytelling should be like. It elevates the genre and proves that it has depth. And if you haven’t read the book or watched the show, please please prepare yourself, you’re in for a ride.
Kath x