Giveaway and Interview with David Nicholls, Author of One Day

If you are anything like me and enjoy a realistic love story with broken characters, ONE DAY is for you! It will make you laugh and cry, so be prepared with a box of kleenex.  If you haven't read my review, you can check it out here.

I recently had the chance, along with a few other bloggers, to chat with David Nicholls . It was the chance of a lifetime as I absolutely loved One Day! Not only did David write the book, he also wrote the screenplay. I've already set a 'date' with my BF, Jackie, to see this movie which comes out next week (August 19th).

For the movie, I thought finding the right chemistry between the actors would be critical. This is a love story after all, that takes place over twenty years. Also, Dexter's character growth is phenomenal. He isn't the nicest guy for a while and yet somehow in the story you still fall for him and are able to overlook his faults. Here's David's reponse:

We had to find two people who could age up and age down convincingly, two people who seemed to complement each other, two people who seemed to have a kind of spark and an attraction. Often with movies, there's a constant question through the whole writing process, which is are they sympathetic, are they likeable. Dexter in particular does some pretty harsh things and behaves quite badly in the course of the film. And I think in casting Dexter, we wanted someone who wouldn't kind of compromise on that bad behavior, but who would be comprehensible and forgivable and redeemable, who had a kind of a charm even at the lowest points. And I think Jim (Sturgess) gets that really beautifully.

Since the story takes place over twenty years, I was curious about how to show that in the movie. I am not normally one to love many pop culture references but it seemed that maybe this was the way to do it? The first day we meet Em & Dex is July 15, 1988 , but when reading the book, I felt it was more a timeless story and we just see the characters grow over the twenty years. Here's what David had to say:

There are a few of those. Definitely fashion. Weirdly, I have much stronger memories of the late '80s than I do of the early '90s, I think because I was at University. And at University, you are particularly aware of your cultural tastes and your image and that you were very keen to make a statement. So, I found '88 much easier to conjure up than '93. It took me a while to track down when I got my first mobile phone and in exactly what year.

I definitely wanted to get some of the fashion in and also some of the politics and the critical issues of the day. But, the two things that I made a conscious decision not to include were the death of Princess Diana, which obviously was a huge landmark in British culture, and 9/11, which there's a fleeting reference to a bomb attack in London. But, I couldn't find a plausible, useful way to make that part of the narrative. So, I wanted the politics and the cultural background to be correct, but I also wanted it to be the background, for it to be just the stage on which the characters perform rather than the prime subject matter.

Well David, you sure did a great job on achieving this in the book, now I can't wait to see ONE DAY on the big screen.

 Thanks so much to Big Honcho Media and Focus Features for making this possible.
One of my readers will win a great One Day prize pack, courtesy of Focus Features....

One (1) winner will receive:
·         Copy of the movie-tie in edition paperback book
·         Clear cosmetic case
·         Necklace
·         Moleskin Journal

Prizing value: $30.95

Giveaway provided by Focus Features

To enter leave a comment telling me your favorite fictional couple and fill in the ONE DAY contest form below.




In Theatres August 19

Official website          http://experienceoneday.com

Facebook                    http://www.facebook.com/OneDayMovie

Download the One Day Reader’s Guide

http://fif.s3.amazonaws.com/oneday/readersguide.pdf

Enter the GoodReads “One Day Summer Reads” Sweepstakes

http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/5

Review: One Day by David Nicholls

Paperback, Movie Tie-in Edition, 435 pages

Released: May 31, 2011

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

ISBN13: 9780307946713

Genre: Adult Fiction/Chick Lit

Other places to find the book:
Amazon.com
Bookdepository.com
Add it to Goodreads.com

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.

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

My Thoughts:
If you ever need to find a book that makes you cry, this is the one to read. My review is not going to do it justice because it's hard to put into words! This truly is a book you need to experience.

Emma has always noticed Dexter and after their graduation has a chance to spend the night with him. No one knew this was only the beginning and not just another one of his one night stands. You see, Dexter is one of those guys that has to keep moving. He comes from a rich family, has a cocky attitude and some charisma about him that women love (and boy does he love women!). Emma on the other hand is more plain Jane and nice to her core. He travels the world and wants to be famous, she moves from job to job but really wants to be a writer. One Day covers 20 years of their life after that one night, now leading separate lives yet always staying in touch.

Dexter is oh so broken. He seems to have it all, he is rich and living in the limelight after all, but what he needs and money can't buy is to find himself. He has many ups and downs, battles drug and alcohol,  the only constant in his life is Emma. I found the middle of the book a little slow but then again this is a realistic look at a relationship and well, the middle of those aren't always fun either ;) Get the kleenex ready for the last quarter of the book though. A roller coaster ride of emotions, One Day shows us that love can conquer all.

The movie, starring Anne Hathaway, is out Aug 19th and I HAVE to see it! Just watching the tailer now, I had to hold back the tears.

Teaser Tuesday - July 5, 2011

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

'Night, Dex,' she murmured while she could still speak.
'Night, Em,' he replied, but she was already gone.
Eight days to go, he thought, eight whole days. Almost anything could happen in eight days.

Can you tell this is a story full of angst and complex characters?


One Day (Movie Tie-in Edition)
Published May 31st 2011 by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Movie is out August 19th