Pete's Recommending...

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.

Pete says:
"It's not too late in the season for that summer read you'll always remember. And if you want a good one, a really, really good one, then pick up One Day by David Nicholls. This novel chronicles the unlikely, bittersweet, beautiful relationship between Dex & Em, or Em & Dex, over a roughly twenty year period.

The author sets each chapter on July 15th, St. Swithin's Day, the day Dexter Mayhew and
Emma Morley first share an awkward night together. My first thought: Who is St. Swithin
and why does he have a day? Apparently St. Swithin was a Saxon Bishop famous for
charitable gifts and building churches, and on his day one takes a moment to observe the
weather. Legend has it that whatever the weather is like on St. Swithin's Day, it'll continue so for the next 40 days. Our Groundhog Day shares a similar theme, and one also may recall the timetable of the flood. But something happened on this albeit ordinary day that propelled bookish and political Emma and good-looking but shallow Dexter into a heartfelt but often times painful romance you won't soon forget.

All of you who came of age in the 80's and 90's will certainly identify with the characters in this book. Though well-intentioned for the most part, they often screw up big time. Then you say to yourself, 'Yeah, me too.' While reading One Day I was reminded of the lyrics to 'The Southern Cross,' a song by Crosby, Stills and Nash that goes, 'So we cheated and we lied and we tested, and we never failed to fail, it was the easiest thing to do.'

I can't tell you any more about this book without giving the plot away, so I'll just leave you with more on St. Swithin's Day. "Rain on St. Swithin's Day blesses and christens the apples. Remember that no apple should be picked or eaten before July 15th."