One Day

by ardashir-vakil

Ben and Priya are your average north London Ben's a teacher and Priya works in the media. Over the course of one vital day they fight, talk, love and gripe, raking over their life together to try and discover where exactly it all went wrong. Can one day save a marriage?

Paperback

First published October 6, 2003

Reviews

[Pawan · Rating 1 out of 5]

http://iandbooks.wordpress.com/

For the first time, I am writing about a book that I have not finished and I do not have any intention to finish it as well. “One Day” by Ardashir Vakil is something that I have failed to understand. On top of it the story seems simple and is about a mixed race London-based couple who are going through bad times in their marriage. The story unfolds on the day of their son’s birthday. Simple idea and I was looking forward to some interesting story about relationships in today’s world.

The book starts on an erotic note about wife satisfying herself with husband reading on the bed on the side and just keeps going downhill from there. It is very confusing going back and forth about their relationship that is wild, unpredictable and complete nonsense to me. I was still trying to continue reading to make sense out of the book. When I reached the part where husband is monitoring a cooking contest and one of the contestants start filling his body with the food with the help of surgeon and readying himself to cook on fire, I realized it was enough, Yuck, Yuck, Yuck and almost feel like puking.

I really do not understand what was the intent and what was the author thinking about when writing such a scene and story. On top of it, such kind of writing is described as post modern writing and is actually praised by many. I think in such cases the liberty of writing is taken too far off. This book will remain un-read since I do not have any intention of resuming it.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read and very moving - the book kept me guessing about what might happen until the last few pages. I enjoyed the descriptions of the different Pakistani traditions and the Oxford colleges. Vakil explores the challenges of marriage in a very honest way.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you need a reminder of how all the little details of your day (and sometimes your life) are not that unique nor interesting, then read this book.

[Emma Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book uncomfortable to read. It's about a couple trying to get through a difficult day together, giving you their thoughts on recent arguments, infidelities and other marital problems. It did make me want to find out how things would turn out for them but I was left feeling they had made the wrong choice.

[Subhashish Dasgupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the books many years after buying it. Surprisingly, I quite liked it and it was nice to read an interesting look into the lives of some ordinary everyday people - a couple with their marriage in some trouble told over the course of their son's third birthday.

[Valencia Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story with a great ending, Ben and Priya.

[Hadifah · Rating 3 out of 5]

i like the book. It keep me moving want to know what happen next.