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Barbara J. (Tucker, GA)
A Day in the Life
In his Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Hours, Michael Cunningham followed the path set by Virginia Wolfe in taking characters through the minute details of their lifes. His latest book, Day, is a variation on that theme. We still see the details of a morning, an afternoon, and an evening, but each section is a year apart. In so doing, the reader experiences the developing feelings, courses of action taken on those feelings and the ultimate consequences of them from the points of view of 5 year old Violet, her parents, her uncle and several more. I found it a lovely progression of time.
Joanne W. (Ossining, NY)
Day a Novel
Day is about family and the complications that come when living closely and interconnectedly. The characters, including, maybe especially, are well drawn easy to envision. The author brings them to life with all their quirks and fallibility. It's short book easily read in a few days but I came to care about them and think about them when I wasn't reading.
A good read I would definitely recommend.
Martha P. (Issaquah, WA)
Don't say "pandemic"
Wow. What an intense, close-up look at the difficult time we all endured. The story takes place in one day in three separate years (2019-2021) and follows a family with various underlying issues. Most of the story takes place in NYC which took a huge hit during CoVid. Part one was a bit slow as we get to know the characters but that happens in a lot of books. Part two brought back all kinds of memories of how we coped during the crisis. The isolation, the fear, the crazy amount of precautions, the losses, the toll it took on children and young adults. Part three, of course, is the aftermath and how to (or do we
…more ever) return to "normal".
The writing is incredibly beautiful and poetic at times as we would expect from Cunningham. Characters are believable, frustrating at times and endearing at others. Five-year-old Violet was a little too magical for me but okay. I liked the descriptions of Iceland and the use of the classic The Mill on the Floss to show the close relationship between sister and brother, Isabel and Robbie. Cunningham never uses the words "virus", "pandemic" or "CoVid" and there was only one time that I felt that was a bit forced. Another great book in the new and sad pandemic genre. (less)It was with anticipation that I, an ardent fan of Michael Cunningham's The Hours, received a copy of his new book, Day -- a Novel. Perhaps The Hours, based on Mrs. Dalloway, a novel I knew well and an intriguing character, set too high a bar for this reader. Cunningham's beautifully written -- almost magical prose -- is still here, especially in his descriptions of landscapes and the natural world. His characters, especially the eight members of the family around whom the three-day plot evolves, however, are slow to evoke understanding, empathy, or caring. Issues about gender, sexual identification, and
…more sexuality, in general, seem overly abundant -- three of the eight are children. On a most positive note, I keep thinking about this book and wishing I could have discussed it more before I post this review. (less)My husband and I read this book together, and it generated a number of thoughtful discussions between us. It is a book to read slowly, not only to savor the writing, but also to think about the themes presented. The book is organized in three parts each involving one day, April 5th, in 2019 (pre-pandemic), 2020 (pandemic) and 2021 (post-pandemic). We follow an extended family group as it wrestles with daily living during a very difficult time. For the most part, each member is not getting what he or she wants and not wanting what each is getting. Disappointment, failed dreams, and unrealistic hopes abound. Two
…more of the characters, Isabel and her brother Robbie, create an imaginary figure, Wolfe, and post daily updates about his life which is one they each long for themselves. The novel asks whether this family, described by one of the characters as "a conglomerate of sorts" can "survive its own ruptures". Can it? Can any family? The novel does not give us tidy answers, but it is a richer story than Wolfe's idealized one. (less)I love it when an author uses a style choice I've never encountered before and in his new book 'Day', Michael Cunningham does not disappoint! The 'day' referred to is April 5, the story takes place on that day in three consecutive years; 2019, 2020 and 2021. Focusing on a slightly dysfunctional, extended family, we watch as the characters evolve, and how their lives change during the course of these three years; before, during, and after the pandemic. The author keeps a tight grip on how the story escalates, ending on a note that is tender and bittersweet. Take this one in slowly, and enjoy the ride!
Gail B. (Albuquerque, NM)
A Novel about COVID
While DAY was something of a struggle for me to get into, ultimately there was value to be found. My initial problem was with the numerous characters introduced in Day One -- a few major family members and a dozen or more minor old boyfriends, students, dogs -- all have names! The majors are tediously self-conscious/self-absorbed. Not necessarily interesting...except to themselves.
Day 1, April 5, 20219, Morning: The Byrne family (Dan, Isabel, Nathan, Isabel and Isabel's brother Robbie) live in a Brooklyn brownstone. It was difficult to figure out just who dashing, handsome Wolfe was until he was eventually
…more revealed as an Instagram avatar created by Robbie and Isabel. Other family members: Dan's brother Garth, wife Chess and baby Odin have similar problems of coming to grips with marriage, sexuality, parenthood.
Marked by empty streets, flashing lights and screaming sirens, Day 2, Afternoon April 5, 2020, COVID lockdown forces each character to recognize their own issues, whether growing up, staying safe, analyzing marriages/careers.
Finally, Evening April 5, 2021. Isolation has been lifted. The families gather at a country farmhouse and come to grips with the changes caused by close quarters living.
The point of DAY is how the COVID epidemic affected people everywhere -- online learning, illness, death, in addition to the traditional problems of growing up, career changes and living together. This is where the book has real value to me. (less)An engaging story told via snapshots or mini-vignettes of an unconventional, yet rather ordinary family before, during, and after the pandemic. Most impressive was how the hopes and struggles were expressed poignantly through texts, phone calls, blogs, and letters. Well worth reading.
