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Deborah E. (Miami, FL)
" Day: A Novel ", Michael Cunningham
Michael Cunningham's Day: A Novel, focuses on one day, the same day, in three successive years, 2019, 2020 and 2021. These are the years before, during and after the Covid epidemic; the impact of which serves as background in the novel. The book looks at the life of a deteriorating family -- parents, children, uncles and aunt, how each fits in and how each moves away over the course of the three years.
The conceit of the book is unique and may be the most distinguishing part of the novel. More than the characters, two of whom are children, the story drives the book but may not be enough to create a riveting or
…more memorable reading experience.
The family resides in a Brooklyn brownstone. It is here that the nuclear family, and its orbiting relatives, are introduced; and here that the initial family cracks are exposed. ( I am revealing nothing more than the book cover does ). The cracks only widen during covid, a time of generalized inconvenience and fear. These discomforts are likely exasperated by the embarkation of a crucial family member –- around whom much of the story revolves –- to Iceland for a short trip turned long by covid. Without him at the family's center, the family loses cohesion and the book loses force.
For the most part, the rest of the family is either not well enough drawn: or not compelling enough to carry the book through to its end without dragging: the family's decent into separation is not something that is emotionally engaging or something that one might care about. Though Cunningham explores and exposes some of their feelings, this family comes across as another American, New York City neurotic, self-involved, family which falls to pieces, quite literally, during covid. The reader isn't emotionally engaged with them, because they are not emotionally engaged with each other.
For those who didn't relate to or don't recall the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s; or who might be interested in a family saga of an extended family living through this covid epidemic, Cunningham's book may present an interesting read; but in the end, covid or not, the family and it's issues were not compelling enough for this reader to care. (less)This book was beautifully written, but I didn't enjoy it. We all just lived through the pandemic, you'd think there would be something in the book that I could relate to. There was not. The adults were all self absorbed and unhappy. There was little communication between family members. No one was endearing. There were no characters that I really even liked (well, just Violet). There were many parts of this book that I am still confused about after finishing it, and many other parts that didn't seem relevant to the rest of the book at all. Overall, it's just a book about a bunch of egocentric people who don't
…more really care for one another, and what a day in their life is like before during and after the pandemic. (less)This is a story of a pretty nutty family filled with characters I'm not sure I could relate to. I actually had to create a family tree of sorts to keep them all straight. The story tells of brother and sister Isabel and Robbie, Isabel's husband Dan and their two kids Violet and Nathan, and a sperm donor Garth who is Dan's brother and who is technically the father of baby Odin while the mother, Chess is confused as to whether she wants him in her child's life. No wonder I had to create a diagram. Each character has issues. Robbie is gay and lives with his sister Isabel and her husband Dan and kids Violet and
…more Nathan, creating its own drama. Dan is a recovering addict and would be musician- again creating its own drama. Violet sees ghosts. And Isabel and Robbie have created some sort of fantasy life for a guy on Instagram and post his (their) stories on Instagram. Why, I don't know. And I don't think it adds anything to the story- it's just weird. I have to say that the author does a great job of describing scenes that are very visual so maybe I had a point of reference to put these characters in. Although the book isn't particularly long (269 pages in paper book format I got to pre-read) I had a hard time sticking with it- it was easy to put down. Although admittedly I was somewhat curious about what weird thing would happen to whom next. (less)Family relationships contain complications in the best of times but when economic struggles and a pandemic lockdown figure into a family's life, it is difficult to sort out the impacts on each member of a family. I found this book both challenging and, at times, disheartening. Others may find they can relate to or empathize with the characters, but I was unable to connect with any of them. There is some hopefulness eventually that some will find their way to more love.
Shirley T. (Comfort, TX)
Day by Michael Cunningham
I found this novel both interesting and disturbing in several ways as it follows family relationships over a three-year period full of changes in the world. Although the author does not directly mention the virus pandemic which by the middle of the book was worldwide, he managed to convey disturbance and fear which affected the lives of the very odd families he described.
Emotional connections between wife and husband and her disturbed brother who communicates by social media with a "friend" set the scene for a modern living pattern.
As time progresses the family, through life changes, reacts in different ways to
…more the disturbances and being forced to live closely together.
At the end of the story, a year later, the family has moved and although there has been a death of one member perhaps it was a blessing and might allow the characters and their friends to move on to normal lives.
This novel might have been more successful in the form of short stories. (less)I loved the basic context of this book: life on the same date, before, during, and after the pandemic. I loved the narratives and descriptions. I just wish I loved the characters. Nobody ever really DOES anything, except for Wolfe - and he doesn't even exist. Everyone loves the wrong person or is loved by the wrong person. The adults are so wrapped up in themselves that the children are pretty much left to deal with some pretty heavy emotional baggage all by themselves. When I finished the book, I had to ask myself…"What did I just read?" Maybe that's the point?
Anne G. (Austin, TX)
Day by Michael Cunningham
Morning, May 5, 2019–we meet a family involved in their morning routines. We learn that the five of them have nearly outgrown their apartment in Manhattan and in some ways they also may have outgrown the relationship that holds them together. They are Dan and Isabel, parents to Nathan (10) and Violet (5), and Isabel's brother Robbie who lives in the attic of their brownstone.
Afternoon, May 5, 2020-covid has arrived in NYC and the kids are homeschooling while Dan and Isabel get on each other's nerves. Robbie went to Iceland and is stuck there because planes aren't flying. Violet is horrified that an open window
…more will let in "the thing." Nathan has moved to the attic and is entering his teens with all the accompanying angst and body odor.
Evening, April 5, 2021-we learn of separations. The factors involved in each are different. Reality is now changed and our characters must figure out a path forward.
Cunningham's writing is both eloquent and sometimes overly complex with sentences that wrap around until I've completely lost the point. This story seems to be simply about the ebbing and flowing of human relationships. The connections of all kinds that get these characters through their days. I wish I had an answer for the reasoning behind the three points in time, but I don't. Perhaps they are just markers in the stream of life. (less)Michael Cunningham, the author of Day, worries that his novel is boring. He worries even though he has a Pulitzer prize for a previous book. I must say that I agreed with his concern. This book is clearly not a story which involves plot and action and drama. Reviewers call Cunningham's work brilliant. Only occasionally as I read this book can I agree; but mostly I agree with his concern that his novel is boring.
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