Sometimes, a book just speaks to you — the characters, what they’re going through. This one did for me. I understand and can relate to Emma’s confusion about what to do with her life after graduation. I understand Dex’s disillusion and sometimes, bitterness at what life dealt him.
The book is 23 chapters of the two character’s lives every 15th of July, the day they met, and started their friendship. Out of college and trying to figure out what to do, getting jobs, being in relationships and all the while drawn to each other — really just a nice, inspiring story.
I love this quote from the book:
Live each day as if it’s our last’, that was the conventional advice, but really who had the energy for that? What if it rained or you felt a bit glandy? It just wasn’t practical. Better by far to simply try and be good and courageous and bold and to make a difference. Not change the world exactly, but the bit around you. Go out there with your passion and your electric typewriter and work hard at…something. Change lives through art maybe. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things. Love and be loved, if you ever get the chance.
I like buying books with the original cover, but it wasn’t available in Borders that day, so I settled for this one, and was thinking to myself: “Nye, si Anne Hathaway?! The character is British, I wonder if she can do the proper accent”.
But after finishing the book, I couldn’t think of any other actress to play Emma. And Jim Sturgess! I loved him in “across the universe”. I can’t wait to see how the film turns out.
