One memorable day

David Nicholls opens his hypnotic One Day (2009) with the following quote from Charles Dickens's Great Expectations. How apt.

That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.

Dickens. Dickens. Dickens. You deserve to be everywhere. Also read "What shouldn't you be doing at 38?".

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What shouldn't you be doing at 38?

In One Day (2009), David Nicholls answers:

"It would be inappropriate, undignified, at 38, to conduct friendships or love affairs with the ardour or intensity of a 22 year old. Falling in love like that? Writing poetry? Crying at pop songs? Dragging people into photobooths? Taking a whole day to make a compilation tape? Asking people if they wanted to share your bed, just for company? If you quoted Bob Dylan or TS Eliot or, god forbid, Brecht at someone these days they would smile politely and step quietly backwards, and who would blame them? Ridiculous, at 38, to expect a song or book or film to change your life."

[Disclaimer: The above does not represent my view -- don't shoot the messenger!] [I am not yet 38.] [I chose the picture because I mistook "photobooths" for "phonebooths".] [I do quote Eliot, quite often. For example, here, here and here.]

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