Brian Jackson has been watching trivia game shows all his life. It’s been his dream to compete in one. When he goes to university (because in the UK, that’s what they call it. Not college.), he comes across a poster inviting students to tryout for the school trivia team. What makes this even better is that the most beautiful girl he has ever laid eyes on is also checking out the poster, asking him if she’ll see him at the tryouts. Brian’s good luck, however, ends here. In his desperate attempts to get her attention, he makes a complete fool of himself in front of the entire school and of course, in front of Alice, now the love of his life.
Thus begins a series of more humiliating events in Brian’s university career and his quest to win Alice’s love, or maybe even just her attention. Somehow (but you really don’t see how), she does agree to go out with him, though you can tell she isn’t exactly jumping with glee at the idea. Brian manages to mess up his life even more after this, and in the end, after making one of the biggest mistakes of his trivia show career, he surprisingly manages to find a way out and maybe even find someone to love.
The Standouts
Humor
Brian narrates the story, and he starts out
quite funny. In fact, you may see past all the British references
(unless you’re lucky enough or exposed enough to it to understand) and
begin to care for his character. The humor hooks you in pretty well in
the first few chapters, and the events in Brian’s life can be quite
hilarious.
The Letdowns
Brian’s character
Though Brian
started out as funny, there’s a possibility that he may get on your
nerves. He may even turn out to be unlikable and unsympathetic to some
readers. When Alice agrees to go out with him, it is pretty unbelievable
and what’s even more of a stretch is when she continues to see him and
even invites him to spend New Year’s with her and her parents.
Brian
also meets a girl named Rebecca who seems to like him, but you cannot
really understand why. He treats her terribly, he is obviously pining
for Alice all throughout, and Rebecca knows this. In the end, his
character is redeemed, but it can be a bit unconvincing.
It’s No One Day
If
you are a fan of the book One Day and wish for more of the same kind of
writing, if not necessarily the same type of story, this book might not
be for you. Yes, it’s meant to be funny, and maybe if the cultural gap
weren’t so wide, then there would be more appreciation for the novel in
this review, but whatever the reason, it still feels like it was written
by a totally different writer.
Bookshelf Meter: 2 stars
Bookshelf Meter:
1 star – Don’t even bother.
2 stars – Since there’s nothing else to read…
3 stars – Worth a borrowing from a friend, but not buying your own
4 stars – Deserves a spot on your nightstand.
5 stars – Grab this book now and forget the one you’re reading!
Available at Fully Booked and National Book Store Bestsellers.
Got a question or comment for Olivia? Email her at threeolivias@yahoo.com.
Olivia
Yao has been writing ever since she can remember. She has written for
health, teen, parenting, and children's magazines. Her latest endeavor
is being a mom to her three-year-old daughter—her toughest assignment
yet.
