Simply Audiobooks Inc.

Leave a comment

Will A Film Ever Be Better Than The Audio Book?

I finally did it. I sat down in a comfortable movie theatre seat, ate popcorn and drank loads of pop while watching One Day, adapted from the novel by David Nicholls. What can I say? I wasn’t overly disappointed but I was upset at the lack of character development in the film.

Although the novel takes place on July 15th of every year, I felt that the audio book truly captured the time that lapsed over the course of the year. The movie on the other hand was a whole other story. Emma Morley, played by Anne Hathaway, was exactly as I had envisioned but I never once felt sorry for her in the audio book. The film made her out to be this big loser with no hope for a bright future, but then quickly made her out to be a huge success. Again, this was a time issue. It moved too quickly.

I was hoping for a masterful job of presenting well-developed characters as Nicholls did in the story, but this wasn’t the case in the film. I didn’t feel for Emma or Dexter until the last 20mins at the end.

The mild-celebrity drunken Dexter, played by Jim Sturgess, was fun to watch, as his transformation was evident on the surface from beginning to end. It was troublesome watching him destroy any potential good qualities he may have had. I felt the same way in the audio book as well. Sometimes I caught myself getting angry at someone in the room when I listened to the audio book, because I was upset with Dexter’s actions.

The film did cover the twenty-three years without skipping over any vital parts. I was appreciative about that. I enjoyed that sometimes the duo was seen on-screen together and sometimes they weren’t. This helped truly illustrate the two very different societal atmospheres they were both a part of, rich verses middle class.

The acting overall was a pleasure to watch, but the story itself was the most stimulating aspect of the film. The subtle climatic moment near the end will have you reflecting on all the themes throughout the story with your own life. An emotional roller-coaster ride that will leave you stepping out of the movie theatre questioning choices you have made in the past and thinking about the impact of them in the future.

What about you? Has anyone else seen the film? Did you prefer the movie or the audio book?

Leave a comment

‘One Day’ Sheds Light On Life

Last week I decided to listen to the audio book, One Day by David Nicholls in honour of the movie release on Friday. Narrated by Anna Bentinck, I felt her performance to be raw and full of emotion. Although she was playing the role of Dexter Mayhew, it was easy adapting to her tone when she spoke as Dexter verses Emma Morley. Emma’s voice was always presented with a certain amount of joy, even when she was down, a hopeful voice one could say. Dexter was very dry, almost lifeless. It was easy to pick up the differences between the two characters through the usage of tones.

The story itself was gripping from the first chapter when Emma asks Dexter “Where do you see yourself when your 40?” to the last chapter (I don’t want to give anything away).

The innocence from the beginning is absolutely beautiful; I felt like a child listening in on someone else’s life, while reflecting on my own. The sheer joy of growing up, the excitement of wonder, what’s to come, motivated me to continue reading on. Although, as years go by, reality starts to set in, and eventually you must face the squabbles and fights that everyone must endure.

You’ll find yourself laughing and minutes later shedding tears. An emotional roller-coaster ride that starts July 15th, 1988 and ends…

If you’re looking for a new audio book, this is one that will help you rediscover the meaning of life and relish in every moment left ahead.

Stay tuned on Wed, when I delve into the comparisons of the movie verses the book!