"I love this part of the work": David Nicholls gives talk at Oxfam Books and Music, Islington
The bestselling author returns to his home turf to talk about his latest book, You Are Here, the smash-hit One Day series, and more
It has been a busy year for David Nicholls. Early spring saw the revival of his 2009 book, One Day, in the form of a hit Netflix series.
Fans both new and old were captivated by the tragic romance of the central characters Emma and Dexter, contributing to its success as the most-watched English language series globally in its first week of release.
Not only that, but the author landed yet another number one bestseller after his highly anticipated sixth novel, You Are Here, hit the shelves.
A longtime Islington resident, Nicholls took time out of his jam-packed schedule last week (19 November 2024) to answer fans’ burning questions in an intimate event at Oxfam Books and Music.
You Are Here is a classic offering which sees Nicholls return to the genre he knows best. Striking a balance between the profound and the comical, the novel provides a piercing insight into the complexities of human relationships, while revolving around what Nicholls describes as a central “preoccupation”.
His previous books have covered everything from Shakespeare to fatherhood to friendship. Now, as our main protagonists hike the length of the Lake District, he tackles the interplay between solitude, which he acknowledges is something to be celebrated for many, and its more harmful by-product, loneliness.
This is a theme which definitively renders the novel a product of lockdown. The author told BBC Radio presenter Martha Kearney that while his last novel, Sweet Sorrow, was set over the final weeks of summer, You Are Here explores the springlike feeling of leaving a period of confinement.
Turning to the subtle differences in characterisation between the newly released One Day series and the 2011 film starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess – fans have noted that Emma now has a caustic edge to her character, while Dexter is somewhat more sympathetic – Nicholls highlighted that the actors themselves had a strong influence on how their characters were portrayed. “Ambika [Mod] and Leo [Woodall] brought something of themselves into their roles.”
While Nicholls admitted that he avoids reading negative reviews as they make him feel “sick”, the author is known for maintaining a strong link with fans by interacting with them on social media and by attending events such as these.
“Meeting readers is really fantastic. I love this part of the work.”
You Are Here by David Nicholls is published by Hodder & Stoughton's literary imprint Sceptre (RRP £20).
Such a good piece. I absolutely love this author!