Day is the heartbreaking story of a family whose already unsteady relationships begin to fall apart just prior to the Covid lockdown. It’s the realization of the adults that life as the family has known it will never be the same as they each grapple with their own personal feelings and demons. At the same time, their children must cope with a virus which can cause death, but being young, not believing or understanding anything could ever happen to them.
Dan and Isabel live in a brownstone in New York. The year is 2019. They have two young children, Violet who is 5 and Nathan who is 9. Isabel’s brother Robbie lives upstairs in an attached attic apartment. Robbie is getting over the breakup with his boyfriend. A teacher by day, Robbie is an internet sensation under the name Wolfie. Only Isabel knows about Wolfie.
Robbie has just been told by Isabel that he needs to move out because they need the space. Robbie understands but loves the children so much he knows it will be hard. He also begins to question his choice of career and wonders if it is too late to change it wishing he could go back in time and make another choice.
Dan and Isabel are also going through a difficult time. Isabel is very unhappy in her life but is frozen not knowing what to do or how to leave. She is miserably stuck in a marriage she feels was wrong with children she barely knows.
So, when the lockdown occurs thus begins not only the continued deterioration of a family, but everything which happens later. And none of them will ever be the same. Violet suddenly becomes obsessed with germs, her brother Nathan who moved into Robbie’s old place has a personality change and has a different carefree take on the situation. Isabel and Dan hardly talk, and Robbie finds himself stuck in a remote area of Iceland unable to communicate with his family. All he has for companionship are his books and Wolfie.
None of them are the same people after the lockdown ends. Was it really the lockdown? Perhaps part of it. But the emotional toll it took, lives which may never be fixed, guilt and blame are now how each seem to cope with a new different reality and family dynamic.
Day is a story about love, loss, change and emotional deterioration. It’s heartbreaking yet poignant story which will haunt you for days after you’ve read the final page.
Thank you #NetGalley #RandomHouse #MichaelCunningham #Day for the advanced copy.
Lisa's Cubby 