This novel takes place on three separate days over three years. We meet the characters on April 5, 2019: a couple and their two children, the wife’s brother who lives with them, and the husband’s brother and his partner. None of the adults are living the lives they hoped for; everyone is unhappy to varying degrees. One year later, they are coping with the fear and uncertainty of a global pandemic but the focus is mostly on the characters’ emotional struggles and relationship issues. The virus remains mostly in the background … until it isn’t. By April 5, 2021 their lives have irrevocably changed but the unease and dissatisfaction persists.

Michael Cunningham’s writing is gorgeous, but the characters were shallow. They were unable to empathize with and support one another, and focused more on what they wanted from others than what they were able to give. I never quite understood why this was the case and it left me feeling frustrated. ( )

Did not like this book at all. No or little plot. Unsympathetic characters for the most part. Very draggy. Book has tons of description but little movement. Very well written prose which gave the book an additional half star. Read for book club. A few people really liked the book and/or the author. A few people really disliked the book including me. ( )

Beautifully written reflection on how life can change over three years. The characters are all people you come to care for. ( )

First and foremost, I want to say how much I enjoyed Julianne Moore’s narrating. According to the Kirkus review of the book, Moore “begged” to have the chance to narrate it, and she did a wonderful job. That said, why only three stars? Well, narration of an audio book is important to me, but the story is more important. “Day: A Novel” is one of many “pandemic books,” but of those, it probably relies the least on reminding the reading of the actual disease. Yes, people die in the story, but the references to the pandemic are very subtle, and, although I may be wrong about this, I don’t think there is one mention in the book of the virus by name. I guess Cunningham didn’t want covid to be the star of the show, and he succeeded in doing that. The characters are sufficiently interesting; however, as is the case in much of fiction, the children are brats. One gauge of how much I’m enjoying an audio book is how well I concentrate as I listen and follow along. I walk on a treadmill every day for 30 minutes, and that’s when I listen to audio books, so there are few real distractions. If I stray while listening more than a little bit, it means I really don’t like the book all that much. I strayed quite a bit while listening to “Day.” I know the books has earned lots of acclaim, and I don’t doubt its popularity. It just wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. ( )

Day 2023 by Michal Cunningham
What a significance a day makes, 24 little hours. A unique group of family members develops new connections as each person is affected by the hours of a Morning April 5, 2019, an Afternoon April 5, 2020, and an Evening April 5, 2021. Every family member is a slave of solitude, clinging to their own perceptions of inner qualities that may not be fully understood by the others. All must reevaluate themselves and their interactions in light of the physical and social changes brought on by the COVID pandemic.
The novel is so evocative to me of an earlier period of American life when I lived and worked in San Francisco. There were groups of people living in unconventional circumstances who were caught up in the HIV/AIDS epidemic and had to reevaluate their life and death, personal and social decisions. Day is another wonderful novel by Michael Cunningham. ( )