Novels that are told in a single day- circadian novels- are an interesting type of read that can focus intently on one moment in time, or perhaps follow one person through their own 24 hours on earth.
One of the most famous circadian novels is Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in which Ebenezer Scrooge faces up to his own mortality and morality in the space of 24 hours. “Not to be talked about or written of according to ordinary rules,” according to a contributor to Blackwood’s magazine in 1844.
Here we have collated seven of the most fascinating of the novels set in one day.
Happy reading!
The Sun Is Also A Star – Nicola Yoon
Follow Daniel and Natasha as they fall in love in under 24 hours. for some this ‘instalove’ is not realistic but for hopeless romantics it is what they yearn for. Yoon is a hopeless romantic and her writing brings this couple to life in such a way that even the hardest of heart wants them to figure out they are destined for each other.
Natasha is a woman of science and facts while Daniel is a dreamer and a poet, fighting to pull away from his parents’ high expectations, and while this is a book about romance and love, it is also a fight for recognition and issues faced by immigrants on a daily basis.
A Single Man – Christopher Isherwood
This heartbreaking reflection on loss is a novel that will stay with you forever. It follows George who, after the sudden loss of his partner, keeps a hold of small moments of joy in his daily life despite the overwhelming feeling of loneliness he is living with. The fact George is a gay man does not drive the story, which makes it all the more special for many readers. George is written as a human being, not a one dimensional character, and the wry reflections and humour threaded through the book is relatable and heart-rending.
The Dinner – Herman Koch
This dark and controversial novel is set in one evening and involves two families as they attempt to have a meal together with a shadow hanging over them involving their teenage sons.
The story examines what is expected of a ‘genteel society’, and shines a light through the cracks that can show beneath the surface of the superficial or shallow relationships people may try to maintain. The two families attempt to keep up a facade, all the while holding deep, boiling resentment toward the other. Koch writes with wit and snark that carries the reader through this story of what are basically very unlikeable characters.
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – Stuart Turton
Imagine Groundhog Day was written by Agatha Christie- that is The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.
This clever and twisty novel is set at Blackheath Manor and cycles one single day where Evelyn Hardcastle dies time and time again. Aiden Bishop wakes up over and over again every single day in the body of a different guest at the Manor, and to break the cycle he must find out who the killer is.
This debut novel will keep you guessing right until the end, be ready for a real mind-melter!
The Long Walk – Stephen King
This story by Stephen King, originally writing under pseudonym Richard Bachman, is set in the recent future where America is a police state. On the first day in May every year, 100 teenage boys are put in a race called The Long Walk and the winner will be awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life.
The 100 young men should know the rules—keep a steady walking pace of four miles per hour without stopping. Three warnings and you’re out—permanently.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – William Shakespeare
I know, technically this is not a novel, but I believe it deserves a place in our list just for being such an epic story set within a day. Shakespeare manages to fill the day with such an amazing adventure that it there must be some magic involved…
Full of humour and fun, this typically-twisty love story has everything you would want from a Shakespeare romantic comedy.
Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk – Kathleen Rooney
This novel follows 85-year-old Lillian Boxfish as she walks through the gritty city she lives in, Manhattan. As she walks and comes across bars, bodegas, criminals, kids, and bohemians, she recalls her life and what brought her to this moment in time.
Lillian is a graceful and open-minded woman, and the book has a very conversational tone to it which fits well with her personality. Readers may fall in love with her style and the stories she hears, and ones she tells herself, which culminate in what is ultimately a love letter to her city.
We hope you find some good suggestions there and we’ll be back with more recommendations lists soon. If you want to ensure you never miss any of these, subscribe now.
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