Every Day ~ Book vs Film

Every Day by David Levithan consumed my every thought when I read it at the beginning of last year. So, when I was scrolling through Netflix last night I strumbled across the film adaptation and thought I give it a try since I loved the book so much. I tried to go into the film with an open mind to ensure a better viewing experience. But, to say I was disappointed wouldn’t be fair but I do feel that the film swayed a tad too far from the book for my liking.

My love for this book is due to the main theme that love is love no matter who you are or what you look like. The protagonist A wakes up in a different person’s body every day something that has been happening for as long as he can remember. Due to the constant changing of body, the themes of the book go further than just the basis of gender and sexual identity but more of just the act of ‘being’. Showing that whatever/whoever you are doesn’t change the love you may have.

A soon falls in love with a girl called Rhiannon after waking up in the body of her boyfriend. Their journey together conveys not only more of A as his own person but Rhiannon’s understanding and acceptance of A’s situation and his life. The novel allows us to walk in the shoes of multiple peoples lives, although the film does follow this it feels choppier and the lives in which A wakes up in almost merge into one at the beginning of the film. This led me to feel like many things were left out in order to fit this book in a standard length movie.

Even though the film felt a little rushed I’m glad it did not lose the cuteness and vulnerability of A and Rhiannon’s relationship and them learning how to love each other even with A’s daily identity change. My favourite thing is that no matter how far away A is when he wakes up the next day he will always try and find a way to get back to Rhiannon.

The book delves into the idea that A doesn’t want to impact or alter the lives in which he has to inhabit but also makes sure that he finds his own ideals and beliefs. Whereas, the film only skims at the surface and doesn’t really do the book justice. I loved the lack of prejudice towards one physical identity but wish we had learnt more about why A is the way he is and why he wakes up in a new body every day.

I think as a stand alone film, not comparing it to the book, it’s quirky and full of beautiful moments. But as a book adaptation, it just seems to fall flat in my opinion.

Have you read this book? What did you think of the film?

M

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