***This is my first review ever. I promise they get better.***
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin | Published April 1, 2014 by Algonquin Books | 272 pages | Adult Literary Fiction
Summary:
On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto "No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World." A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.
A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island—from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who’s always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.’s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.
And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It’s a small package, but large in weight. It’s that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn’t take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.’s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn’t see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.
My thoughts:
Read February 6-8, 2016 | 5/5 stars
I absolutely loved this book. It’s been a long time since I’ve read something that’s overall happy and also not a horror or a young adult novel. I rarely rate 5 stars on books, but this one deserves them all. It’s definitely going in my “favorite standalone novels of all time” category, along with What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Gabrielle Zevin is known for her young adult novels, but this one does not feel like that, thankfully. I had an issue with Stephanie Meyer’s The Host. which my library cataloged as “adult fiction” rather than “teen” and it really threw me off. The Storied Life is relatable and only further cements my desire to open a bookstore when I’m old. This book also deals with death and loss, but there is so much happiness in this book, that the loss seems right. Losing characters is hard, but this book makes it easy. I will definitely come back to this book again and again, especially if I’m having a bad day or week. Also, there are tons of other books mentioned in this novel, so if you’re looking for something to read after this (though I hope you will be as sad as I was when it’s over), you can certainly find something in here.
Find it:
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