The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry was on the recommended book list a while back. I finally found the time to read it.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin Published by Algonquin Books on December 2nd 2014
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 288
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A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. He lives alone, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. But when a mysterious package appears at the bookstore, its unexpected arrival gives Fikry the chance to make his life over--and see everything anew.
And I’m so glad I did.
This book was delightful, and I’m not one to use the word delightful often. 🙂 It was witty, and smart, and funny. I read this on the road and found myself laughing out loud (to sideways glances from my husband). The dialogue is clever and funny. The characters are interesting, and you grow to really care about them, and want what’s best for them.
Each chapter starts with a “note” from the main character to his daughter about a specific book. The chapter ends up having to do with the book or the theme of the book. You don’t really know until the end what the deal is with the notes at the beginning… but it makes total sense when it’s revealed.
I found myself bookmarking kindle pages so I could find certain passages again. The way the author creates such emotion and insight into the character with word choices, and phrasing, was quite wonderful. Here’s one I particularly liked.
A.J. watches Maya in her pink party dress, and he feels a vaguely familiar, slightly intolerable bubbling inside him. He wants to laugh out loud or punch a wall. He feels drunk or at least carbonated. Insane. At first, he thinks this is happiness, but then he determines it’s love. Fucking love, he thinks. What a bother. It’s completely gotten in the way of his plans to drink himself to death, to drive his business to ruin.
This was a quick, fun read. It’s also a Kindle Unlimited book, so if you’re a member, it’s definitely one I’d grab for free. 🙂
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I adored this book, too. I was so impressed by the author’s knowledge of literature, and I loved how she wove the stories into the story of A.J. Fikry’s life.
@deb_atwood from
Pen In Her Hand