The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry in Gabrielle Zevin's The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

Apr 01, 2014 Kathy rated it it was amazing

"Sometimes books don't find us until the right time." ~A.J. Fikry

The hardest book reviews to write are for those books that touch your soul, stories that you cannot imagine living your life and not having read. It's so hard to do those books justice, because it's so hard to capture that inner joy of complete satisfaction gained through a piece of magical narrative. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is special beyond just a great read; it is a promise of second chances for us all. Nobody does transf "Sometimes books don't find us until the right time." ~A.J. Fikry

The hardest book reviews to write are for those books that touch your soul, stories that you cannot imagine living your life and not having read. It's so hard to do those books justice, because it's so hard to capture that inner joy of complete satisfaction gained through a piece of magical narrative. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is special beyond just a great read; it is a promise of second chances for us all. Nobody does transformations better than Gabrielle Zevin. She smacks it out of the ballpark right to your door, where you have no choice but to envision it for yourself. Her stories redeem us and dare us to transcend our boundaries of imagination and possibility. This latest novel reveals that life throws chances for change and happiness at us, if we are only open to catch them.

For many readers, the first tantalizing aspect of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is that A.J. owns and runs a bookstore on an island, Alice Island, and he is passionate and knowledgeable about reading. How many of those of us who love books have dreamed about owning a bookstore, and on a island to boot. Book lovers will be delighted with all the mentions of classical literature, adult contemporary literature, young adult lit, and children's books. Each chapter begins with an introduction to a short story that has somehow been important in the life of A.J. Mention of the books and the stories may well cause additional reading after this novel, as the connection felt with A.J. and others causes a desire to inhabit their world and read their books.

When the reader first gains entry in A.J.'s world, the book connoisseur is recently widowed at the young age of 39 and is rather snobby about his literature tastes, persnickety and curmudgeonly inclined. But, through the interaction with certain people on the island that is rather accidentally thrust upon him, A.J. and his bookstore, Island Books, will undergo a metamorphosis that has a ripple effect. After losing his wife in a car accident, A.J. was well on his way to a life of chosen misery. However, he will be gobsmacked with a surprise that puts to rest his desolate plan to drink himself to death.

Along with A.J., there are great characters that populate this book and the island of Alice. Chief Lambiase, Alice's chief of police, is an unlikely recruit to the world of books, but as his reading expands through A.J.'s mentoring, so does the community's involvement. The friendship between A.J. and Lambiase is sweet part of A.J.'s salvation. Zevin's characters, both major and minor, are always brilliantly developed and integral to the story. The characters of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry invite the reader in and set a place at the table. Funny, sad, uplifting, heartbreaking, hopeful. Your emotions will be spent loving and living this story. I'm reminded of a line from the movie Moulin Rouge, where the writer states, "The greatest thing, you'll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved . . . in return." I believe this quote encapsulates the essence of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. ...more

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Feb 25, 2014 Ami rated it liked it

I have very mixed feelings about this book. Was I aware, the entire time I was reading, that my bookish sensibilities were being manipulated by a master? Yes, yes I was. Did I care particularly? No, I did not.

This book, set in a small, remote bookstore helmed by a grumpy-but-with-a-soft-center bookseller, played me life a fiddle. We all learn something about the elevating nature of literature. We all learn something about the way life isn't always fair. We all cheer for the small town bookstore ...more

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Apr 18, 2014 Shannon rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, read-in-2014, audio-excellence

(4.5 Stars) Early in my listen to the audiobook I was not sure if I would like The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. I was not sure if I my decision to listen over read was a good one. And then, about an hour in, I was just gently, if suddenly, swept up and never came down until I had finished. I fell in love with some of the characters and just wanted the story to continue. I do think it was kind of slow paced, perhaps due to the narration, but that worked for me. Normally I would not like something ...more

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Mar 13, 2014 Alice rated it it was amazing

What a wonderful book. It perfectly captures the tone, smell, feel and ache of being a bookstore owner. I own one, and not a day goes by where I do not think of people by the books they read, worry about what to buy and hope they like what I get.... then hope they still read!

I was raised by a bookstore owner so the lifestyle of a bookstore is a very special and rare urging. This book was compelling....simply wonderful. Read it.

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Jul 04, 2014 Bethany rated it it was amazing

Shelves: humor, books-that-made-me-think

This is a very special book. A.J. Fikry is a quirky, lovable arrogant who has a touching character change. Zevin's dystopian books, the Birthright trilogy (All These Things I've Done, Because It Is My Blood, In the Age of Love and Chocolate) are some of my very favorite dystopias; the contrast with The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry shows Zevin's professional talent and true success in range. It's definitely a book lover's book. And a touch larger than life. ...more

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Apr 07, 2014 Marion Hale rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-review, netgalley, for-booklovers, literary-references

As a book lover, I loved this book! It might even be my new favourite book - although that is a big call.

The novel starts with A.J. Fikry as a recently widowed bookshop owner who has very ingrained ideas about what constitutes a good book. Since his wife died, A.J. has been flirting with alcoholism and not much else. One night, after a messy binge, he wakes up to find a priceless book has been taken from his apartment. Feeling like he has nothing left to lose, he leaves his bookshop unlocked wh ...more

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Dec 16, 2013 Davida Chazan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, contemporary, 2014, fiction, coming-of-age, literary

The curmudgeonly A.J Fikry is an unlikely character to own the only bookstore on a New England island, but all that begins to change when someone leaves a 25-month-old baby girl in his store. Read my review of this lovely novel here https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2014/03/2... ...more

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Mar 04, 2014 Walker rated it it was amazing

I love Gabrielle Zevin, and could not wait to read this. It did not disappoint. This is a beautiful ode to books and reading, and I loved it. Read it!

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Feb 21, 2014 Suzanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

I read this in one sitting - once I started, I couldn't stop. The title character, A.J., owns Island Books, a bookstore in a small town. Over the course of the book we see him recover from lost love and develop new relationships. He discusses books with everyone (occupational hazard), even the chief of police. The annotations that accompany each of the short stories he writes about reveal his attitude about life, love, and literature. A.J. is such a prickly hedgehog at the beginning of the story ...more

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Apr 06, 2014 Leslie Basney rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I thought I loved Zevin's YA fiction as much as I could but thus but upped the ante. A wonderful book especially for booksellers. Perfection. ...more

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Jan 22, 2014 Husnah Naim rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Everyone who love books should read this.It's heartwarming and uplifting :) ...more

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Feb 22, 2014 Tracy rated it it was amazing

The best Zevin book since Elsewhere. A delightful study of a small town bookseller, grumpy after his wife dies, and the joy that books, readers, and a surprise package left in his store bring him. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry effectively bursts with love for books and reading and is a must for all book addicts.

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Jan 30, 2014 Patrick Nichol rated it it was amazing

This wonderful novel is Indigo's Spotlight pick for April. It's a heart-warming story of a lonely bookseller, his adopted daughter and a shared love of books.
Toss in some bookseller insider baseball, a love story and a mystery and it's a guaranteed book club favourite. ...more

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Mar 26, 2014 Reeca Elliott rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book

This was a great book! I loved all the characters and especially the setting. For a bibliophile, it doesn't get any better than a bookstore. This would make a fabulous romantic comedy movie. I laughed out loud and caught myself grinning as I was reading. ...more

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Feb 14, 2014 Don rated it it was amazing

This is a love story about book sellers for book lovers. My favorite, if sentimental, read of the new year. I was amused, touched, and nearly cried.

No Man Is An Island; Every Book Is A World.

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