The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

by Gabrielle Zevin

Why is any one book different from any other book? They are different, A.J. decides, because they are. We have to look inside many. We have to believe. We agree to be disappointed sometimes so that we can be exhilarated every now and again.

Occasionally, I will read an article with an elder statesman author, and he will say proudly that he doesn't read any NEW FICTION, except perhaps one or two books by his other elder statesman friends. I find this to be a ridiculous stance. If you no longer wish to read new fiction, you should probably stop writing books.