The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin is a heartwarming tale following the life of A.J. Fikry, a widowed bookstore owner who undergoes unexpected changes after finding an abandoned child in his store. Through the book, readers witness A.J.'s transformation from a curmudgeonly and closed-off character to a loving father and partner, all while being immersed in a world filled with literary references and bookish charm. The plot unfolds with a mix of humor, romance, and emotional depth, making it a delightful read for book lovers who appreciate the magic of storytelling and the impact of human connections.
The narrative style of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is described as lyrical, engaging, and filled with poignant messages about the power of books and the importance of relationships. With elements of humor, mystery, and unexpected twists, the story navigates themes of love, loss, and personal growth, offering a glimpse into the life of a unique protagonist who finds solace and transformation through the world of literature and the people around him.
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Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance present in the story, primarily between AJ and Amelia. Their relationship develops alongside other significant themes.
From The Publisher:
Don't miss Gabrielle Zevin's new novel, Young Jane Young, coming in August 2017. "Funny, tender, and moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry reminds us all exactly why we read and why we love."* 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. "This novel has humor, romance, a touch of suspense, but most of all love-love of books and bookish people and, really, all of humanity in its imperfect glory." -Eowyn Ivey, author of The Snow Child "Marvelously optimistic about the future of books and bookstores and the people who love both." -The Washington Post "You won't want it to end." -Family Circle "A natural for book groups." -Richmond Times-Dispatch "A reader's paradise of the first order." -The Buffalo News "A fun, page-turning delight." -Minneapolis Star Tribune "Captures the joy of connecting people and books . . . Irresistible." -Booklist "A wonderful, moving, endearing story of redemption and transformation that will sing in your heart for a very, very long time." -Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain "Readers who delighted in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and Letters from Skye will be equally captivated by this novel." -*Library Journal, starred review
Ratings (54)
Incredible (8) | |
Loved It (23) | |
Liked It (12) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (3) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (95):
Read It (57) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (30) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (6) |
4 comment(s)
Not feeling this.
Loved the transition of A.J. from a man who only cared about him self into a man capable of love and life. This book is a great read for anyone who loves reading or books.
****4.0***
It's a good, one-sitting, entertaining book. I enjoyed reading this book. I feel this book has strong characters even though the plot is a bit too movie-like (!?). As a reader, who wouldn't like the concept of a bookstore on a island and the bookseller living on top of his bookstore?? I would love to :)
I also loved the notes on different books here and there scattered along the book. Lovely book with lovely characters :)
“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.”
Happy Reading!!
A bit slow at times, but (for the most part) I appreciated the slow burn. This book crosses a variety of genres, not quite romance; not quite mystery; not quite drama. Regardless, I enjoyed it!
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The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry?
About the Author:
Gabrielle Zevin is a New York Times bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than thirty languages. Her eighth novel, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, spent more than four months on the New York Times Bestseller list, reached #1 on the National Indie Bestseller list, and has been a bestseller all around the world. She has also written books for children and young adults, including the award-winning Elsewhere.
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