The Storied Life Of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin.
Synopsis
An irresistible novel about second chances and finding room for all the books--and all the love--that transforms our lives
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 Chief Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who's always felt kindly toward him; from Ismay, his sister-in-law, who is hell-bent on saving A.J. from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who persists in taking the ferry 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, he can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.
Then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It's a small package, though large in weight--an unexpected arrival that gives A.J. 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., for the determined sales rep Amelia to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light, 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 Review
This book definitely is for readers, book lovers, and bookstore lovers. This book is a very enjoyable and entertaining read for anyone who enjoys reading a book about books and bookstores.
The Storied Life Of AJ Fikry is not only a book about books. It has a bit of romance, a mystery, it is a story about family and friendships, and finding that right book at the right time you are meant to read it. This book had me reflecting on the books mentioned in its pages that I have yet to read and those I have already read.
There is a love of reading and books within the pages of this novel. I recommend this book for readers who enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society as well as Bloomsbury Girls and The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner to name a few.
Book Details
Author: Gabrielle Zevin.
Publisher: Penguin Canada.
Publication Date: December 29, 2020.
Genre: Fiction. Contemporary. Books About Books. Literary Fiction. Romance. Adult. Book Club.
Edition: Paperback.
Pages: 352.
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