The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

"I'm not quite sure, but I think I might have liked this book better than (the author) Gabrielle Zevin's more popular novel "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" though I've seen more people say the opposite is true for them. This one hooked me in rather quickly, though I did become less hooked a third through, the book picks back up even better at the halfpoint. The main character, A.J. Fikry, certainly has a dramatic life, and the connecting theme through each event is his passion for books. This makes it a great read for anyone who loves reading, though it is probably even better for anyone who shares his taste in books/stories. I cannot say I do, and according to the acknowledgements, neither does Zevin (not always), making it an even more impressive writing feat. I do recommend, 4/5⛴️📖"

"A Well written, quickly engaging memoir-esque tale of redemption! "

"This is my book club book. We will discuss on 4.1. I will alter my review and probably rating after that (yes I am occasionally influenced by others interpretations of books:))<br/><br/>This book didn't draw me in. The writing was strong but the story line was odd and did not engage me as a reader.<br/>more to come"

"Love the writing and characters. Hard to put down. Made me laugh and cry all at the same time. "

"The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin ★★★★☆<br/><br/>Charming & Delightful. I would recommend this to literary bookworms, as there are lots of literary references that will make you add a few new books to your tbr list. <br/><br/>The story is about a grumpy, English bookstore owner, named A. J. Fikry, who has not had it easy lately: lost his wife to cancer; the business (they owned together) is now struggling; the townspeople think of him as the Town Crank; his rare, precious copy of Edgar Allen Poe poems has been stolen; then he is surprised to find a toddler abandoned by its mother in the children's section of his store with a note saying:<br/><br/> “I want Maya to grow up in a place with books and among people who care about such kinds of things. I love her very much, but I can no longer take care of her.” <br/><br/><br/>A. J. Fikry surprises the townspeople when he decides to adopt little Maya, this act then begins a series of events that change A. J.'s life for the better and he starts living his life in a whole new way.<br/><br/> <br/>One of my favourite things about this book was the format in which it is written -- I am not going to wreck the surprise here, but once you get used to it and see the pattern, it's an absolute delight. Also having sections broken up by A.J.'s notes/letters about his favourite reads, felt like a bonus to the book. I was getting additional books to add to my tbr list, this book is full of recommendations. <br/><br/>The book has some good bookish quotes and your usual colorful cast of small-town characters. This is a pleasant, entertaining novel and was perfect for summer. <br/>"

"A little uneven in the narrative at times, tends to jump a little. None the less a charming read much like Mr. Pettigrew's Last Stand"

"Heres a phrase I don’t use often…<br/>This was a lovely book. I genuinely enjoyed the time I spent with AJ Fikery & the people of Alice Island. The character development left a little to be desired & there were a lot of holes- or maybe they would be better described as blank spaces. But even with those criticisms, I would still recommend this as a quick read that doesn’t leave you bogged down in detail."

"Unique characters, fresh storyline, poignant "

"good start, too much given away in the middle, and was all down hill from there. nope."

"I really liked this book! Great characters, sweet story. Not too happy or too sad. I also enjoyed some of he unexpected plot twists."