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The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry: by the Sunday Times bestselling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

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The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry: by the Sunday Times bestselling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

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By Gabrielle Zevin

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5 reviews

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING CHRISTINA HENDRICKS AND DAVID ARQUETTE

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

‘Marvelously optimistic about the future of books and bookstores and the people who love both’ Washington Post

A.J. Fikry, the grumpy owner of Island Books, is going through a hard time: his bookshop is failing, he has lost his beloved wife, and his prized possession – a rare first edition book has been stolen. Over time, he has given up on people, and even the books in his store, instead of offering solace, are yet another reminder of a world that is changing too rapidly.

But one day A.J. finds two-year-old Maya sitting on the bookshop floor, with a note attached to her asking the owner to look after her. His life – and Maya’s – is changed forever.

Gabrielle Zevin’s enchanting novel is a love letter to the world of books – an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.

‘Readers who delighted in Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows’s The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Rachel Joyce’s The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and Jessica Brockmole’s Letters from Skye will be equally captivated by this adult novel by a popular YA author about a life of books, redemption, and second chances. Funny, tender, and moving’ Library Journal, starred review

‘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

Reviews

12 May 2017

FabLibrarian

After choosing this book for the Novel Lovers Reading Group to read and discuss, I was initially worried that I had chosen a rather depressing and dull story. I’m so glad that I carried on reading; this is a touching, slightly quirky, uplifting tale – one of those books you regret devouring so quickly as you want it to last just that little bit longer.

A J is a grumpy bookseller, passionate about books but not too keen on anything else; he has recently lost his wife in a tragic accident and sees a very bleak future ahead of him. Fate steps in when Maya, a two year old girl, is abandoned in his shop with a note asking him to look after her. A J’s life is transformed as looking after Maya brings the community together and slowly thaws his heart.

22 Feb 2016

HVHBookGroup

Hunstanworth Village Hall Book Group

A J Fikry's life is told in the books he recommends for Maya who comes into his life after being left as a baby in his book shop on a small island.
The mystery as to why Maya is left in his shop is uncovered in the course of the book - and it's a lovely journey to go on.
The Book Group gave it a resounding 4 out of 5.

04 Dec 2015

St Regulus Book Club

This book was easy to read and enjoyable. I would recommend it.
From a sad beginning, the story unfolds around a baby that is left in the community and how she affects the lives of those involved, for the better. There is an unexpected twist at the end which adds to the enjoyment.

27 Jul 2015

St Regulus AJ

Really liked this book. A charming story. Set in New England, a widower bookseller has an unexpected delivery that turns his life upside down. Had heard it on radio 4 'Book at Bedtime' spring 2014 so was delighted to be able to re-read it. Would thoroughly recommed.

23 Jul 2015

St Regulus Reading Group

I loved this book. The characters are fresh, unusual and very well described. Gabrielle Zevin has a talent for character names and idiosyncrasies. I liked the way AJ Fikry changed but still remained the same person as events over took his life and I was pleasantly taken by surprise by the plot twists and turns. I really cared what happend to the major characters, in fact the book could have been much longer and gone on to tell more stories about the people who live on Alice Island. I read this book in 4 days as I couldn't put it down. I also looked up the location of the story which helped me to imagine the characters and scenery much more easily. I liked the chapter introductions which make sense when you get to the end of the book - they got me thinking. I would highly recommend this book.

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