Book Recommendation: The Storied Life of AJ Fikry

I sure enjoyed The Storied Life of AJ Fikry.  It was one of those books that I could see it as a movie while reading it. (Spoiler alert: they already made it into a movie). 

I listened to the audiobook. The issue with audio books is that you don’t see the words. So I didn’t catch on to what the author was doing at the beginning of each chapter. They would start with an introduction of a book, which was often followed by AJ’s thoughts on them.  It didn’t take long to put it together, though.  I can easily see myself doing something similar for some special people in my life …

I digress.  Let me give you the Goodreads synopsis before I say any more:

On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto “No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World.” A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

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 Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who’s always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over 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, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.

And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It’s a small package, but large in weight. It’s that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry 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.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or 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.

This was such a great story!  As the synopsis says, the heart of the story is AJ’s “make over.” The people he is trying to avoid in the beginning all are so important to this make over.  We see a man who is pretty much done with life being thrown a huge curve ball that steers his life in a new direction.  As life often does, that isn’t the last bug curve ball that is thrown his way

“You know everything you need to know about a person from the answer to the question, What is your favorite book?”
― Gabrielle Zevin, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

Books, and their connection to each character, also play a role in the story. They also tie all the chapters together. 

I was only left asking one question when the book was over.  Thinking about it now, it really wasn’t something that had to be answered. However, I was left wondering about the future of one character.  Perhaps there will be a sequel, but it really wraps up in a way that fits the story.

I will probably find out where the movie is available to stream and see how it compares to the book .  The story is one that I could easily find myself rereading.

4.5 out of 5 stars.