Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Can a book be adorable? Because this one is.
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry follows the lead, AJ Fikry, throughout a good section of his life starting after his wife has passed away from a tragic car accident. From here, the quirky bookstore owner’s standards are turned upside down as his ‘good fortune’ is stolen and a present in the form of a two year old is left for him at his declining book shop.
What may appear on the outside to be a circumstance that would cause more damage and problems ends up turning AJ’s life into an interesting one. The story is told progressively through snip-its in time from viewpoints of a book publisher representative, AJ, Maya (the daughter), and AJ’s sister in-law (not in any particular order). Each chapter begins with a charming note from father to daughter reviewing a book he has read and his advice/opinion from it.
The book was a fun, engaging tale that was well written. Zevin dips into the emotional side of life without getting too nostalgic or sentimental. I highly suggest this one if you’re in the mood for a sweet and loving tale!
