It’s a rare book-reading experience that includes the start and finish in one weekend, but that’s what happened to me with this one. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry clicked with the booklover (and fantasy bookstore owner) inside of me. There must be others who love books like I do and secretly dream about opening a little bookshop of our own, right? Well, the store is here. In this book.
Throw in a New England island, quirky publishing sales rep, sleazy brother-in-law novelist, police chief who starts a book club for other law enforcement types, and a steady patter of book references and you’ve got one yummy reading experience that will be over too soon.
But wait. Look at the book cover closely and tell me what you notice in that basket. Yup. It is a small child with a book in her hands.
So, yes, there’s lots more to this story than the bookshop. Have I mentioned the cranky, snobby owner A.J.? Sales are down, and he’s grumpy as ever. Granted, A.J. is a widower and drinks too much, so there’s a reason for his dark, gruff ways. But then his life is made over in an instant when this little tisket-tasket of humanity lands in the children’s book aisle. A.J. and a child? Eeesh.
I was enjoying the book a lot before this little one showed up, but once she was involved, the story really took off, like a booster rocket firing after the first 90 seconds of a space shuttle launch. I was thrust into the stratosphere as A.J. responds and reacts to the child. The book becomes impossible to put down at that point.
Booklovers, please make time for this one. I promise you’ll fly through it, and when you’re done, you’ll have an appetite for short stories, A.J.’s favorite form of literature. Each chapter begins with a review from him about pieces written by Roald Dahl, Bret Harte, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain, Grace Paley and Irwin Shaw, among others. I’d only read one out the 13 included, which left me wanting to do the obvious—read.
Reading, Reviewing and Ranting 