The Storied Life of AJ Fikry; Gabrielle Zevin

The Storied Life of AJ Fikry; Gabrielle Zevin
Algonquin  Books and Highbridge Audio - 2014

A book about a book seller and a setting of New England is what first attracted me to this book. It is a real little gem literary lovers will appreciate.

A.J Fikry is approaching 40 and is somewhat of a sad sack. He lost his wife in an automobile accident, operates Island Books, a bookstore that caters mostly to seasonal visitors and a handful of locals. It’s not any surprise that the store is losing money. One day AJ’s $5.00 rare book find, Tamerlane, by Edgar Allen Poe book, is stolen from his home. It’s the book he hoped to sell, and use the proceeds from it for his retirement.  If that isn’t bad enough, one day a young child is left in his store along with a note saying that the mother is unable to care for the child, and she wanted it her daughter to be raised by someone who loved literature.

While AJ is impressed by the young child’s advanced verbal skills, he has no idea what is required to care for a young child. After meeting with a case worker from the Department of Children’s Welfare and learning the process for her placement, he begins to rethink about what might really be best for Maya, and well, himself as well, as he has taken a liking to having the child in his life.

The story moves along quickly and seamlessly. Lit lovers will like the bookstore setting, literary references and loveable characters. Throughout the story AJ gives a brief review of many well-loved works. I loved watching both AJ and Maya’s transformation. Many of the lesser characters are characters you will grow to care about. Their quirks and genuineness add to the overall appeal of this redemptive story. A wonderful reminder to all of us that even on those darkest of days, the sun has a way of shining in if we look for it. Ultimately it's a feel-good story I was happy I read.

5/5 stars 

(eGalley and audiobook)