The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
Ratings264
Average rating3.9
An ordinary storyline wonderfully told.
I've finished this one in almost one sitting.
An easy read for an easy summer day or a cold winter night when you don't feel like working too hard at your reading. It has both clichéd and heartwarming moments, fun for all the literary references which act as plot devices. It certainly puts reading front and center, and divides the world into the good (those who read) and everyone else. It has a #MeToo subplot that is critical to the main plot, but it was written in 2014 and it certainly does not tackle such hard issues (the consequences of a minor star author enjoying plucking the fruits of his minor fame, and the consequences he sows all around him). I admit it made me smile and chuckle out loud and cry—it definitely pulled my strings. I did not love the writing style, but it certainly did not drag. Another reader suggested it might be made into a Meg Ryan / Tom Hanks romcom á la Sleepless in Seattle, and I wholly agree - there's nothing wrong with indulging in the occasional cream-filled chocolate, is there?
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry ini berbeda dgn buku fiksi lain yg pernah kubaca. Buku ini sebenarnya contemporary yang cukup “ringan” dibanding bacaanku yang lain, namun issue yg diangkat cukup menyenangkan untuk dibaca.
Hidup A.J. Fikry jauh dari yang diharapkannya. Istrinya meninggal, penjualan di toko bukunya merosot tajam. A.J. dari dulu memang nyentrik namun seyelah istrinya meninggal dai menjadi orang yg sinis. Tetapi kemudian sebuah paket misterius muncul di tokonya. Paket itu kecil, meski bobotnya lumayan. Kemunculannya memberi A.J. kesempatan untuk membuat hidupnya lebih baik dan melihat semua hal dengan perspektif berbeda.
Buku ini layak mendapat 4 bintang, buatku cukup menyenangkan untuk dibaca kisah hidup A.J. Fikry ini. Walau “ringan” isinya cukup membuatku melihat hal2 dlm perspektif berbeda.
I loved this quaint story about A.J. Fikry. I love the plot and the story. Makes me want to pick up some more novels by the author!
“We aren't the things we collect, acquire, read. We are, for as long as we are here, only love. The things we loved. The people we loved. And these, I think these really do live on.”
This quote is everything - a true gem of a book
I have confused feeling about this book. I started off super hesitant to read it, fell into the groove eventually with a smile on my face, and ended it feeling somewhat... ‘meh'.
A.J. Fikry is going through a rough patch in his life, and that is stating it mildly. The author definitely highlights how the character's life has almost hit bottom, yet everything changes when a baby is left in his store. Now, while I ended up liking how things turned out after the inclusion of Maya, I thought this point of change was done rather quickly. A grouchy old man persona turns into someone rather caring and willing to change in an instant! It is also true that time skips and spaces are not really mentioned outright, but do happen, so that may account for the rapid change here, but then begs the question of why many other aspects are so slow. Honestly, the timing and pacing really threw me off. Keeping the ages of the characters correct is rather difficult.
There are some wonderful characters here, most definable and set apart. A.J. Fikry may be hard for some readers to like, but he is definitely relate-able. Maya is the idealistic child that rarely exists, but she makes for a good store. The side characters, for the most part, have charm and make this book feel quite cozy.
The plot though is rather beautiful and wonderfully written, although not dramatic, so I wouldn't recommend this to fans of action or intrigue. This is a book of subtle pleasures, giving the reader a slice of A.J. Fikry's life and of those around him. One might compare this to the Studio Ghibli movie, Kiki's Delivery Service, where nothing truly happens, but everything changes. There is no sinister plot of villain, just an aging book seller on a small island who gets a second chance at life.
This book may be more effective if given to someone who needs reassurance that life is full of second chances and the possibility of change is always there.
Outstanding book
Hands down, one of my top ten favorite books. Every character felt relatable and every chapter was heartfelt and intriguing. It had none of the elements I hate (neatly packaged ending, fantastical situations, unrealistic relationships) but was chock full of LIFE. Imperfect, frustrating, sad, life. I could picture myself as several of the characters, and found myself emotionally invested in all of them. Highly, highly, recommended!
Very cute, good if you need some fluff. I liked the short story recommendations/synopses more than the story itself tbh; the characters are pretty flat and I was never emotionally invested in them. I reread this because the book was on my shelf but I realize that I only kept it for the short story rec.s and not cause I felt it merited reading again.
Beautiful novel. It doesn't go into detail about much and that makes the characters all the more endearing. Endearing is the word for this novel.
Sometimes a book just leaves you feeling. I can't say with 100 percent certainty what I expected going into this book (things I knew about it: 1] It was likely literary fiction, and 2] it had something to do with books), but I know that got much more out of it. It's a simple story, in a way, though the plot gets a little convoluted at times. But this one's not so much about the plot, it's about the people, and the way that — like books — we connect with the right ones at the right time. You'll probably get more out of it if you're a reader, but as long you're a human, it's worth a read.
I loved this book, and I think it would make an even better movie. Zevin has an interesting, almost flat way of writing that is almost indescribable. She does not over-describe anything or anyone, but you still feel like the characters are whole. I loved that the book traveled over time and made it feel like snapshots in time. There's a great, subtle humor to this book.
People who like books about books and enjoy scenic small-towns with a little bit of a mystery will love this.
Why, Goodreads, why can't I give a book zero stars?! Because this garbage book certainly deserves zero stars.
Sometimes, the library opens my eyes to enjoyable books with the book club selections (not specific group, just a title which is segregated into an area where many copies are available for patron's consumption). “Fikry,” which sounds a bit like a swear and which I may begin using as such given the increase in my bile due to reading this waste of paper, however, is not one of those books. Have you guessed that I didn't find the novel “a page-turning delight,” “marvelously optimistic,” or “a reader's paradise of the first order?” The only delight in turning pages was to finish this heap of trash.
Let me explain why before continuing with further metaphors. The characterization is nowhere; there are just cardboard cutouts propped up everywhere.
And the plot. My Lord, what a mess. The “charming” device of using a memoir about a widower to eventually connect the curmudgeonly middle-aged bookstore owner and publisher's rep was soooo ham-fisted. And what's the name of the publishing house of this magical tome? KNIGHTLEY. Good gravy, save me from bad Jane Austen allusions. Let's just tack a bunch of stories together about a stolen, prized book, an unfaithful author husband, a surprise baby, adoption, and suicide. Of course, the baby transforms the curmudgeon (who, let's face it, is unsurprisingly falling apart after the sudden death of his beloved wife). And he suddenly becomes beloved by the entire town. OF COURSE. Mind you, I love old movies, but this Fikry thing is like a really bad movie from the '30s or '40s, all saccharin and nonsense. I'm surprised the author didn't throw in a dance number or something.
This book doesn't even have decent writing to tie together the mess of a plot. Goodreads won't let me quote the exact problems with the book BECAUSE I'D HAVE TO TYPE IN THE ENTIRE CONTENTS. I will state that the chapter intros describing short stories to Maya were soooo stupid.
Okay, I'm all worked up. It's time for wine to cleanse my pallet of this terrible taste.
This book is a hug.
I'm pretty sure this is loosely based on Silas Marner.
Just when you begin to think it's veering off into the maudlin, it surprises you and makes you smile.
It's a charming little story.
A. J. reminds me so much of my boyfriend. (Probably why he asked me to read it.) I can imagine him turning into this grump in a few decades time.
Widowed bookseller on a tiny island off the coast of Massachusetts. I want to call him curmudgeonly and old but when we're first introduced he's younger than I am. Depressed, alone, bitter and often drunk. A bit of a book snob, one we're all familiar with, if not outright identical to. Fikry is “repulsed by ghostwritten novels by reality television stars, celebrity picture books, sports memoirs, movie tie-in editions, novelty items, and — I imagine this goes without saying — vampires.” He hates e-readers as well.
It's a book for bibliophiles. A light bit of confection. Zevin glides you through the story serving up brief glimpses but never lingering on details, much like the shelf talkers that precede every chapter. A bookseller, a baby, and a story about second chances. I should be more critical, but it was just what I needed.
Ben mi çok ruhsuzum insanlar mı çok abartmış bilmiyorum ama sıkıntıdan öldüm okurken, dayanamıciim bırakıyorum.
What a real treasure. This book accomplishes so much in so few pages. At first A.J. Fikry is a very dis-likeable character. Why would I want to read about him? Keep reading. If you quit this book early, you are missing out on so much. The pages are short and the story moves along very quickly. The soul of this book is in the second half. It captures you. Nothing else exists but Alice Island and the little bookstore. It's a perfect little book for book lovers. Some books leave you happy, others sad, and others leave you wanting for more. This book... I just held it tight. It was happy, sad, mysterious, charming. It had a little bit of everything. It's a special little book and has earned a place of honor on my self.
Maybe I was expecting a little more. Yes, that's it.
When I first heard about this book and saw the description, I had to go straight to the bookstore because I had to have this book, only to be disappointed and thought, “I shouldn't just but a book in instinct.” (which I know we all fail to do here.)
The story was enticing. Who wouldn't like a book store owner/book lover/ enthusiast as a protagonist, right? That's why I was so into the book, AJ wasn't that likable, but that's what I liked about him, the reality of owning a bookstore also comes into place.
And then came that day in the beach. To be honest, I didn't think it really was connected you know, because maybe I was expecting more, but altogether, it was a nice twist to the story.
There were also some parts that I enjoyed. Everything about Maya was interesting on how things ended up, and how she grew up to be, the bookstore was a really nice place to live in, it's a bit sad that all ended up like that.
At 80%, I was like, “Oh no, why is this leading to another direction?” It was stirring against the other side of the road. :(
And at 90% it totally blew, I mean, it didn't end up how I thought it would, and I know sometimes it's just better that way. But this is one of those books that would have been better with a nicer turn up. You know, something we can carry on with. I mean, it didn't have a decent last 10%.
It's so sad to be giving this a lower rating than 5, but that's how it is. I mean, that's just me.
Hahaha, my manager told me I had to read this because the character Amelia reminded me of her, which I get cuz she's a quirky book-lover with a broken ankle. Anyway, yeah, it's a super cute romance novel for book-lovers. It's kind of twee but I still cried at the end.
A bit predictable, but overall very charming. I may have even shed a tear or two.
I think the author was going for a heart-warming and tear-jerking read, and it had all the potential in the world to be just that, but the characters were too underdeveloped to allow that to happen. The plot too is a bit disjointed in that the author attempts to provide deeper insight into some of the main character's lives, however, she skips back and forth through each of them so quickly, that they all just remain two dimensional.
As with all of the books chosen by members in my book club, I try not to read any of the blurbs or reviews about the book until I've fully read it, so I was really disappointed to go back after reading this book and looking through the book's blurb which is quite misleading and for the most part inaccurate as it relates to the characters' roles within the story. With that said, it wasn't a total disaster, there are some great references to other works of literature which I've duly noted and will go back to at some point and read on my spare time.
I don't want to give this 3 stars. It's suited to my interests, it's funny, it's charming. But it feels so slight. I kept waiting for something deeper to come, and it didn't.
It's a small book with a small plot. That's not bad at all, if you can fit a lot of depth and substance. Unfortunately, this didn't. It had the setting and characters, it just didn't do enough with them.