![The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/f/241/068/9780670068241.PE.0.m.jpg)
![The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/f/241/068/9780670068241.PE.0.m.jpg)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
by Zevin, Gabrielle
- Used
- Very Good
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Very Good/Very Good
- ISBN 10
- 0670068241
- ISBN 13
- 9780670068241
- Seller
-
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Toronto, ON: Viking Canada, 2014. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Clean, tight, unmarked; absolute minimal wear; A.J. Fikry's life is not al 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.An then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore - an unexpected arrival that gives A.J the opportunity to make his life over. As surprising as it is moving, this is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.
Reviews
On Aug 9 2014, CloggieDownunder said:
The Collected Works of A.J.Fikry (aka The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry) is the fifth stand-alone novel by American author, Gabrielle Zevin. Alice Island, a New England summer destination requiring bus and ferry travel, boasts a main street book store. Island Books is owned by recent widower, A.J.Fikry, an opinionated, often cranky man in his late thirties with a (self-described) porcupine heart. Since the unfortunate accidental death of his beloved wife, his plan has been to drink himself to death and drive his business to ruin. This plan is derailed by three occurrences: thirty-six-year-old sales representative for Knightley Press, Amelia Loman makes her first visit to Island Books to present the publisher’s Winter List (and is treated rather shabbily by A.J.); A.J.’s escape valve, a rare and valuable edition of Tamerlane, a collection of poems by Edgar Allan Poe, is stolen; and a bright two-year-old girl named Maya is left in his bookstore. Against all odds, A.J. finds himself (with frequent help from Google and occasional input from the Island’s residents) bringing up a young girl. Zevin has given the reader characters who are appealing despite their flaws, or perhaps because of them. The story has an element of mystery and the plot has a few unexpected twists. Each chapter is prefaced with a paragraph of A.J.’s comments for Maya about a certain literary work: advice for writing and advice for life. It contains many words of wisdom, making it, as others have said, a very quotable book: “Sometimes books don’t find us until the right time” and “We are not quite novels. We are not quite short stories. In the end, we are collected works” will resonate with many readers. This book is filled with lightness and dark, with laugh-out-loud moments and lines that will have the most cynical reader choking up. It is a book for anyone who loves to read or loves book stores, and lovers of fine literature will be especially captivated. This delightful read is one of those books that is almost impossible to put down and most readers will be sorry to reach the end. A keeper.
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Werdz Quality Used Books
(CA)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 003711
- Title
- The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
- Author
- Zevin, Gabrielle
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- 1st Edition 1st Printing
- ISBN 10
- 0670068241
- ISBN 13
- 9780670068241
- Publisher
- Viking Canada
- Place of Publication
- Toronto, ON
- Date Published
- 2014
- Keywords
- FICTION BOOKSTORE OWNERS READING BOOKS LOVE
Terms of Sale
Werdz Quality Used Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Werdz Quality Used Books
Biblio member since 2021
Winnipeg, Manitoba
About Werdz Quality Used Books
All prices are in Canadian dollars. Payment can be by credit card through Biblio. Other options include money orders or personal checks in U.S. or Canadian funds only. Books will be held for 2 weeks pending receipt of payment. We use Brodart dust jacket protectors for books$19.50 and over.We pack well and ship promptly. PLEASE include your email address and phone number in all correspondence. Cheques can be made out to Werdz Quality Used Books, 337 Maplewood Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 1A8, Canada. If you are dissatisfied with the purchase for any reason, return your purchase within 14 days of receipt for a full refund of the purchase price. Please include the packing slip and indicate the reason for your return. Sorry, we do not refund the cost shipping.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.