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The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: A Novel
by Zevin, Gabrielle
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Near Fine+/Near Fine+
- ISBN 10
- 1616203218
- ISBN 13
- 9781616203214
- Seller
-
dallas, Texas, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Chapel Hill NC: Algonquin Books, 2014. First Edition/First Printing . Hardcover. Near Fine+/Near Fine+. Remainder line bottom page edge else crisp and tight.
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.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Craig Hokenson Bookseller (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 044747
- Title
- The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: A Novel
- Author
- Zevin, Gabrielle
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine+
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine+
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First Edition/First Printing
- ISBN 10
- 1616203218
- ISBN 13
- 9781616203214
- Publisher
- Algonquin Books
- Place of Publication
- Chapel Hill NC
- Date Published
- 2014
- Pages
- 272
Terms of Sale
Craig Hokenson Bookseller
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Craig Hokenson Bookseller
Biblio member since 2008
dallas, Texas
About Craig Hokenson Bookseller
I am internet based, and participate in several book shows a year. Visitors welcome by appointment. I specialize in modern first editions, but offer a wide range of books. I have been buying and selling books for 20 years. I buy books, and will certainly consider trades. Member of the Texas Booksellers Association.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Crisp
- A term often used to indicate a book's new-like condition. Indicates that the hinges are not loosened. A book described as crisp...
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
- Remainder
- Book(s) which are sold at a very deep discount to alleviate publisher overstock. Often, though not always, they have a remainder...