Book Review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

A wonderful, moving, endearing story of redemption and transformation that will sing in your heart for a very, very long time.

That is what Garth Stein said about The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, according to the blurb plastered across the front of the cover.

Mr. Stein hit the nail on the head. I don’t know how to write about this book without spoilers, for every part of it is brilliant and surprising and beautiful.

It is a tremendous thing to close a book with a smile on your face, when the tears have not yet dried. There is love, and there is anger. There is salvation and destruction. Twists and turns abound delightfully. There is so much literary fodder that it can hardly be believed, but there it is, right there in the 258 pages that manage to nearly span two decades years effortlessly. But mostly it made me laugh out loud and cry quietly and smile completely.

Zevin is a masterful storyteller with her finger firmly planted on the pulse of life. Despite my tendency to make those stories I love last as long as possible through contrived book-fasting methods, I couldn’t put this one down. 10 days, including a painful week where its home library requested its presence for a welfare check. I really should learn to not start a book the day before it’s final due date.

I’d read it.

It really was that good. If you enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, I especially think you’ll like this one. Very different books. Very similar feel.

Next up, The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows, co-author of Guernesy.

Big shoes to fill these days,
KJ