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A review by richardbakare
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
5.0
I thought “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” was a singular masterpiece piece by Gabrielle Zevin. It’s hard for any writer to craft such moving stories again and again without recycling a lot of tropes and characters. “The Storied Life of A.J. Fikrey” was a precursor to what I now see as the magnum opus for Zevin. Both books stand apart yet share a mastery of human emotions.
What really stands out for me is how Zevin can shape her stories into tributes to a particular craft. In this case, we get an homage to the book industry and creative process. Along with glimpses into the complexities of love in small-town life, betrayal, self-discovery, and gut-wrenching heartbreak that you have to make yourself not look away from.
This one is a book lover’s book that underscores the best parts about the family we make versus the ones we are born into. I am surprised; I had not heard more about it before. I’d recommend it as a great book club selection as well. But, be warned, Zevin knows how to break your heart into a million pieces with no apologies or sugarcoating the facts. You will need your Kleenex close by.
What really stands out for me is how Zevin can shape her stories into tributes to a particular craft. In this case, we get an homage to the book industry and creative process. Along with glimpses into the complexities of love in small-town life, betrayal, self-discovery, and gut-wrenching heartbreak that you have to make yourself not look away from.
This one is a book lover’s book that underscores the best parts about the family we make versus the ones we are born into. I am surprised; I had not heard more about it before. I’d recommend it as a great book club selection as well. But, be warned, Zevin knows how to break your heart into a million pieces with no apologies or sugarcoating the facts. You will need your Kleenex close by.