Publish Date: April 1, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 260
ISBN: 978 0670068241
On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto "No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World." A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.
A. J. Fikry's life is not at 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. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island-from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who's always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.'s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.
And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It's a small package, but large in weight. It's that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn't take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.'s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn't see coming.
My Thoughts
"There ain't nobody in the world like book people."
This is a story that reminds me of all the reasons I love to read. And if you don't like to read, read this book and THEN tell me you don't like to read. Everything about this novel is so charming and quirky - it was instant love. I couldn't put it down and read it in 2 sittings. I loved A.J., my heart hurt for him and all the hardships that fell upon him. People aren't jerks because they want to be, it's a way of masking pain. And the journey A.J. went on to find true happiness was remarkable filled with humour along the way. There wasn't a character I didn't love and they all did what a good character is supposed to do - serve a purpose to the story.
I originally rated this a 4 star and had to go back and give it 5 stars because its only once in awhile a book comes along that touches your soul, and those are the best books.
My Rating: «««««
The reviews made here are my personal opinion. I’m not being paid to review any of these books. I am by no means a professional book reviewer or editor. I do this for the love of books.
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