Reviews tagging 'Car accident'

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

71 reviews

alisylvi's review against another edition

emotional hopeful relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Death

Moderate: Car accident, Suicide, and Cancer

Minor: Death of parent and Racial slurs

reverie_and_books's review against another edition

funny hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

A.J. Fikry is a grieved bookseller in his late thirties. Never being very outgoing, the sudden loss of his dear wife left him not only numb but also quite grumpy. Until someone left a small girl in his care. 

Every chapter is introduced by a letter from A.J. to his daughter Maya: full of love, warmth and bookish references. There is also a love-story and tragedy; both of which are told rather (too) lightly. The setting is a small town on a small island with touristy and non-touristy seasons. 

I feel obliged to give few minus points for the following comparison: »[…] he had opened and closed the store with the emotionless regularity of an SS officer […]«. Just no, never ever for a funny themed self-observation. Cross that out and you have a story that first seems easy, with a father-daughter-relationship full of warmth and a subtle grin on your face. In the first half I got mostly what I was expecting from this novel, which was a lighter read packed with bookish things and some small town romance sprinkles. However, the second half left me quite sour. I have a desire to spoil, but I’ll refrain and just drop this instead: It does remind me of YA-books that were popular ~10 years ago (it was released 2014 and recently got a new cover).

As with so many stories there are themes that might be upsetting for you. Take care and check for possible content warnings. I would have liked one.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Death, Cancer, Miscarriage, and Car accident

transfluff's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer

Minor: Alcohol, Suicide, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Car accident, Vomit, Death, and Alcoholism

ed_w's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Lovely, quick read. Really enjoyed the characters, zest, and human-ness. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Terminal illness, Death, Chronic illness, Car accident, Suicide, and Infidelity

Minor: Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Drug abuse, Vomit, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, and Drug use

lauracollins096's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Abandonment, Death, Alcoholism, Infertility, Infidelity, Suicide, Car accident, and Grief

Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

Minor: Xenophobia, Ableism, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Medical content

jessicat10's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Miscarriage

lejanne's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Car accident, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Cancer

emilybacher's review against another edition

emotional relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Cancer

Moderate: Suicide

sglance9's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Cancer, and Grief

Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide

Minor: Miscarriage and Car accident

caseythereader's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Alcohol, Cancer, Cursing, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual content