Reviews tagging 'Death'

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

67 reviews

_kathill's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

startjpw23's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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

4.5

Initially I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy the book because I didn't like the main character A.J. Fikry. He is the proprietor of a bookstore on an island off the coast from New York.  He has specific ideas about what books deserve to be read and what books don't deserve to be read. He mostly only stocks the books he thinks deserve to be read. He is kind of insufferable and a book snob. His store isn't doing all that well. He did lose his wife a few years back. Early in the book something happens that causes A.K. Fikry to change some. The change is believable. It wasn't a wholesale change. From that point on, I enjoyed reading about him. I liked most of the supporting characters. The book covers a number of years in A.K. Fikry's life. I'm glad I read the book.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

rachel101's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

courtsport's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-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

4.5

A sweet and heartfelt read. Fans of A Man Called Ove will enjoy this one.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

expecto_padronum's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

A perfect book. It was sweet and lovely and interesting and thoughtful and funny and sad. No notes.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

clstrifes's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

alisylvi's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

reverie_and_books's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

transfluff's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ed_w's review against another edition

Go to review page

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. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings