I read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry in one sitting on a cross-country flight to my daughter’s college graduation. Ironically, it was the same day Barnes and Noble announced they were closing all their stores by the end of the year.
I remembered my kids’ excited faces as we waited on line at midnight to pick up the latest Harry Potter and Twilight books.
And I cried.
Gabrielle Zevin’s page-turning ode to books and bookstores is so beautiful, warm, sad and funny, it will resonate with every reader who’s ever found refuge in either one.
The novel revolves around A.J. Fikry, the ornery owner of Island Books, who is in a major funk. He’s lost his beloved wife, his business is floundering and one of his most treasured possessions has just been stolen. When an unexpected delivery shows up at his door, his life starts changing in ways that, well, usually happen only in books.
Zevin has crafted a moving but unsentimental story of transformation and redemption, revealing the powerful ways books save us. She nails it.
“Bookstores attract the right kind of folk,” says one character. “I like talking about books with people who like talking about books. I like paper. I like how it feels, and I like the feel of a book in my back pocket. I like how a new book smells, too.”
Sigh.
Neil Gaiman wrote in American Gods, “A town isn’t a town without a bookstore,” and I agree wholeheartedly.
When my kids were little – and, actually, even when they were older – we spent many happy hours curled up in bookstore chairs or on the floor, reading book after book and bringing home treasures to be enjoyed night after night. I’m thankful to have raised readers.
On vacations, in cities around the world, we always stopped in bookstores and often picked up our best souvenirs there – novels by local authors, gorgeous photo tomes, novels set in those locations. Stepping into a bookstore always feels like home.
Half the fun is seeing what other people are reading or having someone suggest a favorite title to you. How is that going to happen if everyone’s reading on electronic devices? You’ll never know what they’re reading or be able to strike up a great conversation – and sometimes even friendship – based on the mutual love of a book. Although there are lots of recommendations on Amazon, do you really trust those the way you do when an independent bookseller starts waxing poetic about the unknown gem he or she just finished reading? Those unknown gems are likely to remain unknown in a world without bookstores.
Although it’s true you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, it’s also true that there’s nothing like browsing bookstore shelves and being tempted by one juicy cover after another. Just walk through Powell’s in Portland or Strand in New York. Hours will go by without you ever realizing it, and you’ll be transported to so many worlds, you’ll feel like you’ve been on the most satisfying trip ever.
And, one of my favorite parts of any trip is finding books in hotel libraries and swapping a book I’ve finished for a book someone else left. I’ve discovered authors I probably would never have found.
I’ve never seen anyone swapping Kindles.
Real books and bookstores build a sense of community and lend themselves to serendipitous moments of shared experiences – “That’s MY favorite book, too!” – that are unlikely to happen if everyone’s buying and reading online.
And that makes me so sad.
I just shared The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry with my daughter, and we’re now on a mission to book bomb the world in some way. Maybe we’ll leave books in random places for people to find. Maybe we’ll build our own Little Free Library. Maybe we’ll even open our own bookstore.
I’m heartened by the fact that my one of my favorite authors, Ann Patchett, opened the indie Parnassus after telling The New York Times, “I have no interest in living in a city without a bookstore,” and that the 86-year-old Strand reported its best holiday season ever in 2013.
With Book Expo America taking place in New York this week (an event I loved last year, and am so disappointed I can’t attend this year), I hope publishers, retailers and, most of all, readers will fight to keep books and bookstores alive.
Once you read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, you’ll totally agree with Ann Patchett. And, when you’re picking up all the great books the finicky Fikry recommends, please buy them at your local bookstore.
I missed the announcement about Barnes & Noble. I get it, though – Kindles are everywhere.
I also missed the announcement about Barnes and Noble. Sad to see any book store close. I’m an Expat, and I currently have 2 bookcases full of books that have to go somewhere when I leave. For that reason, my kindle app is a god send. I no longer buy paper books, and that has given me one less thing to have to “worry” about when I leave my temporary home. I find most of my recommendations on Good Reads, and many from people that I know there. Not quite the same as a bookstore, and I still love browsing in the real thing, but a good alternative for my life style 🙂
I must have somehow missed that BN announcement. I haven’t bought an adult book for me in years but I do buy books for my kids. You can loan Kindle books bit I very rarely do. I will miss BN because I loved just sitting there reading with my little one.
I agree, there’s nothing like a book. But my family does swap Kindles…or at least a Kindle account. My parents (who are in their 80s) are voracious readers. They bought us each a Kindle (I think there are 7 on their account now) and loaded them up with about 200 books. Then whenever one of us wants a new book, we use their account to add onto it. This way they don’t worry about what to buy us…and we get the wonderful benefit of sharing our reading, even though we live in three different states. Though I have to say, I was a little freaked out when I saw that both my Mom AND Dad had read Fifty Shades of Gray!!!
🙁 about Barnes & Noble – I loved our local store. I am really going to miss hanging out there…checking out books while enjoying a Starbucks. I too like a BOOK BOOK….I have a Nook but prefer a BOOK.
Oh my gosh! What?! Barnes and Nobles are closing all their stores?! Holy moly! I love being able to just hang out there. So bummed!
My heart is breaking over Barnes and Noble. So, So Sad.
I guess all that’s left is the local independent book store. We must find a way to support these. The libraries are disappearing too. Sob.
Oh, I had not thought about looking to see what someone else is reading or book exchanges while traveling…. We can’t give those up….
I’m so sad to hear about Barnes and Noble! I hadn’t heard they were closing their stores.
Sounds Like My Kind Of Book Will Have To Pick Up Thank you Great Review!
Our local B&N closed a few months ago. 🙁 We don’t have any bookstores really close now!
This book sounds so wonderful. Bookstores are near and dear to my heart, too. I am putting it on my list. Loved your review, and the comment about swapping Kindles — spot on.
I was such a reader when I was a young girl! I have to admit I would love to spend hours reading now too! My 7 year old hates to read! I hope things change quick!
So sad over B&N a friend of mine worked there so I knew about the closing (the one local to us has already closed). I used to love getting a coffee and sitting in there reading. I prefer a real book in my hands but I do have a kindle I love swapping books with my sister through kindle.
I just dropped in to an indie bookstore in San Francisco and made sure I bought a book, rather than buy on Amazon (and save 30%, sigh) I had a lovely hour of browsing.
Wait, B&N’s are closing?????? Do you have a link for this? I haven’t seen it on the news at all!
I haven’t gotten into the ebook thing. I love holding an actual book and turning an actual page.
I love real books too! But I do love my iPad (kindle app) in the middle of the night. I also am impressed with the free libraries people are putting in their yards – have you seen them? They are fantastic and a great way to meet people, swap books and enjoy getting to know people in a new way. They are sort of like big mailboxes. Wonderful idea and spreading….
Oh I would love to read this! I was sad when B&N closed too. :/
sounds like a great read and your right you cannot swap Kindles.
The local bookstores are, I think – I hope, making a comeback. My favorite places in their world are those small shops with their old, musty book smells and the occasional espresso machine.
And thanks for mentioning Powell’s! That place is better than anything Disney ever cooked up, as far as I’m concerned!!
Loved this book. It is so much more than just a story about a book store. It is about the human experience that we are blessed to live. I found out about this book when I met a friend for lunch. She was embarrassed to find her crying gently at the table. She informed me that she had just then finished reading this book. She shoved it at me commanding me to read it. I did. I loved it – you will, too! Enjoy – a MUST READ!
The closing sucks! Tucson is so fortunate to have not only Indy bookstores but one of the 10 remaining feminist bookstores in the country. The megastores killed the Indy bookstores, and now ebooks kill the megastore. I am going to go buy a hardback.
There is a wonderful book store in my home city of Winnipeg – McNally and Robinson Bookstores. Their display of books is enticing and they support local writers. They also offer community classes and musical entertainment in their restaurant. Your post reminded me of the event they held in a local park for the launch of one of the Harry Potter books, complete with people dressed as Harry Potter characters and Diagon Alley. I love discovering unique bookstores in places I visit.
So sad that B&N is closing:<(. I am going to buy this book….thanks for the tip!
This sounds like a wonderful book. I think I can honestly say that I’ve spent a fair portion of my life in book stores…
B & N is not closing all their stores … where did that come from? That said, I’m at BEA now; it is wonderful! I read the A.J. Fikry book last week; it is charming. And, I feel so fortunate to live in a city that supports its independent bookstore so beautifully (Books & Books, in Miami!). I do not believe books are not in their way out … we just need to adapt a bit.
oh my. i cannot ever believe book are on their way out!! maybe it is the pollyanna in me, but i know so many people with sentiments like this. am going to get the book (thanks always for your recommendations) – and i am going to put my head right back in the sand!
I am not sad that Barnes and Noble is closing. I was sad when they started taking over the world and all the little, independent bookstores had to close because they could not compete. Hopefully little bookstores will make a small comeback and the ones that are still standing like Warwicks and Strand will see a growth in sales. Thank you for this book recommendation! Going on a vacation in a month and am drooling with anticipation of sitting by the pool with a good book. I do have a kindle too and have plenty of stories to read. I swap my kindle with a friend as does my family too. We also share our libraries on our kindles with each other but this is not nearly as magical as having in your hands the feeling of a well loved book, creased cover and frayed pages, that has been read, savored and passed on to spread the joy.
This makes me so terribly sad that bookstores are dying. I feel so grateful that my kids grew up in a time when they flourished!
Lois, This is lovely. Are you sure all the B&Ns are going to close, though? Gosh, I hope not. I haven’t seen this in the news…
Your idea about sharing books above: have you never seen this website? It’s so right up your alley: http://www.bookcrossing.com/ I did that a few times, but then stopped; I need to get back into it; it’s an idea I just love.
This is a great book, I’ve recommended it to many of my library friends.
I too, have not heard about B&N. And I’m really good about hearing book news! Not a mean April Fool’s joke, was it? The only bookstore I had close was the Borders in Lithonia, GA, and it closed several years ago. They never would leave the store alone, constantly working the merchandizing angles. So sad, now I have no reason to go to the mall at all. So. There is no bookstore within 50 miles of me. Thank goodness for Zenio. (And I am grateful to Amazon for the sneak peeks and samples, I won’t lie .)
Thanks for telling us about this book. My locak B&N closed last year. A sad day, for sure.
My dream was always to open my own bookstore, I wrote a mission about it, and even talked to a girlfriend about opening one together when our children were small. But, alas, life got in the way! I feel the same way that you do, Lois. I am glad Ann Patchett did what she did, and I look forward to attending BEA tomorrow to smell, feel, touch and talk about books.
From all the research I’ve done today, B&N is NOT closing all their stores. Some are still hanging on. They have been closing about 20 stores a year for the last several years. The Nook reader may go by the way-side, and many B&Ns will shift to more textbooks than anything else. But they have not announced they are all closing. Their reps deny it. Lois, is it possible that just your local store is closing and somewhere you were traveling also was closing one?
Loved this! When times were tough and my little girl was just 4 and 5, I’d take her to our local book store and we’d spend the afternoon spilling over all the wonderful offerings. Then we would mosey down to Mrs. Fields, get a cookie and milk and talk about our wonderful day. I still miss those days. I think I always will. Thanks for the sharing.
I always know that I will enjoy reading the books you recommend and this is one of them. AJ Fikry is an interesting character and I am going to look for some of the books he mentions. Thanks, Lois.
I have always enjoyed going to bookstores and roaming the aisles looking for just the right thing to take home. While I enjoy my e-readers, I wish there was a way to keep my local bookstore alive and well.