The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

By: Gabrielle Zevin

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

The irascible A. J. Fikry, owner of Island Books - the only bookstore on Alice Island - has already lost his wife. Now his most prized possession, a rare book, has been stolen from right under his nose in the most embarrassing of circumstances. The store itself, it seems, will be next to go.

One night upon closing, he discovers a toddler in his children’s section with a note from her mother pinned to her Elmo doll: I want Maya to grow up in a place with books and among people who care about such kinds of things. I love her very much, but I can no longer take care of her. A search for Maya’s mother, A. J.’s rare book, and good childcare advice ensues, but it doesn’t take long for the locals to notice the transformation of both bookstore and owner, something of particular interest to the lovely yet eccentric Knightley Press sales rep, Amelia Loman, who makes the arduous journey to Alice Island thrice each year to pitch her books to the cranky owner.

©2014 Gabrielle Zevin. Recorded by arrangement with Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing Company, Inc. (P)2014 (p) 2014 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"Zevin is a deft writer, clever and witty, and her affection for the book business is obvious." ( Publishers Weekly)

a book lovers book

this book about a bookseller has a wonderful pace. the story evolution was slow but appropriate. I liked that you got to know the protagonist a little bit before the next important character was introduced and then the next and the next. Once all the characters had been introduced you read and appreciated the story but didn't really understand it until almost the end.

Delightful story + Brick's spot-on narrating = glorious

Many reviewers claim sad end to book ... Nay, I say!! We learn what AJ has discovered about life: we are not novels or short stories, but rather a collection of works.
I enjoyed this work in one sitting -- could not & did not want to stop!!

I enjoyed it

I enjoyed the story overall, especially the book loving characters. The narrator just didn't fit the story for me, probably because I have heard him before in the suspense genre.

GoodBook With a fantastic ending

Very well narrated. A warm story with a fantastically powerful and unexpected ending. Very well drawn characters revolve around books and each other.

Great story, but it needed a different reader

The story is one of hope and redemption, that avoids the saccharine wanderings of many books like this. I found the reader better suited to crime novels, his voice’s natural edge just didn’t sync with this book’s story.

loved this book. booklovers will love this book.

a story of a bookseller and his store....even the ending is wonderful. I highly recommend it for all lovers of books. has everything: mystery, romance, family relationships, friends, only problem with audible book is getting the list of books that AJ has been recommending to Maya throughout the story.

Love it

This book is heartbreaking at times, but it is beautiful. I love the characters. I love the humor. Great story. Well written.

Series of shorts equal 1 life

Written in a series of short stories, because our hero loves short stories. This is the tale, the life, of A.J. After an unexpected loss our "hero" has turned into a curmudgeon, a grouchy loaner, who cares not for anyone or anything. Then he is left with a precocious infant. Not only does his life change, but he simply has no choice but to change himself. What a life! What a man.

WOW!!!

This book is perfect. It has the perfect blend of everything. And the narrators do a magnificent job adding depth to the story.

Written so well.

It took me several chapters to really get into the story, but after that I loved it! the characters are fantastic and you really get to know each one so well.