In the recap section, the H.B.B.C. member who selected the book has an opportunity to sum up the club’s reading and discussion experience in whatever way feels appropriate to them. These aren’t necessarily reviews and we encourage members to refrain from posting anything that could be considered a spoiler. (Also, the views expressed are those of the individual member and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of others in the club, etc.)
The Storied Life Of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
My great grandmother’s name was Alice, and like Alice Island, she was full of character. Similar to A.J. Fikry, the time I had with her felt far too short. Such is life, on Alice Island and elsewhere. Indeed, originally, my only criticism of the novel was how compressed the story seemed, and yet on reflection, I now realize that life kind of works that way. We don’t remember the narrative of our lives as a smooth uninterrupted flow of events, but rather more like a multitude of jump cuts featuring a series of enduring memories. Or, as A. J. comes to realize toward the end of the story, we are not novels but collected works. Loss and regret are powerful forces, but love is what ties everything together. It’s a lesson we should never stop learning, and Zevin’s The Storied Life Of A. J. Fikry brings it charmingly home.
