IncreatingA.J.Fikry’sordinary-yet-extraordinarylifetheauthorGabielleZevinhasthrowneveryclichés(老生常谈)intothemix.TheheroA.J.FikrylosthisbelovedwifeNicinaroadaccident.Thesalesofhisbookstorehavebeende
IncreatingA.J.Fikry’sordinary-yet-extraordinarylifetheauthorGabielleZevinhasthrowneveryclichés(老生常谈)intothemix.TheheroA.J.FikrylosthisbelovedwifeNicinaroadaccident.Thesalesofhisbookstorehavebeendecreasing.TheenthusiasticnewsalesrepresentativeAmeliawon’tstopannoyinghimwithnewbooks.Hisrareandveryvaluablefirsteditionhasgonemissing.ButtheunexpectedarrivalofMayaleftinhiscarebringsaboutaseriesofeventswithloveandhopetohislife.
Therearefewrealsurprisesintheplotandattentivereaderswillbeabletotellwherethestoryisheaded.Butthatisnotthepoint;theclichésandthepredictableplottakenothingawayfromZevin’sworkTheStoriedLifeofA.J.Fikrybecauseit’showshetellsthestorythatfirstcharmsthereadersthenholdstheirattentionmakingthemreadthewholebookinasinglesittingandfinallygivethebookalonghugwhentheyarefinished.Thisbookisalovelettertothejoysofreading.
EachchapterbeginswiththetitleofashortstoryorabookandanotefromA.J.Fikrydescribingwhathelikesaboutitessentiallyintroducingeachcharacterbywhattheyread.Thecharactersaresorealisticthatit’shardnottofallinlovewithallofthem:Maya“thefantasticbook-worm”Amelia“thegiantess”withquestionabletasteinfashionLambiasetheadorablepolicechiefandA.J.Fikrythereluctantherowhohateselectronicreadingdevicesthatwill“sendcenturiesofalivelycultureintowhatwillsurelybearapiddecline.”
Thepassageoftimeraceissuesandthebureaucraticargumentofchildren’sservicesareallputasideinthetellingofthisstorynotbecausethere’sanythingtohideorbecauserealityisnotallowedtointerferebutbecausetheauthorchoosestofocusontheimportantstuff.ForexampleitfocusesonLambiasewhoorganizesareadingclubforpolicemenatthebookstore.Hisoriginalintentionistohelppromotebusinessbutovertheyearshebecomesagenuinebook-loveronewhotendstoalwayshavesimpleadviceforhiscynical(愤世嫉俗的)friendA.J.Fikry.“Badtiming”Lambiaseclaims“I’vebeenapoliceofficerfortwentyyearsnowandI’lltellyouprettymucheverybadthinginlifeisaresultofbadtimingandeverygoodthingistheresultofgoodtiming.”
Morethananythingelsethisnovelisno