This book came recommended to me by someone whose taste in movies I’ve already proven, and who I’m finding knows my tastes equally well with books.
The story is about A. J. Fikry, curmudgeonly bookstore owner too young to be so curmedgeonly. He and his wife, both “literary types”, opened the store on Alice Island, a tourist destination off the New England Coast (I’ve yet to find evidence it really exists). His wife died, along with their unborn child, several years before, and A.J. is bent on destroying himself and the bookstore one drink at a time.
But then one night someone abandons a baby in the store before commiting suicide, and A.J. ends up adopting little Maya and turning his life around. The result is a gentle story full of humor, slices of life, and a few tears, as A.J. learns how to connect with those around him. Something of a literary snob, he initially looks down on those whose tastes fall below his own, but learns that these people are some of the best kind of people. For a book that bears all the markings of a “literary snob self-admiration night”, the result is actually the opposite. It is mostly a paen to the power of stories. It is, truly, a book for book-lovers.
Zevin has crafted a wonderful little story full of little people living little lives, yet interconnect in amazing ways to produce a much better life for everyone than could otherwise have been expected. There are no “bad” people in this book, just human ones who make plenty of mistakes. The only real “failed” character is one who is so completely caught up in himself that he never really tries to love anyone else. The rest are interesting, likable characters (though we have reason to fear for A.J. initially) who I enjoyed following.
There is some occasional language, and several unmistakable pronouncements that characters will have sex (off-screen), but they shouldn’t get in the way of enjoying this book. It’s the type of book that makes you laugh, makes you smile, makes you cry, and makes you believe there are still good people out there doing the best they can to be better people. It’s a poignant reminder that our lives touch so many others in ways we could never predict and seldom even notice.
Of course Zevin had me at “man who owns a bookstore”. If ever there was a dream job, that would be it. I loved this book, in this case read by the excellent Scott Brick. I know people who would also love this book. I know people who would hate this book. But I, for one, am glad I listened to Uncle Orson.