In a Nutshell Reviews - The Gabrielle Zevin Edition

In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights. I had read Young Jane Young back in 2017, but just recently started really working my way through Zevin’s catalog. These two are numbers four and five for me, and I have to say, I am a fan of Zevin’s writing. Both the books below were heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I absolutely adored them.

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The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Published by Algonquin Books on April 1, 2014

Age/Genres: Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto “No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World.” A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island—from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who’s always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.’s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.

And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It’s a small package, but large in weight. It’s that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn’t take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.’s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn’t see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.

I will forever be drawn to books featuring bookstores, and not only was this story set in a bookstore, but there was a lot of bookish talk as well. Simply music to my ears! This was a story about grief and loss, but big picture, this was a story about love and and the people who leave an indelible mark on your life. I won’t lie, this books left me sobbing in a puddle of my tears, but there were a lot of beautiful things to glean from this story. There were several threads dedicated to second chances, as well as a few about it never being too late. These are themes that are never wasted on me, and neither was this story. I may have wept, but A.J. Fikry also filled my heart with happiness and joy.

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Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
Published by FSG (BYR) on September 9, 2005
Age/Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Goodreads

Welcome to Elsewhere. It is warm, with a breeze, and the beaches are marvelous. It's quiet and peaceful. You can't get sick or any older. Curious to see new paintings by Picasso? Swing by one of Elsewhere's museums. Need to talk to someone about your problems? Stop by Marilyn Monroe's psychiatric practice.

Elsewhere is where fifteen-year-old Liz Hall ends up, after she has died. It is a place so like Earth, yet completely different. Here Liz will age backward from the day of her death until she becomes a baby again and returns to Earth. But Liz wants to turn sixteen, not fourteen again. She wants to get her driver's license. She wants to graduate from high school and go to college. And now that she's dead, Liz is being forced to live a life she doesn't want with a grandmother she has only just met. And it is not going well. How can Liz let go of the only life she has ever known and embrace a new one? Is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward?

This moving, often funny book about grief, death, and loss will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.

This is my fifth book by Zevin, and I have to say, she writes very thought provoking books. In Elsewhere, Zevin took me on a tour of the afterlife, or a version of it. I marveled at the world created while also moving through the stages of grief with Liz. She was only fifteen when she died, and as you could imagine, it was a difficult thing for her to process. Her acceptance allowed her to have a fulfilling life beyond her fifteen earth years. In Elsewhere, people have avocations, not jobs. They can make friends, fall in love, and even connect with relatives who passed before them. Humorous moments were woven between some sad and beautiful ones, giving the book and overall cheery feel. Of course, there was blubbering and snotty tears, but there was so much happiness too. Elsewhere may have been marketed as a young adult book, but I believe it can appeal to a wide range of readers given the nature of the subject matter and the brilliant way Zevin explored it.

What avocation would choose if you could do anything in place of a regular job?
Let us know in the comments!