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The Storied Life of A J Fikry - May 2024 Book Group discussion thread

1 lurker | 8 watchers
McGoohan
McGoohan
May 2024
11:37pm, 1 May 2024
54,059 posts
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McGoohan
A J Fikry was a bear
A J Fikry had no hair
A J Fikry wasn't fuzzy was he?

So begins The Storied Life of A J Fikry possibly. This is the May 2024 book group choice as picked by Quimby.

Tease your thoughts on this tome from brain to page and pray tell your opinion in the thread provided below. And a good day to you.
LindsD
LindsD
May 2024
1:44pm, 6 May 2024
67,799 posts
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LindsD
Finished this yesterday, though I did start it earlier than the 1st. I liked it very much at first, then I just thought to myself: do I need another novel where something bad happens to a good, but grumpy person in America and then they are redeemed by something else? I did enjoy it and liked the style, but felt ultimately that it was extremely derivative. Everyone is flawed but ultimately good, all the loose ends are tied up, and despite the sadness we feel that all is well at the end. Meh.

I did quite like the book/short story summaries and would like to read some of them I haven't read. I gave it a 7. It's a me problem, I think.
westmoors
westmoors
May 2024
9:06pm, 17 May 2024
8,839 posts
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westmoors
Finished this today. I really enjoyed it, especially when A.J. had the book reading and Amelia realised the 'author' was not the author but kept it secret. I also liked the short book precis at the start of each chapter.
quimby
quimby
May 2024
6:22pm, 18 May 2024
6,577 posts
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quimby
I'm going to say I "quite liked it". Probably a 6? Didn't turn out to be a white male protagonist after all (although you could hardly tell, really). You could see where it was going with the book summaries, but I was still interested to see where it was all going to end up. I thought the story about what happened with Tamerlane was absolutely unbelievable and that detracted from the book as a whole. Really? Ismay goes into AJ's flat and cleans up after him when he's passed out drunk? That is just creepy and not something I could accept as anything approaching normal. Too tidy an ending for it to turn up and pay for AJ's treatment.

It was an early novel by the author, and I thought Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was much better written. I guess that's 8 years' more writing experience for you. 😄

Don't regret my 99p, but won't bother reading any other old ones by Zevin.
LindsD
LindsD
May 2024
8:30pm, 18 May 2024
67,994 posts
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LindsD
Agree about Tamerlane
westmoors
westmoors
May 2024
11:18am, 19 May 2024
8,847 posts
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westmoors
Yes, Tamerlane was rather 'fortunate'.
Little Nemo
Little Nemo
May 2024
9:14pm, 23 May 2024
14,736 posts
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Little Nemo
This was a nice change to the rather more depressing books that I've read lately but it's not going to be one that lingers.

I liked the Silas Marner basis of the start but it didn't quite work overall for me. A bit too lightweight and not as moving as it aimed for, maybe because it skimmed over the years. Some of the plotting seemed to be by-the-numbers and the ending felt unearnt. I didn't feel much sadness at the main character's diagnosis and death and the pairing up of the remaining characters felt a bit trite.

Overall it was pleasant enough but not a standout read. I won't not read any other works by the author but I won't be actively seeking them out.

I know it's damning by faint praise but it was still a nice distraction from the dystopian stuff I've read recently. Thanks for choosing it quimby :-)

I gave this book a 6.
McGoohan
McGoohan
May 2024
9:15pm, 23 May 2024
54,109 posts
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McGoohan
I have also finished. Give me a moment while I collect my thoughts. They were around here somewhere...
Night-owl
Night-owl
May 2024
10:10pm, 23 May 2024
45,576 posts
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Night-owl
I also finished

It was a nice read not memorable I'm sure in a years time I won't remember much about it.
Glad it was a library read so it didn't cost me owt to read it. Only time

Haven't much to say about it

I'll give it a 6
Diogenes
Diogenes
May 2024
10:27pm, 23 May 2024
86,167 posts
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Diogenes
This is weird. I also finished the book this evening. A quick read. More thoughts later.

About This Thread

Maintained by McGoohan
A J Fikry was a bear
A J Fikry had no hair
A J Fikry wasn't fuzzy was he?

So begins The Storied Life of A J Fikry possibly. This is the May 2024 book group choice as picked by Quimby.

Tease your thoughts on this tome from brain to page and pray tell your opinion in the thread provided below. And a good day to you.
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