Book Review | YOUNG JANE YOUNG by Gabrielle Zevin

     

August 29, 2017

Penguin Random House

Sincerely sharp!

I won a copy through Goodreads giveaways. I was so excited because having read THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY, I knew Ms. Zevin will pull off another unconventional structure.

I am getting ahead of myself again, let’s return to the beginning…

Aviva Grossman is on her first internship -had an affair with a politician (very much married), blogged about it, and the netizens made sure that she is never forgotten. A second chance is so bleak. Her relationship with her parents was affected, her studies and career were affected, and even her sex life was affected. Until she decided to reinvent herself.

“They didn’t put a scarlet letter on her chest, but they didn’t need to. That’s what the Internet is for.”

The book is divided into five parts, told by women from different generations, in honest-to-God details. Women whose resilience was highlighted through their flaws. Their voices have varying levels that strongly speak of distinctiveness and worth. Ms. Zevin made her every character undeniably timely and relevant.

The plot discloses effortlessly, using an unusual book structure. It was refreshing, absorbing the reader from start to finish. It amazes me how the various approaches helped highlight the noteworthy parts further.

"Life unspools more inevitably."

Do not let the book cover deceive you into thinking that this is just another light read. It is funny and entertaining, yes, but it is also thought-provoking, hitting each nail in the head. YOUNG JANE YOUNG is a story of women empowerment, survival, and the biased sexist degradation that still plagues women today.

Book details:

Title:  Young Jane Young

Author:  Gabrielle Zevin

Publication:  August 29, 2017; Penguin Random House

Genre:  Fiction

Rating:  ★★★★


*Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada and Goodreads, for sending me a copy. 

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Book Review | THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY by Gabrielle Zevin

There Ain’t Nobody In The World Like Book People

     

April 2014; Algonquin Books

A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner of Island Books, has recently endured some tough years: his wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and his prized possession--a rare edition of Poe poems--has been stolen. Over time, he has given up on people, and even the books in his store, instead of offering solace, are yet another reminder of a world that is changing too rapidly. Until a most unexpected occurrence gives him the chance to make his life over and see things anew. -Goodreads

I've mentioned before, I enjoy reading books about books, bookstores and book people. The book blurb described this "as a love letter to the world of books-and booksellers-that changes our lives by giving us the stories that open our hearts and enlighten our minds." Of course, that got me interested in the beginning, but it’s not the reason it wowed me after reading.

A.J. Fikry is the grouchy sole bookseller in Alice Island. A sign that says “No Man is an Island, Every Book is a World” hangs above the porch of his small bookshop. He lives alone above the store, lamenting the loss of his wife Nic and diligently wasting his life away with alcohol. But his rut was interrupted when his life treasure, the 1^st edition of Edgar Allan Poe’s Tamerlane, was stolen. Then one day, a bookshop visitor left behind an unlikely package that changed his life forever.

This is the most charming book. I have no qualms recommending this to everyone.  It is much more than the plot or characters. Some readers may say that it is mawkish and convenient, but it is the sentimentality, simple plot, and simple prose that resonates with the passion many people have for reading, connection, and affirmation of love.  These are the catalyst that surprisingly turned the book into a moving and unforgettable read. 

“We are not quite novels.   

We are not quite short stories.  

In the end, we are collected works.”

Each chapter is heralded by a book reference, a glimpse into the heart of A.J. Fickry, containing a minute review and personal thoughts. The relevance of these nuggets will heartwarmingly unravel itself slowly, and I guarantee you that your reading piles will be bigger at the end of this beautiful tale.

“My life is in these books. 
Read these and know my heart.”

Book details:
Book Title:  The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
Author:  Gabrielle Zevin
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Publication date:  April 2014
Genre:  Fiction
Rating:  ★★★★

*Thank you Algonquin Books and NetGalley for the uncorrected proof. 

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