An excellent and reasonably quick read.
I love books about bookshops, both fiction and non-fiction and this lived up to the promise of its reviews. (Although I hate that Amazon know enough about me to create a recommended reading list, at the same time I have to admit that with this book they got it right).
Characterisation is excellent. Well rounded quirky characters complete with some less attractive personality traits making them both more believable and in most cases more likeable. Not that I have to like the characters to like the book, but It is less irritating if I can like some of the people I read about!
A.J Fikry is the owner of a small bookshop on Alice Island, and after the tragic death of his wife in a senseless car accident is deeply mourning, when he has to deal with both the theft of a highly valuable first edition Poe, and a young toddler abandoned in his shop.
Fikry has well described reading preferences of his own (he hates young adult and dystopian fiction, a most unattractive character flaw in my eyes!). Chapters are broken up with short descriptions of books he is recommending his daughter read as a adult, his suggestions include pithy comments that make me want to read all he recommends.
I particularly liked the unexpected turns in the plots that ensure this is not a clichéd 'village love story'.
A great book, I'll be going back to read some of the earlier novels by Ms Zevin.
Journalling my joy in the everyday domestic, particularly quilting and family.
I enjoyed this book. I keep thinking it would make a great movies, albeit a tear jerker.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book. I keep thinking it would make a great movies, albeit a tear jerker.
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