Aj Fikry Book Club Questions

*If you are new here, WELCOME! For The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, I provide your book club with a cursory summary, food ideas, activity idea, and discussion questions in that club!

Are you a fan of indie bookstores? Practice you lot love short story collections? How about novels virtually establish families? If so, then Gabrielle Zevin's hit, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, should exist on your list.

The novel's key character, A.J. Fikry, is an contained volume store possessor and widower living on remote Alice Island. When a young girl shows up in his bookstore with no family left to claim her, A.J.'s life takes an unexpected turn.

Rife with literary references, specially brusk story ties, the novel volition delight readers who can't resist a good volume well-nigh books.

While the novel might seem a fiddling jarring or disjointed at times to some readers, information technology wasn't until the cease that I realized that information technology read most like a brusque story collection itself. (A technique I'm sure Zevin used on purpose.) And, in one case I saw that, I loved the novel fifty-fifty more.

For such a short novel, I found the characters were still complex and their actions believable and full of human complication.

Overall, I really loved this book and I'm glad I was finally able to notice the time to read information technology. If your book club hasn't had the chance to read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry , I think you lot'd love this piddling book about books (and life).

I've provided book club questions and delicious nutrient ideas for The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry , so if you are looking for book order ideas and more than, keep reading!

Cheque out these fun academic gadgets…

Here'southward a brief summary of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry:

From the Publisher: "A. J. Fikry's life is not at all what he expected it to be. He lives lonely, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. But when a mysterious packet appears at the bookstore, its unexpected arrival gives Fikry the chance to make his life over–and see everything anew."

For The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry Activity Idea:

Have each fellow member bring a copy of their favorite brusk story. Play one of the Christmas swap games and take whichever story yous end up with home to read.

Afterwards reading, write a short note (your volume gild could provide note cards, if desired). Include what yous loved in the short story you took abode in your note and read information technology aloud at the side by side coming together. Return the short story to the original owner along with the note.

For The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry Ideas:

For a adequately concise novel, there was plenty of nutrient mentioned in The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry .

Here are a few of the food ideas from the pages of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry :

The Luck of Roaring Camp – Ismay brings A.J. food after Maya is institute – a salad, a tofu lasagna, an apple crumble
The Luck of Roaring Camp – Maya's non-christening party – Nutrient from Costco including big muffins, coconut shrimp, and a hunk of Stilton all served on Elmo plates
A Good Human is Hard to Find – A.J. takes Amelia to Pequod's – Queequeg cocktail (shrimp cocktail mixed with Bloody Mary) and they discuss their favorite nutrient in novels (The Gulag Archipelago-Bread and soup and The Panthera leo, The Witch, and The Wardrobe-Turkish Please)
A Skilful Man is Difficult to Detect – A.J. goes to Providence to see Amelia – She cooks him lasagna and garlic bread
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County – "Leon Friedman" comes to read his novel – tea and finger sandwiches and booze
The Tell-Tale Heart – Lambiase and Ismay go to El Corazon – surf and turf and gin and tonics, then pancakes and fresh-squeezed orange juice
Ironhead – Amelia accidentally burns the brisket later on A.J.'southward outburst – Christmas dinner of only sides and carmine wine
A.J. also makes Maya grilled cheese sandwiches throughout the volume

If you don't come across something on this listing (hello Queequeg cocktail!), consider making a food from your favorite book! And, serve it all on Elmo plates in honor of Maya.

Whether you choose something from this list or try your own pick, I hope these food ideas volition get your artistic juices flowing to host your book club for The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry !

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry Book Club Questions:

*WARNING: May contain spoilers!

While reading the novel did you realize that the chapter titles are both brusque story titles and relate to the theme of each chapter? Review each title and the theme of the chapters. Did y'all miss anything?
Even though The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a novel, the chapters read almost like interwoven and interconnected brusque stories. Did yous notice this subtle difference in course? How do you lot think it added to the overall brusque story theme and how do you think it detracted from the work as a novel?
The author, Gabrielle Zevin, says that A.J. Fikry is inspired by Silas Marner and Mr. Darcy, among others. Discuss how you tin can come across these other characters and fifty-fifty some of their story plot points in A.J. Fikry'southward life.
After knowing Marian's story, why do y'all think she left Maya at The Concluding Discussion? Why do you think Ismay tried to help her up to a point? How were Ismay and Marian similar?
Discuss Maya'south fictional business relationship of her mother's last days versus what actually happened. How do you think Maya's story is as close to the truth every bit Ismay's? Have you lot always tried non simply seeing a story from someone else's perspective, but as well writing one? How do you call up that is different?
A.J. has an burst when his mother gives him an eastward-reader and declares that it will single-handedly destroy literary culture. Amelia has a more than balanced view. What are your feelings about e-readers and e-books. Do you like them? How do you think they are changing the literary earth for good or sick?
Were you surprised to find out what happened to Tamerlane ? In the end, Tamerlane concluded upwardly saving A.J.'s life twice. Discuss Ismay's and Lambiase'southward deportment in both cases.
A.J. prides himself in beingness an intellectual, simply in the end his brain betrays him, and then to speak. What did yous call up well-nigh the ending? Discuss other possible endings to the novel.
Lambiase isn't a reader until he stumbles upon the right books for him. Then, he's open to reading more widely. Does it thing what someone reads as long equally it fosters a love for reading? Have you had a similar feel?
A.J. loses something valuable ( Tamerlane ) and gains something invaluable (Maya). Even though Tamerlane is returned, we never actually get A.J.'due south thoughts on everything. How do you call up he felt about the situation, about Ismay and Daniel, near Maya after he found out?

Have you lot read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry ? What did you think? Did information technology satisfy you lot or were you left wishing for more than? What are some similar books you've read?

Until next time, Happy Reading!

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Bookish gifts for yous or your reader friends!