I reread this book recently (to be able to participate in a local book club discussion). This time I looked for the references:
1) Humbert Humbert – pedophile from Lolita
2) Lincoln Rhyme – detective in Jeffrey Deaver series
3) Holden Caulfied – Catcher in the Rye
4) Raymond Carver – short story “Beginners” prompted Birdman
5) Honus Wagner – Pirates shortstop – The Flying DutchmanDid I miss any?
Zevin conveniently provides a complete list of works referenced in the book at http://www.gabriellezevin.com/ajbooks – and I’ve ordered her young adult book “Elsewhere” from the library.
By the way, ARCs are Advanced Reader Copies; have you read one?
Gabriells Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry vicariously fulfills the dream of many readers to own a bookstore in a small town, where being able to read all day and talk about books, trumps profits. With clever references to familiar books and pithy quotes from favorite authors, Zevin offers a handy resource of good reads along with a quirky love story that will charm you as she follows a recognizable formula for second chances.
Both A.J. and his wife, Nic, are literary beings who have forsaken the grueling years they could have dedicated to writing their dissertations to open a bookstore in a small town off the coast of Massachusetts, accessible only by ferry. After Nic dies in a car accident, A. J.’s life follows the usual pattern of despair – until two seemingly unrelated occurrences change his life forever: his valuable first edition of a rare Edgar Allan…
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