Four days is all it took to fall deeply into the charmed world of A. J. Fikry. A spur-of-the-moment visit to a favorite used bookstore led me to organize the next four days around a fiction novel, its cranky main character, and life in his bookstore on Alice Island. By the weekend, I found myself inside a bookstore that could have easily belonged to Mr. Fikry. A simple affirmation of why we read.
I Went Searching
Gabrielle Zevin is an author I had not read until last week. I do not know much about her as an author. Hers has been one of those names that for whatever reason, began popping up on screen and in book reviews. I went searching for her latest, but instead, her 2014 novel was waiting for me on the short stack of books under the letter Z: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.
You Never Know
Before you move to the edge of your seat or decide to close the tab, I’ll tell you this is not a book review. Rather, a telling of how a single book opened my imagination. And how I find a way to escape into a world that could be my ideal. This fictional story reminded me that we never know what tomorrow holds. People and places unexpectedly come along on ordinary days. Some will be fleeting and give momentary joy while others will linger. If we pay attention, they impact our outlook and remind us of the gift of second chances and the beauty found in changes we never expected or asked for.
Step Away
After quietly turning the last page of this sharp-witted novel, I decided a day trip was long overdue. I like to step away after reading a novel that speaks. A day away would be nice but familiar would also be comforting. The prices of houses have dropped ever so slightly and that was reason enough to head west. Maybe we’d look at a few potential rental properties and drop by a favorite antique store.
No Picture-Perfect Life
The properties were quickly ruled out. I made my way to visit Amy, the shop owner of an antique mall that never disappoints. In and out of each booth and I found myself disinterested. My mind has been distracted and wandering lately. The front counter was quiet, so I began a conversation. She and I just might be similar personalities. A bit introverted, loving nostalgia, and ready to dive into a chat with meaning. Five minutes later, I’m reminded that there is no picture-perfect life; not even in the novels that hold me captive. And if there were, how could it be nearly as intriguing as the complicated, unscripted ones we are living?
Why We Read
Two strong mocha lattes and one eccentric, modern coffee shop later, and I find myself inside an underground bookstore. Yes, it is underground! It was our final stop for the day and was what my imagination created as A.J. Fikry’s bookstore. My week of reading and the charming ideas of life inside a bookstore had intermingled without effort. This is often why I step away and let life roll on while other’s writings continue to charm. I can’t help but think to myself, this is why we read.
Unexpected
The buildings on the square are at least 100 years old. I turn the corner onto Alabama Street just off Adamson Square and the top half of a set of double doors comes into view. The staircase is underground and is noticeable from the sidewalk. I peek inside and find a hundred-year-old basement that is home to Underground Books. It is just as I had imagined A. J. Fikry’s bookstore to feel. He lived above the shop while the underground portion held his loves, his dreams, his faraway places, and his unexpected tomorrows.
A Good Place
It was quiet and the smells of paper and wood flooring with a touch of musty are clear. The lighting is soft and allows the daylight from the street-level windows to splash across the shelves. Spotting the jigsaw puzzles to the right confirmed I was in a good place. Before beginning my search for the elusive books on my list, I can’t resist walking along the contour of wood shelving. The space meanders and openly takes you from room to room. My feet have trouble keeping up with my thoughts. I want to meander and take in the space, but I cannot resist searching through author names and moving across the spines.
“Books don’t find us until the right time.”
This Is Why We Read
Sometimes I worry that spending too much time lost in the chapters of a wonderful novel will isolate me. But then I come to my senses. The complete opposite is true. Books let me appreciate pieces of myself that I haven’t considered for one reason or another. The written word connects humanity, creates curiosity, and finds appreciation for our differences. I have learned deeper truths about history and the human experience through books. This is why we read. Without it, we are lost within our reality and deny ourselves the world from a different angle.
It All Makes Sense
Bookish people understand how a well-developed character can settle inside our minds and hang around for days after the last word is read. Four days of reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and my visit to Underground Books was unexpected. Nevertheless, that is exactly why it all makes sense. I needed to be reminded that books awaken your mind, outsiders can make your heart sing, and unexpected places can heal your soul. Books affirm us, comfort us, edify us, and remind us that redemption is always possible. And this is why we read.
"In the end, we are collected works.”
Stay Curious,
