Tag Archives: Fiction

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

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The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
by Gabrielle Zevin (Algonquin)
“Fikry is a bookseller with a small shop in a sleepy island resort town off the coast of Massachusetts. He’s a bit cantankerous, but with good reason: his wife, the ‘people person’ of the relationship, has recently died and his prized possession, a rare copy of Tamerlane, has gone missing. Despite those losses, there’s one strange addition, a baby girl left on his doorstep with an explicit request for Fikry to take her in. Zevin’s novel offers the reality of both death and rebirth, held together by the spirit of the bookstore. It’s a romantic comedy, a spiritual journey, and if you include the chapter openings, a collection of short story criticisms as well. In short, it’s a celebration of books and the people who read them, write them, and sell them.”
— Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI

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In Caddis Wood by Mary François Rockcastle

In Caddis Wood by Mary François Rockcastle
Published by Graywolf Press, 2011
Forgiveness and letter pancakes.  Without forgiveness families shatter.  With forgiveness and well-worn traditions like letter pancakes for breakfast  – they can survive the most excruciating betrayals and tragedies. In Caddis Wood is the intimate story of a 35-year marriage and the delicate state of human nature juxtaposed with the natural landscape that cradles the home of Hallie and Carl Fens.

Mary Rockcastle took more than 10 years to string together the life of a marriage rocked by disappointment and buttressed by love (author appearance, 12/13/2011, The Bookcase, Wayzata, MN).  The story is written in third person allowing the distinct perspectives of Hallie and Carl to resonate through the narrator.  Their life flows from present truths that are both bridged and shored up by a history that has eroded the family on some fronts and at the same time has reinforced the most critical parts of its foundations.  The story is perfectly paced and, like a deeply rooted marriage, difficult to see end under any circumstance.
In Caddis Wood is a beautifully crafted novel.  Taking the time to experience it ~ is time well spent.

Reviewed by Krystal Brown, St. Bride’s Literary Group

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