The Expression Hub

Author:Gabrielle Zevin

Genre: Contemporary/Drama

“No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again.”

Buddha

I am glad to announce that we turned five! Yes, you read it right. The Expression Hub is 5 years old. I am super grateful and super thankful to everyone who has been a part of this journey. This is because without you, this would not have been possible. It is your love, your motivation and your kind words which makes this journey worth the grind and effort. It is okay that maybe we are not as big as a family but you know what each one of you is valuable and inspiring in your own manner. It is your faith and belief in me which maybe keeps me on my toes and makes me put my best foot forward. So, yes cheers to even more milestones as I personally feel we have more milestones to achieve and keep the journey going no matter how drudging it might seem . The reason is simple- accountability to you readers and subscribers should always be a topmost priority because it is you who makes or breaks a person. So, with this thought always in the back of my mind, I do try my best not to compromise on the quality of my work and will never do so. I might be a little tardy on meeting the deadlines which I do feel guilty about thanks to my schedule but with my opinion and picks you will never have to face such an issue.

  Time truly flies and when your blog turns a year older, you do feel proud somewhere of the work you are putting in . You do have a feeling as if the thing which you gave birth to (though inanimate in this manner) is growing and you are like a proud mother watching your kid grow and reach new milestones and heights in life. And though I might not be a mother yet to a real kid, but this is my baby and it does feel good when you see your baby take strides.

Well, coming to the point -just like every year, this year and the year after and after (hope you get the vibe😝) I will be having one pick which is supposed to be an anniversary pick because after all shouldn’t we have something to celebrate with ? And mind you, the anniversary picks are generally very special because they teach a lot and are a classic in their own ways. And I personally feel anniversaries are the best way to highlight that one pick which touched you or gave you great insight. So, though this might look like a normal post but it is not. Read on to find out what has been this year’s pick. If you do have any picks which you think are awesome as well or want to be reviewed, feel free to tell me about the same in the comments section. Who knows it might get featured as the next blog post?

About the book: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikrey is this year’s anniversary pick. It revolves around a man who runs a bookstore on a fictional island named Alice Island. He is a 39 year old man who has turned nasty as he has lost his wife, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history. As if this was not enough to add to his woes, he has lost his what was his most prized possession- a rare collection of Poe poems, Tamerlane. These all lead him to being less social and more withdrawn as he does not seem to enjoy anyone’s company except that of his drink and some frozen food.This however does not seem to deter Amelia, a Knightley Press representative who keeps on visiting the Island to make recommendations for the bookstore.

   This all continues to take place routinely until and unless a mysterious package appears at his bookstore. This package shakes something in A.J and makes him to live his life afresh and start seeing things in a new light.What does that package contain as such that it brings a transformation in A.J? How does the package change his life? This unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances reveals the answers as we dig deeper.

Analysis: This is a book which explores the life of a bookseller who was once passionate about books that he dedicated his entire life to the world of literature. However, as tragedy struck him, it seemed that he had become so demotivated, depressed and withdrawn that the books which were a lifeline to him seemed nothing. This book tries to explore the human emotion of grief and its impact on human life. This book also tries to highlight that with time you can heal if not close the deep wounds which have been inside your heart. This is highlighted when A.J receives that unexpected package and how that package transforms his life completely.

   The interesting aspect was that the story seems to be a normal one but it has been written from the point of a bookseller as well as that of a person whose life revolved around literature as the chapters are named after books. This book also tries to understand the dynamics of human relationships through the characters. After all, what are humans if they do not have people who add meaning to their lives? Isn’t it?

Verdict : This is a book which is supposed to be in the category of a warm, bookish and cozy read which has sad elements with a dash of humor. For a person who loves his or her literature, this book is supposed to be a surprise treat as it has many literary titles suggested in it. Do read it if you are a fan of literature and love your stories with a dash of human emotions. Do read it if you love stories which contain the element of second chances and transformations. So, I do hope that you do enjoy reading this piece just like I did. Waiting to hear from you all about your experiences about the same. Will meet you next week with another pick which concludes our month . Till then lots of love and care. 🤗

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Rating: *** stars

Cite Bite: “We are not quite novels.
We are not quite short stories.
In the end, we are collected works.”

Que: What is the name of the book that Amelia recommends to AJ?

a. The Great Gatsby

b. The Late Bloomer

c. Love in the time of cholera

d. A Little Life