The book was released to Vietnamese readers in March, translated by AQ, and published by Nha Nam Company and Vietnam Women's Publishing House.
The work is divided into two parts, revolving around the character AJ Firky (referred to as AJ), a widower who owns the only bookstore on Alice Island. He is a picky bookworm with peculiar tastes: he doesn't read anything under 150 pages and over 400 pages, dislikes postmodern literature, post-apocalyptic settings, and doesn't like mixing genres.
Throughout AJ's life, literature served as a thread connecting him to various relationships. AJ and his late wife met, easily bonded, and became fellow literature students. After his wife's death, three turning points marked a significant change in him: meeting Amelia, a representative from Knightley Publishing; having his precious collection of poems stolen; Tamerlane , played by Edgar Allan Poe, reluctantly becomes the father of Maya, a child abandoned by her mother in a bookstore along with a letter asking for her care.
Most characters value spiritual and intellectual connection through reading and choosing book genres. From the pages of books, love is reborn and blossoms in AJ. First and foremost, it's the affection he feels for his intelligent daughter Maya, who is passionate about reading. Her arrival forces a rigid man like AJ to change his lifestyle. For Maya, hands accustomed only to wrapping books are now ready to change diapers. Although he had never been interested in picture books, he now "decides" to. "She will become an expert in that field." Furthermore, each story in the work begins with a letter AJ wrote to Maya. These heartfelt words or notes in the books encourage his daughter to read. His love.
It was also literature that built a bridge for AJ to open up to Amelia after her past losses. Amelia's first book introduction to him wasn't very smooth due to differences in their preferred genres. After some time, he no longer refused Amelia's cherished book - The late-blooming flower , he patiently rereads, partly to appreciate its true value, but more importantly to understand her. AJ proposes: "I hope you can become my wife. I promise we will read together, have conversations together, and I will give you all my heart, Amy." The transformations in the characters' personalities are linked to the author's changing writing style: from melancholic and profound to witty, romantic, and touching.
The power of books connects not only individuals but also the entire community on Alice Island. In his final days, AJ realized: "We read to know we are not alone. We read because we are alone. We read so that we are not alone."
Here, the Island Bookstore holds a special place in the hearts of the people, considered a symbol intertwined with their spiritual lives for many years. Book groups and clubs remain active. Alice has even produced young writers like Maya and John Furness, who won two out of three prizes in the Island County short story competition. Everyone understands that "a community cannot be considered a true community without its own bookstore." That's also why, after AJ's death, his close friends and fellow book lovers, Ismay, his ex-wife's sister, and Lambiase, the sheriff, decided to stay and manage the bookstore instead of retiring to the Florida Keys as planned.
In Bookstore on the island , The author mentions, quotes, and incorporates many details and dialogues from classic literary works, such as the restaurant's decor and menu being inspired by them. Moby Dick These are short stories by Herman Melville that AJ suggested to her daughter. Thanks to this, reading a book gives readers the opportunity to explore the diversity and richness of the art world . The plot is gentle and easily touches the emotions of each reader.
According to The Washington Post stated , "Gabrielle Zevin has written a novel that is entertaining and engaging without being sentimental or melodramatic. The work expresses an optimistic view of the future of books and those who love to read."
The book won numerous prestigious awards, including the Southern California Independent Book Association Award and the Japan Book Distribution System's Choice Award. In late 2022, the novel was adapted into a film, with Zevin himself serving as the screenwriter.
Gabrielle Zevin, 48, is an American author and screenwriter with numerous bestselling novels, featured in magazines. New York Times as well as being highly regarded by the literary community. Her works have been translated into 39 languages. In Vietnam, some of Zevin's published books include: Tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, the bookstore on the island.
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/nhan-duyen-tu-nhung-trang-sach-3355747.html
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