<p>I don’t think Ismay is selfish–she put up with Daniel’s chronic infidelity for years. What’s selfish about that? Do you think she was one of those woman who enjoy being a victims? I don’t. I think she was miserable and probably depressed and unable to act. I don’t think the author tells us very much about how Ismay reacted to Daniel’s death. It would be hypocritical for her to be a grieving widow when she wasn’t. I think Daniel was a selfish person–he’s the one who was always thinking of himself before anyone else.</p>
<p>I agree that Daniel is most definitely self-centered, selfish. We aren’t privy to how Ismay feels about the accident. Part III picks up a fair time afterwards: Lambiase notes that Ismay has let her hair grow long once again. We do know that she tells Lambiase that she doesn’t necessarily miss Daniel - well, other than his sense of humor. Truthfully, I can’t see why she would.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>True on both counts. I don’t think any of us missed Daniel much after he departed. </p>
<p>I think if you look at just the bare bones of Ismay’s behavior, she comes across as selfish, i.e., she steals her brother-in-law’s $400,000 possession in an attempt to silence the desperate young mother who gave birth to her husband’s child. On paper, Ismay is, in her own words, “bad.” But Zevin shows us what Lambiase sees, that Ismay is complex, and the bare facts don’t tell the tale. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>A fairy story where "the prince” dies in the end is a rather twisted version of the genre ;), but I understand what you mean. There is an element of serendipity in the novel that occurs with far greater frequency on Alice Island than in real life. </p>
<p>The “graces” in the characters’ lives seem to come often, and at the right time. There are both the big serendipitous moments–a baby in need of a home found by a man in need of someone to love–and the little moments, as when Maya gives Amelia the wedding gift she has picked out for her:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>A coincidence too good to be true? Of course. But I liked those little bits of magic in the book. </p>
<p>I did an Ismay search on my Kindle to try to find what made me consider her selfish. Stealing AJ’s Tamerlane book is what bothered me the most. She knew AJ was distraught over the theft, but still chose not to give it back to him. Also, on page 65 we learn
Ismay’s character, at least as a young woman, did not show depth. She was in an awful marriage. Why did she stay in her marriage so long? I don’t think she enjoyed being a victim, but I do think she liked being married to a famous author.</p>
<p>All that said, I actually liked her more after re-reading about her in my search. She was quick to help AJ when he called. She brought food over for the baby, cleaned, helped him plan the author visit, and more. I had a hard time seeing beyond her Tamerlane theft.</p>
<p>
My first thought was that A.J. considered Maya to be rare and precious, so named her after the book. The second part of the question, “What does this say about his altered values?”, convinced me to explore further. I looked up the poem, tried to read it, and decided I wasn’t at all interested. Instead I looked up a summary - <a href=“Poe’s Poetry “Tamerlane” Summary and Analysis | GradeSaver”>http://www.gradesaver.com/poes-poetry/study-guide/section1/</a> . I clicked on “Tamerlane” and got this definition - A man of talent and ambition, he gives a confession on his deathbed in which he discusses his regret for having valued power over love. Perhaps A.J. picked the name Tamerlane to remind himself of what is important in life. Love, happiness, friendships, and family are all much more important than a rare and valuable book.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>At one point, A.J. muses, “Why do people do what they do?” and this question seems to apply more to Ismay than any other character. I think she may have stayed in her marriage because she desperately wanted a baby, a family. (Seven miscarriages! I kept wondering if she ever saw a specialist.) Maybe Daniel seemed like the only possible route to that goal, especially on the Island where there might not have been a slew of available men. At least not men “who looked splendid in a tuxedo.” Remember, she was a bit of a snob at first, initially disinterested in Lambiase because “blue-collar men have never been my type” (p. 204). She changed, though, much to her credit.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>A.J. would commend you for that!:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Great find! Re Maya’s middle name, A.J. "tells her how he had a book called Tamerlane once and it was worth as much as all the books in the store combined” (p. 85). I’m reminded of the parable about the merchant who, “upon finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44). A.J. loses one treasure, but gains a far greater one.</p>
<p>In retrospect, it seems obvious that Ismay steals “Tamerlane”: someone cleans up A.J.'s mess that night. No ordinary thief takes the time to do so. A.J. “dreams” that Nic gets him to bed that night but notes that she’s cut her hair, gamine-style. Later in the book we find out that Ismay has short, spiky hair and that she resembles Nic in face and figure. I feel I should have put it all together and known. </p>
<p>For what it’s worth, Lambiase assumes that A.J. insured the book; maybe Ismay assumes that also, only to find out after the fact that he hadn’t - too late to get it back from Marian.</p>
<p>I liked AJ as soon as he expressed his distaste for David Foster Wallace’s work, which may again be a “wink” about how some critics read this novel: “style, no substance.” I think AJ’s speculations on his suicide–“he had found the reverent tone of the eulogies to be insufferable”-- introduce his early lack of compassion for others’ suffering but also suggest that he would not selfishly cause the kind of suffering suicides leave behind. The suicide references continue through Marian, Ishmay, AJ’s thoughts of not seeking treatment. And Salinger. I also see Salinger as a cold rather heartless writer who was also known for his “style” early on and then retreated to his own “island” (though in recent years friends have argued he wasn’t as isolated as mythology suggests), while this novel argues for establishing community and connections.Why is the island named “Alice”?</p>
<p>Daniel, who is introduced in the “Fitzgerald” chapter might have walked out of his fiction, heavy drinking, promiscuous, shallow, self-centered; he even attempts to be a screenwriter, as Fitzgerald did late in life. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Haha, that’s what I meant by “cutesy.” Everything in the book about nail polish is pretty darn cute.</p>
<p>Lipsha wrote:
</p>
<p>Interesting comparison of the character Daniel with Fitzgerald the writer. “A Diamond as Big as the Ritz” was a weird story. I couldn’t believe that Fikry thought it in any way superior to Gatsby.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I wasn’t surprised that it was Ismay–it had to be an inside job and a character that we knew, leaving only Ismay or Daniel as real possibilities–but I didn’t pick up on A.J’s “dream”—how dense of me. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Oh c’mon NJTM, into every life a little cutesy must fall. 
I don’t wear nail polish, but my daughters do. Just turned over four bottles on the bathroom shelf: “Raven Red,” “Sugar Sugar,” “I’m a Fool For Love,” and, for the more practical minded, “Blu.” </p>
<p>Lipsha’s Fitzgerald comment made me think of Raymond Carver, the author of A.J.’s favorite short story, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love." (Carver was also an alcoholic.) I just looked him up and learned that his tombstone is inscribed with this poem, which corresponds nicely to the themes in The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
I thought Alice was a funny name for the Island. It made me think of “A Town Like Alice” which is about how someone from the outside comes in and transforms a town by opening an ice cream shop. There were enough echoes with the “every place needs a bookstore” for me to think that it’s possible the author was thinking along these lines, though I’m open to other suggestions.</p>
<p>I’m enjoying NJTM’s cantankerous remarks, because I do think the novel is in many ways too clever by half. It just didn’t bother me. I was way too dense to realize Ismay had stolen the book. I’ve never been any good at all at solving mysteries, anticipating plot twists or any of that. </p>
<p>mathmom wrote:
</p>
<p>I’m exactly the same way about mysteries and plot twists, mathmom. </p>
<p>Cantankerous, haha! I must say that I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book I really liked that mentioned nail polish more than once.</p>
<p>^ LOL, NJTM!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Don’t feel bad, not even Lambiase figured it out right away. It wasn’t his finest hour as a detective. :)</p>
<p>Hi everyone! I actually read this book in time and am excited to finally be back in “the club.” (Several months ago I had read “The Luminaries,” but never managed to get on board here to comment/participate in the discussion.)</p>
<p>ANYWAY, like a few others, initially I really didn’t think I’d like the book - but ended up enjoying it a lot. At the start I didn’t like AJ at all, and couldn’t figure out what Nic had seen in him. It seemed totally improbable that he ended up adopting Maya, but what the heck – there are lots of improbable events in books. (Speaking of Maya – is it just me or did she seem/act/speak as if she was older than 2 when AJ first found her?)</p>
<p>I couldn’t really warm to Ismay (note: my autocorrect just tried to change her name to dismay) - I couldn’t seem to get past her stealing “Tamerlane” and keeping it hidden all those years. And I guess it goes to show that I enjoy reading mysteries for fun/in between various book club selections, since I did peg her as the thief.</p>
<p>I got a good chuckle out the nail polish name – I enjoy having pedicures, and have read the bottom of lots of nail polish bottles. “A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find” could definitely be the name of a polish. I thought it was cute AND clever.</p>
<p>I also wondered about the name of the island. Why Alice? It made me think of Alice in Wonderland.</p>
<p>I’ve read a few of the short stories and plan to read more – thanks to those who provided links. I had read “A Diamond as Big as the Ritz” before – it was odd then, and it’s still odd. As an American Studies major in college it’s hard to rank anything by Fitzgerald above “The Great Gatsby,” IMO. (As an aside, the current move version stinks – again, IMO.)</p>
<p>I couldn’t figure out why the island was called Alice. I do think the author captured life on an island fairly well. it can be isolating and strong communities are forged on islands, especially among those who live there year around. It seemed to me that AJ didn’t want to be part of the island community, but when the islanders rallied around him (e.g., the mothers giving him child rearing advice and help) he reluctantly became part of it. I can’t figure out if the Alice is modeled on Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket. It is probably a combination of both as well as other island cultures. </p>
<p>^^^ From an NPR interview with Zevin:</p>
<p>
</a></p>
<p>And we are definitely nail polish aficionados in this house. We (can’t pinpoint which one of us) actually own “A Good Man-darin Is Hard to Find” - part of the OPI Hong Kong Collection. I love the color pedicure-wise in the fall.</p>
<p>And imo Ismay doesn’t intend to steal the book. Lack of intent obviously doesn’t make it okay but maybe in a way more forgivable: at that particular moment in her life, pregnant herself, she just needs things to work out. She goes to the bookstore to look in on A.J. The book sits at the table and looks to be the solution to a problem. She takes it (and considers herself a “bad” person from then on out for how she handled Marian etc.) I can see the crime being unsolvable because unless one knows the circumstances Ismay has no reason to take the book. She has been in and out of that shop a million times. I think it turned out to be a unplanned act precipitated by wanting Marian gone and quickly.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Both movie versions stink, I say (Ms Picky).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Me too. And maybe it’s a coincidence that Alison’s name is similar to the town’s name. But she is called “Amy”, from the French for “friend” or “beloved.”</p>