The Storied Life Of Aj Fikry

“Her mother likes to say novels have ruined Amelia for real men.” 

Amelia thinks this directly after a former date lashes out at her by attacking her physical attributes when she refuses to see him again. The quotation is important because it hints at the relationship between Amelia and her mother, it demonstrates Amelia’s deep investment in long form fiction, it shows that being single is a perpetual issue for Amelia, and it calls attention to the discrepancies between reality and fiction—especially the possible harm caused by those discrepancies. 

“In Amelia’s experience, most people’s problems would be solved if they would only give more things a chance.” 

Amelia makes this generalization from her experience trying to sell books that people baselessly pass up, but the quotation applies both to her life and to the book trade. For example, when A.J. finally gives Amelia a chance, he ends up falling in love with her. Later, when Ismay finally gives Chief Lambiase a chance, the same thing happens. Throughout the book, the idea remains present that risk can be necessary for finding joy. 

“I don’t want to die […] I just find it difficult to be here all the time.” 

A.J. tells the doctor this when she asks if he is suicidal. He has recently lost his wife and his most prized possession, and therefore has started lapsing into absence seizures—hence the doctor’s visit. From this quotation, it’s clear that A.J.’s pleasure from literature relates to the non-permanent escape it provides, and that there is a sharp difference between reality and what A.