In the novel, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, the sense of loss touches the lives of A.J. and Ismay in many profound ways that change attitudes, outlooks, and actions. A.J. loses his wife, Nic, in a car accident, as well as “Tamerlane”, an extravagant poem written by Edgar Allen Poe. Due to the loss of Nic, A. J becomes an alcoholic. He lives alone above his bookstore: “Three glasses later, he passes out at the table.” (20). A.J drinks alone in an attempt to endure his loss. With his wife gone and no children, A.J. is also very lonely: “No, the real difficulty of living alone is that no one cares if you are upset.” (19). A.J. has no one to talk to about any complexities he may have the way he can with Nic. After an appalling loss of losing
