A review by ankarli
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

4.0

I picked up this book on a whim when I was early for an event at my local library. I was hooked pretty early but didn't realise where the main setting was until I borrowed it and recommenced reading at home.

Fredrick Fife, widower - still grieving the passing of his beloved wife dawn, and the miscarriage many years earlier of his child. Through unconventional circumstances finds himself taking over the life of another man, assuming his place at the local nursing home. Frederick (Fred), despite his grief is still an optimist but is very much down on his luck. He looks out for those who need. His doppelganger is Bernard - sad, lonely, and in the early stages of dementia. Having a mother who was in nursing home care due to dementia in the last years of her life, this setting in the book has a high level of authenticity.

But its not just about Fred (aka Bernard), we see the narrative through the eyes of Hannah and Denise as well as Fred himself. The story unfolds through their stories. It seems that the author, Anna Johnston had added echos of each of our storytellers backstory to each other. We are invested in the outcomes of all three principal characters.

Predominantly the book is about love and makes an enchanting tale.