“People forget facts. But they remember stories.” —Joseph Campbell
You can say that again, Joseph. These days I’m struggling to remember stuff. Facts keep escaping me. What I wouldn’t give for a long winter’s nap right about now. Since my waking hours aren’t shrinking, I’ll have to settle (not settle) for a really great story. Fortunately, I discovered The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife. I was enticed by comparisons to A Man Called Ove. I’m happy to report Anna Johnston’s debut novel about a man called Fred was up to Backman snuff.
At 82, I hope I’m not down on my luck. Poor Fred finds himself in dire straits as he can no longer cover rent in the wake of his dearly departed’s monumental medical bills. Imagine Fred’s surprise (and guilt-ridden delight) when he passes for a nursing home resident named Bernard. Unlike his doppelgänger, Fred is upbeat and uniquely kind. Not only does he mend Bernard’s walls, but he manages to improve the lives of people all around him. At 82, I hope I demonstrate Fred’s propensity to love without conditions. And to frankly forgive. I’m so glad I met him—you should meet him too. I’m with author Richard Roper: The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is “the warm hug of a novel we all need in our lives.”
P.S. Now I want to read Miss Benson’s Beetle again.
Posted by Tracy