Description
For readers and listeners of Remarkably Bright Creatures and The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry a warm life-affirming debut about a zany case of mistaken identity that allows a lonely old man one last chance to be part of a family.
“Would you mind terribly old boy if I borrowed the rest of your life? I promise I’ll take excellent care of it.”
Frederick Fife was born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car he’d return it washed with a full tank of gas. The problem is there’s nobody left in Fred’s life to borrow from. At eighty-two he’s desperately lonely broke and on the brink of homelessness.
But Fred’s luck changes when in a bizarre case of mistaken identity he takes the place of grumpy Bernard Greer at the local nursing home. Now he has warm meals in his belly and a roof over his head—as long as his poker face is in better shape than his prostate and that his look-alike never turns up.
Denise Simms is stuck breathing the same disappointing air again and again. A middle-aged mom and caregiver at Bernards facility her crumbling marriage and daughters health concerns are suffocating her joy for life. Wounded by her two-faced husband she vows never to let a man deceive her again.
As Fred walks in Bernard’s shoes he leaves a trail of kindness behind him fueling Denises suspicions about his true identity. When unexpected truths are revealed Fred and Denise rediscover their sense of purpose and learn how to return a broken life to mint condition.
Bittersweet and remarkably perceptive The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is a hilarious feel-good clever novel about grief forgiveness redemption and finding family.
