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A review by jenbsbooks
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
4.25
I liked this a lot - another "quirky old person we love" story.
One of the labels in GoodReads is "Australian" ... as I went with the audiobook (I had the Kindle copy too) I was aware of this right off the bat, because of the accent. It would have taken a bit longer for it to be revealed in the story (not that the setting was essential).
I struggled a bit at the start, with the sudden shift in POV ... it's all 3rd person/past tense. Chapter one, we are in Frederick's head, then chapter two it switches to Hannah. There are no dates or headers or insight as to if there is a connection between these characters. Chapter three - Denise ... she is the "care-er" at the nursing home, so we did "meet" her in chapter one. From there on out, most of the chapters are from Fred's POV, with Hannah/Denise chapters here and there. It takes a while for the Hannah connection to be revealed.
The basic premise ... a bit far-fetched ( ... not really a spoiler because it all happens there in chapter 1, and alluded to in the blurb/title) that these two old guys just happen to look so much alike, that the one died and the other accidentally dumped him in the river and then is mistaken for the dead man, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because at least Bernard was being cared for (food/shelter/medicine).
It really was a sweet story seeing some of the relationships develop.
As with so many books/movies featuring old age ... I don't want to grow old.
Something quick and painless ... would actually okay with it at any time now.
Clean - no proFanity. A few sexual suggestions.
This one had been recommended by several on a FB group - it's one I'd give a thumbs up to too.
One of the labels in GoodReads is "Australian" ... as I went with the audiobook (I had the Kindle copy too) I was aware of this right off the bat, because of the accent. It would have taken a bit longer for it to be revealed in the story (not that the setting was essential).
I struggled a bit at the start, with the sudden shift in POV ... it's all 3rd person/past tense. Chapter one, we are in Frederick's head, then chapter two it switches to Hannah. There are no dates or headers or insight as to if there is a connection between these characters. Chapter three - Denise ... she is the "care-er" at the nursing home, so we did "meet" her in chapter one. From there on out, most of the chapters are from Fred's POV, with Hannah/Denise chapters here and there. It takes a while for the Hannah connection to be revealed.
The basic premise ... a bit far-fetched ( ... not really a spoiler because it all happens there in chapter 1, and alluded to in the blurb/title) that these two old guys just happen to look so much alike, that the one died and the other accidentally dumped him in the river and then is mistaken for the dead man, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because at least Bernard was being cared for (food/shelter/medicine).
It really was a sweet story seeing some of the relationships develop.
As with so many books/movies featuring old age ... I don't want to grow old.
Something quick and painless ... would actually okay with it at any time now.
Clean - no proFanity. A few sexual suggestions.
This one had been recommended by several on a FB group - it's one I'd give a thumbs up to too.