General Fiction
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
Let’s talk about this gem! If you like the found family trope, humor, and quirky hilarious characters- this book is for you!
Frederick Fife is down on his luck at age eighty two, life has just dumped on him. He’s lonely, broke, widowed and homeless. In a stroke of luck and mistaken identity, he gets taken in by a retirement home. He easily steps into the life of Bernard Greer, they look alike and no one notices, even when Fred tries to protest.
Fred has a heart of gold and a longing for family. He spreads warmth and charm where the old Bernard was a grumpy curmudgeon who was unkind. With a warm bed, cooked meals, and friends, Fred keeps the ruse going, even with his prostrate issues and annoying flatulence.
Denise is a care giver at the home, also down on her luck in life, with a collapsing marriage and sick child. She has a lot on her plate. She finds respect and friendship with Fred in spite of subtleties she notices that aren’t quite right.
I just loved this book!!! It has my favorite book things, found family, quirky characters and it made me laugh out loud more than once.
Fred is so endearing and memorable, I have added him to my favorites book characters. 5/5⭐️
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
I really wish that I had read this one long ago!
This is a phenomenal coming of age story, demonstrating the hardships endured during the early 1900s by immigrants and first generation Americans whose parents struggled to be in America through sacrifice and hard work.
Imagine the life of a girl, aged 10, that required her to collect scrap metal, trash, and paper for pennies to help the family exist. Her mother had to stretch a stale loaf of bread for a week to feed a family of four. That was the life of Francie Nolan.
Francie was a beautiful girl who grew up way before she should have, to support her family out of love and devotion. Her journey is full of sacrifice, hardships, loss, and love in many forms.
Betty Smith was brilliant in her writing, there is wit, sarcasm, and a wonderful journey within the pages of this semi-autobiographical novel.
In my opinion, this is a brilliant work of literary historical literature. The author masterfully creates a rich tone of understanding and experience of the life and times in which she lived. She puts you there in Brooklyn in the early 1900s. Her wonderful depiction of detail allows you to experience her everyday struggles and triumphs. This beautifully written story explores the raw, realistic life of everyday people that struggle and suffer. It powerfully extends the message that life is not fair but you can endure.
I cannot put into words how much this book moved my heart. It is now in my top 10 of all time and in my personal library. Wow, just read it, it’s wonderful. 5+/5⭐️.
Beartown
Beartown by Fredrik Bachman
This was not an easy or pleasant book but a necessary one, in my opinion.
I love books that make me laugh or cry but this book made me angry. I don’t think anger has ever motivated me with a book, but this one did. The important thing, it made me feel something real.
It’s not just a sport when it destroys a town.
Set ins a small community called Beartown, this story chronicles the whole town’s need for significance and recognition through hockey. A group of young men, including Amat, Benji, and Kevin are hopeful in competing in the National Semi-Finals. The hopes of the whole town rest on these young men. As the boys successfully head toward the big game, they get bolder and over confident, cocky even. Their success is a catalyst of an act of violence that traumatizes a young girl and throws a chasm in the town that changes forever.
This story celebrates loyalty, commitment, and friendship while showcasing a failure in society when decisions and accountability are shadowed by the desire for notoriety and winning.
I struggled reading this one because it is character driven and more than half the book is just hockey talk. I honestly don’t know or care much for hockey but I love a good story. This story covers important issues and evokes strong emotions. It made me angry with some characters and I cried for others, that is a great story. Bachman is masterful. I am glad that I made myself pick this one up and finish reading it! 4/5⭐
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Us Against You
Us Against You by Fredrik Bachman
The citizens of Beartown have been through the ringer, and now their beloved team is disbanding.
A new team is forming centered around three players, each with their own strengths and issues. The challenge is a new coach who is an outsider, and the friendship bonds that are broken in the process.
As the season comes to a peak, tension is high between the town of Hed and Beartown, with pranks that push limits. Someone is dead and the town is left with questions about where they’ve been and what their future may hold.
I really enjoyed this one. I am now seriously invested in the characters and their story. I can’t wait to read the next in this trilogy. Excellent writing and character development! 4.5/5⭐
