The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of death, child death, illness, and pregnancy loss.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife explores the importance of family in part via its absence. Its protagonist is notably alone in the world as well as mired in sadness as a result of his wife’s death. Though she is not recently deceased, he continues to grieve her loss, due in no small part to the fact that he has no other family nor close friends to support him. While his plight illustrates the pitfalls of loneliness—Fred feels invisible and disconnected—it would seem an unlikely vehicle for considering the joys to be found in family. Yet the fact that Fred has no living relatives ultimately supports the novel’s contention that family need not be defined by blood to be meaningful and life changing.

When Fred is mistaken for Bernard, he inadvertently receives an opportunity to forge connections that he would not otherwise have. For instance, Albert mistakes Fred for his brother—an error that Fred realizes stems from Albert’s dementia but with which Fred willingly plays along. Moreover, the novel indicates that even though Albert is not truly interacting with his brother, the bond he shares with Fred is a meaningful one. Though Fred does not share a history with Albert, he enjoys the time he spends with him, thanks in large part to Albert’s openness and concerted efforts to make Fred know that he is indeed loved and appreciated. In throwing a “wedding” for Albert—a role Albert’s brother would have performed if he had not died young—Fred steps fully into a familial role. The same is true of Fred’s bond with Hannah: Though they are not technically family, they grow to love one another as if they were. In this way, connections that are not based in blood nevertheless become deep and meaningful, enriching the lives of all involved.

The flipside of the novel’s celebration of found family is its acknowledgment of the trauma that sometimes arises in traditional family structures. Yet here, too, the novel stresses the value of familial relationships—even difficult ones. Characters like Hannah and Denise learn that though family members can hurt one another, forgiveness is worthwhile. The help and support of others prove instrumental in this process. Denise is initially unwilling to reach out to others to express her difficulty coping with her child’s conditions and her husband’s infidelity. When Fred becomes aware of her struggles, however, his support and encouragement prod Denise to take care of herself, first by asking for a leave from work and then through seeking help to heal from her addiction. Similarly, Hannah suffers from sadness and hurt surrounding Bernard’s abandonment of her when she was a child. As an adult, she longs for the kind of love and connection she received from her mother and late sister, Sadie, but finds herself alone. As she forms a connection with Fred, however, she is able to heal her old wounds and make peace with her biological father—an act that not only allows her to heal but also honors Bernard’s belated desire to mend the relationship.