What if we all got together and read just one story?
Proudly announcing our fifth annual One Book, One Community!
Join your community, friends, neighbors, fellow readers, this May to discuss The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston.
One Book, One Community is as simple as it sounds, people coming together through the reading and discussion of a common book. While this program has been taking place across communities of all shapes and sizes for over 20 years, South Fayette held its very first One Book, One Community in 2021.
This year, a committee comprised of nine community members voted to select The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife. Committee members included Tatiana Bissonnette, Kathy Brown, Dawn Cross, Bruce Galford, Jeanine Gerstbrein, Andrea Iglar, Michaela Remtulla, Charline Rowland, and the Library’s Adult Programming Coordinator, Sarah Grebinoski. The committee focused on factors such as universal appeal, strength of discussion topics, and availability.
The Friends of the South Fayette Township Library generously purchased 10 copies of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife for us to add to our collection for this program.
About The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife:
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.
“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.” — from Goodreads
Copies of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife are now available at the library. Reserve your copy now!
If you don’t have a library card, you can get one here: Get a Card
Join us for a community conversation:
Everyone is invited to attend one or both of the community discussions, Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM at the South Fayette Senior Center (515 Millers Run Road, Morgan, PA – Rear Entrance; adjacent to the library) Please pre-register for the conversations below.
(Scroll past the book clubs to the AM and PM book discussions.)
Author Q & A: Anna Johnston!
Thursday, June 12 @ 7:00pm
Join us as we chat with author Anna Johnston about The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, her inspirations, and her writing process. Audience questions welcome.
PLEASE NOTE: Ms. Johnston will be participating virtually. Attendees are welcome (and encouraged!) to attend an in-person group viewing for light refreshments and some additional discussion. Attendees may also register to participate virtually via Zoom. You do not have to have read the book to attend.
“The idea is that the city that opens the same book closes it in greater harmony.”
— Mary McGrory, The Washington Post, March 17, 2002
2021
by Matt Haig
2022
by Rachel Joyce
2023
by Lynda Rutledge
2024
by Nikki Erlick
2025
by Anna Johnston