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A review by danjk
A Fortunate Life by Albert B. Facey
4.0
Albert Facey’s ‘A Fortunate Life’ has, in my opinion, been unfairly criticised for its simple prose. I am not sure why people would make this defunct argument considering the memoir was written by someone who was not a writer, and, until his teens, completely illiterate.
If you’re looking for a well written book, do not read this. In saying that, I enjoyed the sparseness of the language – he simply told things in an economical and modest way. However, there were moments when I cringed when he used clichés like ‘all hell broke loose’.
I think this book is an important historical text, for Australia as a whole and for Western Australia, where most of the story is told. I garnered an insight into turn of the century Australia and how much our country has changed, not only geographically, but how families functioned and the role of children in society. It also made me see my forefathers in a different light. I have a lot more respect for those that came before me. They had a challenging existence, they worked hard and they had a bigger sense of family and community than we do today.
While I found my interest wavering in the middle (perhaps due to the length of the book), the first and last act were enthralling – which proves his skill as a great story teller. Because that is what he is. His commentary on the horror at Gallipoli will stay with me for a long time.
It’s a great book. I recommend every Aussie to have a read. It was enlightening and, at times, profoundly moving.
If you’re looking for a well written book, do not read this. In saying that, I enjoyed the sparseness of the language – he simply told things in an economical and modest way. However, there were moments when I cringed when he used clichés like ‘all hell broke loose’.
I think this book is an important historical text, for Australia as a whole and for Western Australia, where most of the story is told. I garnered an insight into turn of the century Australia and how much our country has changed, not only geographically, but how families functioned and the role of children in society. It also made me see my forefathers in a different light. I have a lot more respect for those that came before me. They had a challenging existence, they worked hard and they had a bigger sense of family and community than we do today.
While I found my interest wavering in the middle (perhaps due to the length of the book), the first and last act were enthralling – which proves his skill as a great story teller. Because that is what he is. His commentary on the horror at Gallipoli will stay with me for a long time.
It’s a great book. I recommend every Aussie to have a read. It was enlightening and, at times, profoundly moving.