2003: The Facts Of Life

The Facts of Life is set during and after World War II in Coventry, England. The novel begins with a young girl, Cassie, and her newborn baby, Frank. Cassie was simply unable to give Frank up to a foster mother. This failure leads Cassie and Martha, her mother, to have a discussion whose tone sets the scene for the balance of the story. Martha and her daughters make the realization Cassie is in no way fit to raise a baby. The solution is simple, Frank should be cared for by all of them. Frank is then exchanged from Martha and Aunt Beatie Vine's supervision to his aunts Ina and Evelyn, and even to Uncle Tom and Aunt Una's farm. During all of this it starts to become apparent that Frank is exceptional and has some unusual and unique abilities…Why it's on the listThe Facts Of Life is one of the most intensely and perceptively written cast of characters. Just seeing what happens next to these people is enough driving force of the book, and the time and place that they live is evocative and compelling enough - almost to make you feel like you are there, laughing and crying along with them.Joyce has a real talent for descriptive language. The sheer feeling of emotion that is portayed through these pages is astounding. It isn't important whether you buy into the extraordinary qualities he gives the principal characters, he translates it across to the readers in such a manner that it feels almost commonplace. He takes everyday expereinces and infuses it with an extraordinary reality.Read if you likeHeart-warming stories with a healthy dash of eccentricity.