A Fortunate Life

Rating:
Summary: A fortunate life
Review: As a young Australian, reading this book reinforced the hardships the early Australians had to put up with. This is an amazing and inspirational story about a young mans life that had to put up with the hardest upbringing and the Gallipoli campaign. Even at the end of his life he was still able to call it fortunate. Its a great read for anybody.

Rating:
Summary: one of the most poignant and exciting books i have read
Review: I was truly in awe of the writer of this autobiography for his perserverance, attitude about life, adapting to his circumstances and the fearless way in which he faced his problems and was able to learn from the often horrible and the sometimes exciting and treacherous situations he faced. I was almost spell-bound and once I became used to his style of writing, it was an easy to read book. I would recommend this book to all young adults who think that they have it rough.

Rating:
Summary: This is the story of the incredible ordeals of a man.
Review: Just over a year ago my girlfriend Catherine, and I were in Australia. Luckily a few friends gave us a present of this book. We were heading off on our tour of the country and thought it would be a pleasant time filler. It was so much more. Mr Facey's description of his childhood was a vivid portrayal of humanity and cruelty. The love his grandmother showed him was balanced by the physical abuse of the farmer to whom he was hired. His mother's abandonment of him and his siblings deeply affected him, and his search for her was a theme throughout his life. The country we were reading about in the book was just outside our bus window which made it seem all the more real. We were in awe of how he survived after getting separated from his co-workers on the cattle run. As we alked around Uluru we wondered how a young boy could manage. I felt I was a spectator in Man's most hideous hour as Mr Facey took us into the trenches of WW1. It was not hard to realise how the whole event had scarred his soul. Even when we learned of the deaths of his close friends and family his humility and optimism lifted the gloom. Back to the reality then of life after the war and how his fight continued for better rights for workers on the Sydney transport system. He rose to emminent heights in the bus company but just when things would threaten to go well some tragedy would knock him and his family. Again and again throughout his life he faced adversity with honour and courage and to share in this remarkable life through these pages was a privilege neither of us will ever forget.

Rating:
Summary: Moving
Review: The author of this book was approached in old age to talk about his life. From memory it was because of some form of literary grant or a history project. However what was said was of such quality it was transcribed into a book and became a huge seller in Australia.

The author grew up in Australia around the time of Federation. He was abandoned by his mother and from an early age did tough farming work in Western Australia at the time pasture land was being cut out of the forests. His work involved ringbarking trees and then clearing them. He worked for a brutal man and his early life is enough to make anyone cry.

He served at Galliopoli and was injured by a trench collapse. This restricted his ability to do farm work and after the first world war he worked as a tram driver and later owned a poultry farm.

One of the most touching things about the book is the quality of its author. Despite the worst hardships imaginable not one bitter word comes from his mouth. His view of his life was that it was fortunate despite being the victim of countless acts of cruelty and abandoment.

The book is a classif of life in early Australia and if there was justice in the world it should never go out of print.

Rating:
Summary: I bought 25 copies of this book!
Review: When this book was first released, I saw that it had won a State Award (NSW Premier's Award). So I picked it up and started reading. I couldn't put it down. I bought it, read it and couldn't stop praising it. I was SO impressed that I bought 25 copies to give to friends for Christmas.

Bert Facey, the man that this book is about, speaks to you from the book as your grandparents would tell you a story whilst you sat at their knee.

It is beatifully told. Such courage in adversity, stoic in enduring pains, the love he shows to his family.

I wish I could tell you more; but I belive that reviews that tell you about a book ruin the story.

It has my highest recommendation! A must have book, to read again and again.