Fiction and the Facts of Life

Edith Konecky
Hamilton Stone Editions (2011)
ISBN 9780980178678
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (12/11)

 

The main character in “Fiction and the Facts of Life,” Rachel Levin, is an author. She tends to base the characters in her books on people she knows which does not often go over too well with the individuals. The story begins with Rachel as a wife and mother who goes off to Erato, which is a prestigious place for aspiring students of the arts. It is here that her life begins to take a drastic turn as she begins an affair with another woman. She no longer perceives herself as she used to and becomes increasingly insecure and unsure of the choices she is making. After a series of other failed relationships, Rachel looks for some resolution in her life in an attempt to figure out if she followed the right path.

As Rachel ages throughout the book (by the end she is probably in her seventies or eighties) she becomes very introspective about everything, but especially about the meaning of life and the definition of love. She becomes very nostalgic about her past relationships, reflecting on her loneliness and the things in her life that are gone. She also worries about what other people think of her writing and whether she has any talent.

“Fiction and the Facts of Life” is written differently than most books. It is presented as a book within a book. There is the story about Rachel, but intermingled is the book that Rachel is currently writing. This is an interesting but risky method to utilize. It was obvious which parts were Rachel’s book. But knowing that she bases her writing on people she knows, it was not always easy to figure out which of Rachel’s characters corresponded to the “real person” in the novel. Also, there were a few too many minor characters which made it hard for me to remember how they fit into the book.

“Fiction and the Facts of Life,” was written for an older adult female audience. It is based more on feelings and sentiment than it is on action and drama. This book is a little depressing as the reader is constantly reminded about the negative aspects of getting old. However, there is a quirky end to the book which captures its overall theme very nicely.

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