The Factory of Facts

An odd but intriguing book that blends memoir and history (mostly about Belgium) on Sante’s theory that as individuals we are formed by historical accidents that take place long before we arrive on the scene. As an approach it doesn’t quite work--the history segments tend toward didacticism--but when Sante is writing about himself and his family he shines as a stylist and a wry humorist. His thoughts about growing up in two languages and two cultures are compelling; the opening chapter is original and amusing. ( )

Before reading this book, I rarely thought about Belgium: perhaps in the context of its residents using mayonnaise on their frites or of its being geographically susceptible to invasion. But thanks to the power of Luc Sante's writing in this loosely termed memoir, I've now learned about Belgium's history, geography, art, writing, food, language(s), national character, and more, as well as about Sante's early life in Belgium and how the country stayed with him after his family immigrated to the United States, specifically to New Jersey, when he was a child. Along with all the information about Belgium (as with his Low Life, which I read and loved earlier this summer, Sante loves to pile on fact after fact, name after name, much more than the reader can retain, yet absorbing nonetheless), Sante gives lovely portraits of his parents, extended family, and the Belgian built environment; plays with language; explores the duality of immigration, part here, part there; and is generally witty and fun to read. I have become an admirer of his writing.