EVERY DAY BY THE SUN : A MEMOIR OF THE FAULKNERS OF MISSISSIPPI
by Dean Faulkner Wells

She came from a family of murderers, racists, thieves and liars. Sprinkled in that midst was an FBI agent, a president of a bank, a builder of a narrow gauge railroad, a lawyer, authors and four pilots (all brothers). They were all bred in Mississippi. The most famous relative was William Faulkner, the author's uncle. He always tried to keep the family together by hosting gatherings at his home. As is obvious from the first sentence, they didn't get along too well with one another. They couldn't even agree on the spelling of their last name: Falkner, Faulkner, or Fa(u)lkner.
Dean Faulkner Wells never knew her father. He died four months before she was born in a plane crash. She was named for him. The oldest brother, William, took on the responsibility of helping to raise his niece. "Pappy" would give her security, love, emotional stability and much wisdom.
Every Day by the Sun is a marvelous story. Writing is most definitely in the genes. Not having known much about the Faulkner family (they kept to themselves and protected their privacy), in this book you are given a wide glimpse into what made them tick.
There are two family trees printed at the beginning and the author pretty much covers all of the main characters and their fascinating history. Although William Faulkner is the one individual people are the most interested in (besides his many novels for which he won a Nobel Prize, he also was a screenwriter for MGM), the rest of the gang are equally entertaining.
The book is sad, funny and a delight to read.
Highly recommended.