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mike_morse's review against another edition
5.0
So, I'm working my way through Bryce Courtenay's books, one 700 to 1,000 page book at a time. How could one man write so much great stuff? Four Fires is almost like 4 (or more) books, including a version of Hillenbrand's "Unbroken" about WWII POW's, fighting fires in the Australian bush, life in small town Australia in the early 1960's, Australian participation in the Vietnam war, and a bit of the fashion industry thrown in there as well. Of course, there are all of Courtenay's themes thrown in including the underdog boxer who perseveres against all odds and the mystical place in the mountains.
book3cat79's review against another edition
4.0
While this book is has darker side than the Power of One it is again another great book by Bryce Courtenay. His vivid imagery takes you right there with the main character. And each character in this books so wonderful.
maliazaidi's review against another edition
5.0
This is only my second book by Bryce Courtenay, but already he is establishing himself as one of my favourite writers. Though FOUR FIRES and THE POWER OF ONE (the books I have read thus far) are rather lengthy, they truly resonate and the characters Courtenay creates in both feel so real I miss them when I finish.
The story centers around the Maloney family in a small town in Australia. They don't have it easy, and are definitely a multi-faceted bunch, but they make the best of what they have and just feel like a real family. Courtenay's books remind me so strongly of Gerald Durell's MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS. The people are quirky and sometimes downright odd, but they all have some sort of charm that makes you root for them.
In any case, FOUR FIRES deals with so many issues that feel too important to forget in terms of historical value, while still remaining incredibly relevant today. Courtenay is an author who takes his time getting to the crux of the matter, but the journey of arriving is better than the 'prize'. His books are so intrinsically about character development, you really feel as though you are following this group of people as they live their lives, go through ups and downs. That is my favourite kind of book. If I can feel for the characters or grow interested in their stories, there doesn't need to be any huge plot related drama. Still, for those readers who need adventure, there's that, too.
Courtenay writes about the difficulties of living in the Australian Bush, of Australia's World War II involvement and PTSD; of making it in the world of business and finding a sense of fulfillment along the way. There is romance and humor, tragedy and adventure. I really don't understand why Courtenay is not better known in Europe and the US, because he easily holds his own in comparison to other writers of epic tomes such as the much-lauded Ken Follett (nothing against Follett...)
There I go rambling on and on, but that's just what this kind of book does. It creeps under your skin in the best way possible, so that you feel a part of the story and it is an almost sad event when you finally finish it. I listened to the audio version of this, mainly because I saw that the brilliant Humphrey Bower narrates, and it is absolutely worth it. He is one of the best narrators I have come across.
Can't wait to read some of Courtenay's other books. Much as with THE POWER OF ONE, I wish he was alive so I could write him how much I loved this book. Highly recommended!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
The story centers around the Maloney family in a small town in Australia. They don't have it easy, and are definitely a multi-faceted bunch, but they make the best of what they have and just feel like a real family. Courtenay's books remind me so strongly of Gerald Durell's MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS. The people are quirky and sometimes downright odd, but they all have some sort of charm that makes you root for them.
In any case, FOUR FIRES deals with so many issues that feel too important to forget in terms of historical value, while still remaining incredibly relevant today. Courtenay is an author who takes his time getting to the crux of the matter, but the journey of arriving is better than the 'prize'. His books are so intrinsically about character development, you really feel as though you are following this group of people as they live their lives, go through ups and downs. That is my favourite kind of book. If I can feel for the characters or grow interested in their stories, there doesn't need to be any huge plot related drama. Still, for those readers who need adventure, there's that, too.
Courtenay writes about the difficulties of living in the Australian Bush, of Australia's World War II involvement and PTSD; of making it in the world of business and finding a sense of fulfillment along the way. There is romance and humor, tragedy and adventure. I really don't understand why Courtenay is not better known in Europe and the US, because he easily holds his own in comparison to other writers of epic tomes such as the much-lauded Ken Follett (nothing against Follett...)
There I go rambling on and on, but that's just what this kind of book does. It creeps under your skin in the best way possible, so that you feel a part of the story and it is an almost sad event when you finally finish it. I listened to the audio version of this, mainly because I saw that the brilliant Humphrey Bower narrates, and it is absolutely worth it. He is one of the best narrators I have come across.
Can't wait to read some of Courtenay's other books. Much as with THE POWER OF ONE, I wish he was alive so I could write him how much I loved this book. Highly recommended!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
cedrisc's review against another edition
3.0
This is a hard one to rate. It took me nearly a month to read. There were some great bits and emotional parts but there was also a lot of fluff. I think it could have been cut down a heap and not lost the story. I was confused by where it suddenly jumped at 90% but it all tied in together.
I knew nothing of the war with Japan and both it and the German stories were hard to read. On the other hand the dressmaking parts were boring other than the history. That is what I liked the most about this book. The ending was actually predictable in a way.
I knew nothing of the war with Japan and both it and the German stories were hard to read. On the other hand the dressmaking parts were boring other than the history. That is what I liked the most about this book. The ending was actually predictable in a way.
hoga0082's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
michelehoward's review against another edition
5.0
My favourite book of his so far. Tears, goose bumps and laughs. How can you not love it!
grecia_r's review against another edition
5.0
I think I've loved every Bryce Courtenay book I've read! Love love love!!!!!!! Though I will say that the ending was a little meh for me. But I suppose it kinda had to be. Still though. Everything about this book was so worth my time. Highly recommend.
bad_robot's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not a great fan of Bryce Courtenay, I have started and abandoned a couple of his but this is the most enjoyable book I've read in a long long while. There are very few in my extensive library to equal it. It is quintessentially an Australian book set in a small town revolving around the Maloney family striving to escape their bottom-rung social status. Every character in the family and the small Victorian town is unforgettable.
The language is full of Australian phrases of the immediate post world war II era, now sadly lost under an avalanche of American TV. It delivers a full emotional rage from laugh out loud, to tears, to anger as it explores the four fires, passion, religion, war and fire (as it occurs in the Australian bush) The embedded war story concerns the little known forced marches of POW's in Borneo.
Despite the size it is an easy read, which as a writer myself is damn hard to do.
The language is full of Australian phrases of the immediate post world war II era, now sadly lost under an avalanche of American TV. It delivers a full emotional rage from laugh out loud, to tears, to anger as it explores the four fires, passion, religion, war and fire (as it occurs in the Australian bush) The embedded war story concerns the little known forced marches of POW's in Borneo.
Despite the size it is an easy read, which as a writer myself is damn hard to do.