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A review by maliazaidi
Four Fires by Bryce Courtenay
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