I loved this book and stories of each of the Maloneys. Tommy Maloney's story of his experience in the war was harrowing to read. At first that section seemed a bit of an abrupt shift in the book but as the overall story continued to unfold, it made absolute sense that it was there. This is my favourite Bryce Courtenay by far.

I loved this audiobook. Great characters, each with their own sub plot. Takes place in Australia. Incredible reader.

I did not finish reading this book. I completed 739 of 1048 pages and although the original plot was interesting, I found I became bored with all the unnecessary detail.

Although this was a different family, this one sort of picks up in Australia's history where the Potato Factory left off. I was completely charmed by the down-to-earth Maloney family that do what they have to to survive and end up making good. I have always been a true believer that we are each in control of our own destiny and like stories where hard work and perseverance in the face of difficulty pays off.

I also learned a lot of new things about Australia, WWII, and the Vietnam Conflict.

I can't help myself, I love everything by Courtenay. This story was as rich as The Potato Factory, but not at all redundant. The Maloney family saga details every member and each is worthy of their own TV show. Courtenay writes as if they are each his main character and they are all so different! I really can't say enough about this author. I have just downloaded another by him and can't wait to listen.

This compelling saga by Bryce Courtenay centers on the Maloney's, a poor, but enterprising Irish Catholic family in Australia from the late forties until the late nineties. The well developed and varied cast if characters takes us through a variety of events that include the themes of class prejudice, sexism, the horrors of the Holocaust and the atrocities of Japanese POW camps, through the Vietnam War and its aftermath. Through tragedies and joys, Four Fires is shows the best and worst in humanity and illuminates the irrepressible power of love.

4.5 stars because of the insanely good audio book reader, otherwise a 4.0. A truly epic story about the Maloney family who are the trash collectors for a small town in Australia. The story has a wide berth, from drunk PTSD fathers to catholic/protestant feuds to WWII POW stories. And throughout it all are the brush fires that shape so much of Australia's landscape. A little too much time spent on the boxing, although I have to admit it was exciting; and while the POW scenes were central to understanding the father's dysfunction, they went on too long. All-in-all, it was also just a bit too happy/sappy here and there for my tastes; but I now love Courtenay and will read more.

A good story told in Bryce Courtenay's style.
Vivid images unfold as the horrors of war are explained.

At the beginning, I was really impressed with this book. The characters were real, and I felt they were very well developed. As the book went on though, it lost some of it's charm for me. There were too many contrived scenarios that tied up too neatly. Regardless, it was still a very good read, and I'll give the author another shot.

AMAZING narration on Audible.
Excellent story.

A must read.

I’ve never come across another book that captures so much rawness of Australia - the social classes, weather phenomenons, immigrants, family values & adversity, poverty, breaking free, sexual orientation, PTSD, cultural acceptance & the harm of racism and so much more. Narrated through the eyes of ‘Mole’ from a young boy to an adult, he regales you with the Maloney family story. His parents, all his siblings. This book taught me things about Australia I didn’t know & I was born here. And as with The Power of One it taught me how to be a better human. How BC captures all this in a novel still baffles the mind & I am so glad he gave us stories.

Audio