This is the first book that I have read by this author and I really enjoyed of it. Parts were hard to read but it was good

I loved The Power of One but I read it along time ago and so maybe my memory of it is through rose tinted glasses? Suffice to say I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as I expected to. I found it very wordy and long winded and ended up skipping through large chunks. I have no interest in how to fight bush fires but the author insisted on explaining it in great detail. Like wise, Tommy's war history and Mole's time in the army just left me cold. In fact I waited with dread for the time when Tommy would sit down and tell Mole his story....and eventually we got it in all it's gory detail. I appreciate that this is a story worth telling but maybe it could have been in another stand alone book?
I found the Maloney tribe to be self righteous and annoying - everyone a success through endeavour and perseverance - really?! Their constant 'fighting against the odds' and small town bigotry was so in your face that I couldn't be that interested or concerned. There was never any likelihood that they wouldn't succeed in their chosen field (although baby Colleen took the easy way out marrying into money!). The style of writing & the content of the book was not for me. Pity.

I can't express how much i love reading your books. Your stories come alive for me and i love experiencing the different feelings and emotions as I follow each of your characters through their lives from so many different walks of life.

Thank you xxx

This book never failed to surprise me, it had the best ending, and had me both laughing and crying. A new favourite :)

While "The potatoe factory" is still my preferred novel from Courtenay, he is a real story teller this time focussing on the knowledge of the bush, the Anzac horror in Borneo, the women rights in Australia in the 50's, the silent involvement of the Australians in the Vietnam war and the consequences of PTSD.

This is one of those books that I did not want to end. I truly enjoyed the characters, and felt uplifted by the "sense of family" in the book. That said, it was a bit slow to get started; it took me a while to get invested in the characters, which is the reason for 4*.

After listening to "The Power of One", also by Bryce Courtenay, and giving it 5*, I couldn't wait to get started on another of his books. "Four Fires" does have a war story within it that made me think of "Unbroken", which may be a difficult listen for some readers.

I'm quite sure Humphrey Bower's audio performance enhanced my enjoyment of these books.

I believe that Four Fires by Bryce Courtenay is a phenomenal book all by itself. It is not, however, a book I probably would have gravitated to nor enjoyed as much in paper form. I picked this selection based on reviews and particularly the reference in Audible reviews to the narrator Humphrey Bower. I was not disappointed. To call Mr. Bower a narrator does not do him justice. An actor? Okay, that works. He flawlessly plays the roles of so many of the characters in this book. And that would make him an artist. That's good too. But, like the author himself, Bower is a Storyteller extraordinaire and for me, that was the magic of this selection.

I was blown away by every aspect of this book in a "good way" until Mole's dad takes him into the bush and tells him of his time in the war. For me, at that moment, it was like getting hit in the solar plexus. The book abruptly became something entirely different. It was like it was not even the same book written by the same person. And, while I concluded that the descriptions of all the brutality of war could be taken in context, it might not be for everyone. I mean this is no holds barred brutal descriptions of war-crimes. And, these events are not pure fiction, but, we are told, are descriptions based on historical facts and perhaps we should not avoid nor look away from such things if we are to diminish their chance of reoccurrence in the future.

But, those reservations aside, for the record, I give the Four Fires:

5 stars for personal enjoyment
5 stars for general skill in writing
5 stars for storytelling, acting and narration.

All the emotions

what a superb kaleidoscope of feeling this book covers - laughter, tears, anger, horror and 'awww'. a marvellous depiction of the Irish Catholic church influence on poor lives, the horrors of war, the struggle to improve - the human determination to survive.

A story about a family who are considered to be the bottom of society, this book follows their lives as they try to make it in life, keep themselves honest and stick together.
It's a feel good story that has you rooting for the family in every issue they face.
I read it because I absolutely adored 'Brother Fish' however, this story did not compare.

It touched on controversial issues in society but was told in the perspective of a boy who didn't have any personal opinions and showed little emotion. Everything bad that happened was because of the curse and everything good that happened was just brushed aside and not fully celebrated.
As a character he doesn't believe his family are anything special and so as a reader you start to believe that too. Even after they conquer so much and make a strong support system for themselves. His character development was very, very slow. The book could have been much shorter as I lost interest half way and it was a struggle to finish.

Exceptional. Listen to this great story and just enjoy! So much to learn and appreciate in a Bryce Courtney tale.

I can’t be bothered to even voice my minor criticism, this book has confirmed Bryce Courtney as one of my best loved authors of all time. As with many of his books, I didn’t want it to end; I didn’t want to say goodbye to the Maloney family. Characters who were rich and full of depth and I felt this book was another impactful study of human behaviour and relationships. Ultimately though it is a story of the best and worst of human beings and this is something I love in a book. The added elements of insight into the Australian presence in Borneo and death marches of Sandakan were very interesting.

Brilliant story, brilliantly told, brilliant read.