Really loved this book, especially the first half. Second half was good, but not as tight and felt like he was trying too hard to tie up loose ends. Bryce Courtenay is becoming a favorite author. Amazing characters that you absolutely fall in love with--great metaphors about making the best of what life deals you that stick!

This book went several places I wasn’t expecting it to go. At first, you think he is a champion of the poor classes, then a defender of women. Next, he goes through a harrowing retelling of PoW life and finally, we end with the tragedy of PTSD. I felt very connected to all the characters throughout and it’s nice that the narrator gets his own story told at the end.

I liked the story line of the book, although I found it dragged in parts, to much detail for the mood I was in reading this. I like history and the details about what the dad went through during the war, but it went on for too long for me. I would rather read that in a history book. In saying that it needed a lot of it for the story line.

Though it felt rushed at the end, and I’m not sure I like the whole psychiatric twist, the story of the Maloney family is certainly one that grabbed my attention. Mole is a wonderful character, as are all the Maloneys.

As with all Bryce Courtenay books, the history that I learn is as valuable as the story. He has a way of drawing this reader into the story’s world that few authors possess. Guess that’s why I keep returning to his novels,

I found this book engrossing. Courtenay has woven a mesmerizing tale about an Australian family of Irish decent. It culminates in the father's war experience as finally divuldged to one son. I love his style of writing in this Historical Fiction novel.

A great story about The Maloneys, a fifth generation Australian family of Irish Catholic descent, living in a small rural town in Australia. Life is not easy if you are a Maloney, and because of this it has developed great character in each of the Maloney children. This is a story of a family who love and support each other no matter what, and you want them all to succeed. A bit long in some places depending on what aspects of the story interest you more. It is a great family saga and covers many tough issues. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Bryce Courtenay does it again! I was so, so, so, so enchanted by "The Power of One" but this book ?! It was so well researched. I learned so much about: European WWII refugees rebuilding their lives in Australia, the ins and outs of succeeding in the Jewish garment industry, the 50s fashion scene in London, POWs in Borneo, refugees redoing medical school, training for a tour in Vietnam...it was all so gloriously woven together!

I have a soft spot for the immigrants starting all over again in a new country that uses different weights and measures, culture, climate, language..that journey is not for the faint-hearted.

It's long, 618 pages. But it is well written and well edited. <3

I read this as I listened to the audio book. This is the second reading this classic of Australian literature. It is episodes from the Maloney family, who live in the fictitious town of Yankalillee, in north east Victoria as told by one of the kids, Mole. The Maloney family haven't even made it to the bottom rung of the social ladder in town, they are the towns garbage collectors. Starting in the 1950s, after the war, the story continues to the 90s. I laughed out loud at times, and cried with the family. The part where dad, Tommy talks to Mole and opens up about his war experiences in Asia, and then Mole's experiences in Vietnam are heartbreaking. Some people will be put off by the 1048 pages, but this is one of THE BEST books you will ever read!!

Dis altyd wonderlik om 'n Bryce Courtenay te lees. Laaang boek, maar baie mooi. Ek sou nog 'n duisend van hierdie bladsye kon lees.

I *loved* this book! Admittedly, I listened to it, and the reader, Humphrey Bower, is more an actor than a reader. He made the book come alive as he adopted the tones and accents of men and women, boys and girls, all with their accented English (Yiddish, German, Japanese, Indian, Irish, Australian...). This is a story of a wildly unusual Australian family surviving by intelligence and drive and endless courage. A great read/listen! I was sorry to have it end.

I just want to explain why I did not give this book 5 Stars. I found it hugely slow, not only at the beginning, but for a long time. Once the various characters' story threads started to come together, I then found the book hugely enjoyable and very hard to put down. By the end, I loved it and would give it the 5 Stars. But, you do have to persevere at the beginning and I nearly didn't!
It is years and years since I read The Power of One, but I seem to remember that took a long while to get into too. Perhaps this is just true of all Bryce Courtenay novels. I shall try another and see!! Meanwhile, enjoy this one.

I really wanted to give this a five star as I enjoyed reading this book - informative, historical, entertaining and painful. Alas and alack however I found the ending disappointing- a sort of neat cliched rounding up - that was unnecessary