Four Fires

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 29 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The four fires in this story are passion, religion, warfare, and fire itself. While there are many more fires that drive the human spirit, love being perhaps the brightest flame of all, it is these four that have moulded us most as Australian people. The four fires give us our sense of place and, for better or for worse, shape our national character.

©2013 Christine Courtenay; 2010 Bryce Courtenay (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"Humphrey Bower, speaking as Mole, delivers every possible nuance and emotion of his character’s story, and shows a startling aptitude for other dialects as well. Close family friends and enemies include surviving Polish Jews, an East Indian healer, an Irish Catholic priest, Japanese prison camp soldiers, and many others. All of them, young and old, male and female, spring to vivid life in Bower’s versatile voice. Narrative passages and dialogue elicit tears and laughter by turns, without a minute of boredom in the 30-hour production." ( AudioFile magazine)

Great story, wonderful narration

Following Mole Maloney, his quirky family and friends is both funny and heartbreaking. It has lot of interesting information about the Australian bush and the role of fire in balancing the ecosystem. Courtenay writes about the impact of war and PTSD with great sympathy but doesn’t sugar coat anything in the telling.

Humphrey Bower’s narration is perfect. It’s easy to tell which character is speaking. Great pace and the accents are well done.

I’m definitely going to read more books by Courtenay and listen to more books read by Bower.

As good as "The Power of One"

Any additional comments?

I think I might listen to all books by the author, as well as this narrator. Both are superior.
I hated for the story to end.

Great....in parts.

Where does Four Fires rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As I said in my headline,great in parts but gets bogged down in other parts,particularly Tommy's wartime recollections.If I'd wanted a war story I would have bought one.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bosso Maloney.Boy boxer comes good.

Which scene was your favorite?

Boxing scene with John Thomas.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No,too long for one sitting.Looked forward to an hour or so every day.

Any additional comments?

Tommy's war story was far too long and drudgery to get through.Apart from that I enjoyed the book.

Heartwarming story, beatifully read

What made the experience of listening to Four Fires the most enjoyable?

The reader really gave life to each character and situation

What was one of the most memorable moments of Four Fires?

How the character, stength and determination of the mother gave each child the courage to forge their own life

Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Who was the most memorable character of Four Fires and why?

I would have trouble chosing between the mother and Mole. But as the narrator, Mole's special ability to empathize with the people in his life, creates a tale of real depth.

Any additional comments?

I hope other Bryce Courtenay books have been recorded and that Humphrey Bower is the reader.

Amazing Beautiful Story!!!

Loved this book through and through. Masterpiece! Funny, deep, heartfelt journey. Spectacular narrator. Historically accurate - I learned so much from Four Fires.

Captivating Story

Where does Four Fires rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top with most of Bryce Coutenay's books.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Four Fires?

When Mike and Sarah make a presentation to the elderly fashion designer who is out of touch with her world.

Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favorite?

Nancy

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Nancy was dying and gave the new alb to the parish priest.

Any additional comments?

I love Bryce Coutenay's books especially read by Humphrey Bowers. He is a phenomenal reader who makes the characters come alive in stories that may be fictional but contain a wealth of history and human pathos and living.

I cried and I laughed!

If you could sum up Four Fires in three words, what would they be?

Engrossing, enlightening, realistic.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the story unfolded. The weaving together of fiction and fact into a rich tapestry of life in Australia in the middle of the 20th century. Learning things about the war I did not know before.

What does Humphrey Bower bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Humphrey Bower is a wonderfully gifted narrator who brings each character uniquely to life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had many different extreme reactions relating to both tears and laughter - it was brilliant!

Any additional comments?

I've always enjoyed listening to Bryce Courtney's stories and this one was up there with the best. Thank you so much.

Four Fires

Would you listen to Four Fires again? Why?

No, I never listen to books twice. Too many books out there!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Four Fires?

Father and son "going bush" when the father told of his life before kids (the war, etc) and we found out why is is the way he is.

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

His tone of voice and Australian accent

Any additional comments?

Now listening to another Bryce Courtenay, Jessica. Love it too.

Can't Turn It Off!

If you could sum up Four Fires in three words, what would they be?

The Mulroney Family is a wonderfully close, loving family with the matriarch of Nancy as having the most opinionated and having the most practical logic a person could imagine. I love Mole and Bozo and all the Mulroney children. The characters in this book had me laughing and crying and just plain enjoying their lives as they all go along learning and growing. Each one a different personality, all coming together as a loving family. Great listen. I love long audiobooks because you get to know the characters completely. Bryce Courtenay is one of the most imaginative writer's I have listened to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mole because he is telling the story and being a young man, the way he looks at life is just simply put: wonderful.

What does Humphrey Bower bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

My imagination, as I listen to the characters I can see each one in a light I wouldn't see them in if I were reading. When reading I am trying to read each word as not to miss anything. When I listen: I hear each word and my mind's eye sees all of the picture.

Who was the most memorable character of Four Fires and why?

Tommy--he is so misunderstood and yet so brutally honest in his character.

Any additional comments?

Way to go Bryce Courtenay. I have read many of the books this author has written and they all come home to me as if I were in the story. Just watching all the going's on and enjoying the laughs when they laugh and the tears when they cry.

stunning

first rate story telling. I am an American and Australia is opened to me by this book and his others on the land down under.