The family frying pan [Hardcover]

Bryce Courtenay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1997

Mrs Moses is a small woman with a big heart and enormous courage. The only survivor of a Cossack raid on her village, she takes with her a big cast-iron frying pan, so heavy that she can only sling it over her back. Yet this is no ordinary frying pan it's The Family Frying Pan, blessed with a Russian soul. From this frying pan Mrs Moses manages to feed the various refugees who are travelling with her across Russia to freedom. In return, each of the group must tell a story around the campfire at night stories of compassion and bravery, of human frailty and, above all, of hope.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bryce Courtenay, bestselling Australian author, wrote his first book, The Power of One, at the age of fifty-five. This became the largest-selling book by a living Australian author within Australia, with over half a million copies sold locally. Having lived in Sydney for forty years, Bryce is a patriotic Australian, who is passionate about Australia becoming a truly great nation in the 21st century. Committed to the cause of literacy and the importance of motivating young people to read, he is actively involved with literacy programs in primary schools Australia-wide. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 291 pages
• Publisher: William Heinemann Australia (1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0855616997
• ISBN-13: 978-0855616991
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,857,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not one of his best, April 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The family frying pan (Hardcover)

I have been a big fan of Bryce Courtenay's books ever since a friend lent me The Power of One 11 years ago which is to this day still one of my favorite books. I was disappointed in this one. It is more of a collection of short stories tied together very loosely by their being told while dinner was cooking. Most of the stories are rather unbelievable and lacking the usual powerful imagery that Courtenay does so well. I recently read Four Fires and if you are looking for a new Courtenay book to spend some time with, I would personally point you in that direction.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bloody Brilliant!, May 5, 2005

By 

Bob "Sum1" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The family frying pan (Hardcover)

Whoa! This book has it all! It has its sad moments, sad enough to make you cry. The characters's hope is heart warming. An the outcome is absolutely inspiring!

The story in a nutshell is about a group of Russians who have escaped and fled there invaded village to find a new place to live their lives in peace. Everyday this group of refugees, who have all different backgrounds and personalities, have to walk across Russia in the snow. The main character (can't remember her name) leads the group and everynight she takes out her large iron frying and the group all put what scraps and pieces of food in the pan and cook just enough food to stay alive. While eating, each night a person will tell a story. Some are tragic, sad, inspiring, mysterious and all are unique. The ending of this Novel is truly inspiring!

The Family Frying Pan is a novel different from Bryce's other ones. And isn't his usual type of story. When I first saw it I though it was a cookbook. Anyway it's probably my favourite book and is really, i mean REALLY worth reading! So go pick it up! Hope you all like it! It would make a great movie, Hopefully one day it is! Great work there Bryce Courtney!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Truth More Fascinating than Fiction, July 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The family frying pan (Hardcover)

The true life stories of a small group of Russian refugees... stories of murder, fame, tragedy. Stories told to the author years later by the former "leader" of this band of refugees. Amazing.