Synopsis:

   "What on earth is Bryce Courtenay doing writing a book set in Russia?" was how one critic began his review of The Family Frying Pan. Well, in truth, I think this is the best storytelling I have done and I can take almost no credit for it. The book is based on stories told to me by my wife's grandmother, Mrs Moses. She tells how, after the Cossacks had murdered all the people in her village, she alone miraculously escaping, she had, as a girl of sixteen, walked almost two thousand miles out of Russia carrying a huge cast-iron frying pan on her back. Every evening she'd light a fire and invite any of the many starving and derelict people on the road to make a small contribution to the contents in the pan so that they could all share in a small meal. The book is about the people she meets and their stories. As I said they're her stories even though she is long dead and I really think you'll love this book as she was a much better storyteller than I am.

Book Excerpt:

My name is Sam, well Samantha really, but it's always been Sam, chopped to one syllable. I have a brother, Samuel, who's two years younger than me and a major pain.

Samuel is one of those kids who knows everything and has this seriously scientific mind, his brain is like a train tunnel and goes straight for the light, straight down the line, never diverging.

It was him who told me that the first atom that ever existed still exists in every living thing on earth. The first atom to come into existence is living in me. Hea…vy! So you see, you couldn't call a fifteen-year-old extreme like him anything but Samuel, even though cutting his name down to Sam would make a lot more sense than chopping down mine.

I think my being called Sam comes from the expression, 'Oh, Sam!' - like that, with an exclamation mark. Which is what my family have been saying ever since I can remember. The kids at school say it, my teachers say it and sooner or later everyone says it after I bring out one of my great thoughts or theories.

My theories about things may not be very scientific but that doesn't mean they couldn't happen. People nod their heads when wonder-brother explains something, as if they're amazed at his genius brain. But when I come up with a great thought all I get for it is, 'Oh, Sam!' Which you can say in about a hundred different ways, all of them not very complimentary.

I often find that I can get some great thoughts and theories kicking around in my head when I'm walking home from school after Sue, my best friend, has peeled off to her house which is two from me. It's then that I have some prime thinking time.

Sue's really upset at the moment because her mum thinks her dad has been seeing this other woman and they could be splitting. Getting a divorce. She's really mixed up because she likes them both. Her dad isn't a creep or anything. Her mum hasn't looked after herself and is a bit overweight and uncool. Personal appearance shouldn't be important in sustaining a marriage anyway.

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Topics/Categories:

Family, Russia

Best Sellers:

Australian bestseller

Type of Work:

Novel

Publishers:

Penguin (Australia)

Purchase From:

QBD Australia

ISBNs:

Paperback 0-14-029341-8