Review of Audio book, The Power of One written by Bryce Courtenay, Narrated by Humphrey Bower.

This has been both a Hard and Easy review to write. The Power of one is a wonderful autobiographical novel which has been made into a fantastic audio book. Astonishingly this was Bryce Courtenay debut novel. Humphrey Bower is both experienced and gifted narrator and the perfect pick as he is able to pull off a convincing South African accent.
Hard to write up as it has so many powerful, tender and tantalising elements and so it would take too long to list them because they all hold real and cultural relevance. As with all good books which have a strong human element, each reader draws from their own life experiences to relate with the story. The richness of the main character PK whose we meet at a tender age and go on to experience though his thoughts, all his life with its joy, muddles and harshness. The story is set against the dramatic back drop of Africa at a historically rich time.
The wealth of this very personal and at time humorous while being startling graphic book, will have something in it that will not fail to touch even the hardest of hearts. As for myself the telling of the bond of friendship between the five year old PK and his chicken, Grandpa Chuck, hit the most me with stiff resonance. This was because I was midway through the audio book at the time I had heard about my dear old springer spaniel Mandy, fatal illness. Bryce writes superbly throughout the book but this connection with his unusual animal friend, the love and respected trust with his chicken hit me the hardest because of my best friend Mandy. PK’s other friendships of the human kind were each different and thought provoking and described in skilful detail, that I felt as if I had had known, loved, grieved or feared them. As each of them where introduced into the thick of the story and at times had left, sometimes abruptly! I was span though a range of emotions, catching my breath with sadness, peace or fear. It would be hard to pick out the best of them as they are all best! Even the baddies as they made the goodies appear more courageous and strong hearted, and so the story would not have been the same without them.
Easy to praise this audio book as not only the writing of this story is superb but the narration by Humphy Bower, who’s expressive warm voice transcends the normal narrator with his rich repertoire he narrates the characters with a ‘pull all the stops out’ experience. The sheer spender at which he brings to life the delicacy and rawness of each of the marvellously complete characters and soulfully describes breathtakingly beautiful scenery with jaw dropping emphasis.
So much of the landscape of Africa is written about and from so many viewpoints. I knew it was a hot climate but I learned of the coolness and darkness of the night. I was surprised by differing landscapes, the cactus garden, rose garden and magical crystal cave, which were described and narrated so colourfully and bountifully that I could see them in full spender when I closed my eyes.
In this book the landscape of the peoples of Africa where explored and described, with a strong emphasis showing how important music and the connection to their land was.

PK the hero of the book is a true hero a fighter who yearned for knowledge but was not mean spirited and keenly shared with all.
This book was a humbling experience. As a writer myself I became completely in ore of Bryce’s skill whose writing talent is pure genus. What a travel! What an adventure! And all without leaving my small flat and from the safety of my sofa with my best friend Mandy sat by me! What a gift this book is!
I whole heartily recommend it. 5 stars

The Power of One Audible – Unabridged can be bought here
Bryce Courtenay (Author), Humphrey Bower (Narrator), Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd https://www.amazon.com/The-Power-of-O...
Or if you sign up though your local library (UK only) can be borrowed free here
http://www.borrowbox.com/support/

How this book happened upon my shelf is a mystery to me. I thought it might have been mentioned by Pat Conroy in his My Reading Life but instead, I guess it was a paired choice of similarity to one of his books. Nevertheless, it had to be a suggestion somehow because I would have never deliberately chosen a book labeled "The Classic Novel of South Africa" or one about boxing (no offense to anyone, just not my taste). Yet, before the end of the second page, I was hooked, and that hook embedded itself deeper and deeper until the last of the 500+ pages ended.

I love it when I read a book that I assume is fiction and declare this has got to be about a real person. The Power of One's Peekey was like that. After doing a quick glance on Wikipedia, I decided it was completely fiction. (I try not to read too much about a book I've not finished lest I read a spoiler.) But just now I looked at author Bryce Courtenay's page here on Goodreads and was blown away. DON'T even pull that page up and read it if you don't want a spoiler!! I won't even link it to tempt you! But DO read it AFTER you finish the book. That's all I'll say about it.

The story is gripping. And realistic *to a point.* After a while, there were a bit too many coincidences. The writing is above par. Great description. Higher than typical vocabulary.

If you need to find out more about the book, read other reviews; I just don't want to spoil the story for you. But, by all means, indulge yourself in this book. I don't think you will be sorry. If you've read n  Island of the Worldn, this book is quite similar.

When I looked up Courtenay on Wikipedia, I saw there was a movie about the book. Since Netflix has it streaming, I decided to watch it after finishing the book. Just don't. Don't. Do NOT bother with the movie. It was a complete disappointment (I'll just never learn). Too many things were changed and added. I followed the movie-line because I knew the book-line, but for someone who didn't, I think it would be just messy confusion. So Just Don't.

But do read the book. The 500+ pager, not the young reader's edition.

I just finished reading The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay which was recommended to me by JK in our little cross country virtual book club. Divided into three parts, this is a story of a boy named Peekay coming of age in 1930-1950's South Africa. So, we've got major historical things happening - Boer War aftermath, Hitler Germany and WWII, the buddings of Apartheid. And then you have this really small boy going through hell at age 5 in a boarding school and learning at this infant stage in life how to survive. His power grows with each new and colorful mentor that he (and we) meets along the way. "First with the head and then with the heart," is his mantra throughout the story. There is little I love more than a good piece of fiction with brilliant and richly described narrative. I just found that a movie was made about the book in 1992... I'm definitely interested in checking it out but I don't want to ruin the absoloodle perfection of this story so I may skip it.

There is no way I would have picked this from choice - the blurb on the back wasn't really inspiring me and I was expecting not to like it at all. Oh, so wrong!

The writing is amazing - I was immediately hooked by the character and the setting and everything about the world the author created. Maybe because it was a world that is slightly alien to me, but is was a fascinating read.

At first Peekay is quite a sad character - a small boy lost at a boarding school where he is bullied, his only friend a chicken and with no real idea of what goes on in the world around him. As he learns to deal with the tragedies in his life, creating a way to survive, you just want to hug him. He is completely endearing and completely lovable.

As his life moves on, he meets an extra-ordinary set of characters. Some are only introduced for a couple of chapters, some recur throughout, but each one is written in such a brilliant way. You couldn't help either fall in love or absolutely hate every single one, depending on how they react to Peekay.

Amazing book - so glad I read it - can't wait to read more by this author.

4.0

This was a tall tale, akin to a Paul Bunyan story set in mid-1900 South Africa. It follows the story of a boy named 'Peekay' from age five into early adulthood, whose story is the embodiment of the phrase 'it takes a village to raise a child.' While Peekay's family members take a back seat in shaping him through childhood and adolescence, he builds strong relationships with a variety of highly educated, highly skilled, and highly motivated characters that guide him along his journey to manhood. 'The Power of One,' isn't really about 'one,' but how a supportive collective can empower a single person to overcome.

I really enjoyed reading this, though Books 1 and 2 are remarkably better than Book 3. The charm of viewing the world through the eyes of a little boy disappeared in Book 3, along with the hint of magical realism that I found originally so endearing. The larger-than-life depiction of Peekay also became tiresome by Book 3. While I made allowances for some unrealistic events happening earlier on, by Book 3, it was trite. Still, as a whole, this book was well crafted and holds promise for being a lit-class favorite. And if you're looking for good quotes, this is a gold mine. ("First with the head, then with the heart!")
____________________________

Before I continue with the review, I'd like to mention the following stories, all of which share some themes with this book:
1. Jojo Rabbit (wartime brutality from a child's perspective, WW2 setting/Nazis)
2. A Separate Peace (coming of age story set in private school, WW2 setting, YA brotherhood)
3. Maniac Magee (themes of race from child's perspective, boy without conventional family, boy that becomes a legend)
____________________________

Stylistic comments
I really enjoyed Courtenay's descriptions of South African nature and the different traditions that he highlighted in the story. As can happen with authors that speak with authority, he sometimes included extensive detail that detracted from the experience of reading. Combined with the fact that he included very large paragraphs (giant chunks of text, sometimes containing dry technical information and terms, like in Book 3), this didn't always make for a pleasant reading experience.

Racial Backdrop
It seems impossible that a story could take place in apartheid South Africa and not comment on the political and social atmosphere of the time. Courtenay was clear in his writing that racism is an evil, or as he put it, 'a sickness.' However, I found that some parts of this book were odd to read given his viewpoint on racism, especially if his intention was not to diminish the black voice in an African setting. I've divided my impressions of how race and racial tension was presented between the themes of white privilege and the white savior complex (SPOILERS INCLUDED!):

a) White Privilege - Peekay's successes would not have been possible had he not been white. At every turn, the white establishment took him under its wing, from Hoppie to the Kommandant to the professor to headmaster of the Prince of Wales school. And in the stereotypical fashion of such stories written from a white perspective, black characters functioned as props to support the white hero. We saw that with Peekay's nanny, Dee and Dum, and Geel Piet. It was particularly unsettling that Peekay's sole black guardian/mentor, Geel Piet, was murdered in such a brutal manner. Why was he sodomized to death at the hands of a white man in prison, while Doc (a white foreigner) died peacefully in a magical crystal cave? One could make the argument that Courtenay included this for shock value to educate people about the unfairness of the time, but I'd argue that the world doesn't need more evidence of how black peoples have suffered. I would have much preferred Courtenay show that they could also overcome, and not necessarily with the help of a white man.

b) The White Savior that is the Tadpole Angel - The way the book presented 'The Tadpole Angel,' Peekay seemed to become a legend to black SA communities by accident. Why? Why was it necessary for his development and coming-of-age story to include his accidental deification to black people? The white savior theme was also in action when the church that Peekay's mother worked for participated in prison reform, under the condition that they could preach to the inmates. It was there when Peekay had to literally defeat a black man in a boxing match to prove that he was still the legendary Tadpole Angel who could save black people from despair. It was again present when Peekay and Morrie fought to educate black men at their prestigious English school and then failed. By the way, once they failed, there was no continuation of that fight.

I believe Courtenay wrote this book with the best of intentions and that even in his tall-tale fiction novel, he intended to relay an authentic SA experience. So, I can perhaps understand why the above problems were present, since they accurately reflect problems that are still very prevalent in a post-apartheid world. But I still think he could have and should have done a better job representing black characters in this book. Black characters falling into the same undignified, overused tropes and white characters swooping in to save black peoples from the cruelty of a white-established social infrastructure weakens any story's overt condemnation of racism. It's really a matter of showing rather than telling.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love a good title. The Power of One may seem obvious, especially after reading the book's jacket which says, "In this magical novel, an irresistible boy tells the story of his survival and coming of age against the background of South Africa during and just after World War II." The boy must be the One, right?

Well, of course. He is. Little Peekay is sensitive boy. He gets, at an unusually young age, that some things matter and some don't and like any decent literary hero, the things that matter to him are the good things in life. Truth. Dignity. Honor.

These virtues seem to come to him naturally, because his family life is sadly lacking. His mother is a negligent born-again who tears him away from the only mother he's ever known - a Zulu who talks to him, unlike his own blood relatives, and teaches him her ways. His love for her is a theme that carries throughout the novel.

Which brings me back to the idea of the "One." This nurse-maid also becomes a "One." As the story follows Peekay throughout his life in a harsh South Africa, colorful characters all take their turn being powerful "one"s - or influences in Peekay's life. Peekay is the tie that holds this goodness together, but through him and with their collective help, that one became many and the many became one. It's a beautiful idea and masterfully told by Bryce Courtenay.

If you read it, you'll fall in love with Peekay, his boxing mentor, Hoppie, Doc, and even a chicken, Grandpa Chook. You'll also learn a lot about boxing and the struggle between the Afrikaners and English as well as their mutual mistreatment of blacks in their country. Most importantly, you'll discover a boy who learns that anything can be accomplished if he does it "first with his head, then with his heart."

I thought the book could have been tightened, better edited and shortened. I was not that interested in the boxing….. The ending , with Peekay’s old childhood enemy “The Judge” being the man he worked with in the copper mines, seemed contrived; it felt like the neat ending was too nicely tied up. It felt fictional, although the novel is supposed to be autobiographical. I would have appreciated an author’s note that explained what was fictional and what was fact.

Nevertheless it is not a bad read, and the audiobook, narrated by Humphrey Bower was excellently performed. The various characters were each marvelously distinct. I enjoyed learning about the racial inequalities that existed even before the Apartheid ever came into existence in South Africa, copper mining in Rhodesia and cacti. I have met “characters” which I fervently hope are real people – Doc and boxer “Hoppy Rundevald” (spelling questionable) and Geel Piet and Miss Boorstein. Actually, I came to like these people so much more than Peekay!

No, it is not a bad book, but I expected more given all the rave reviews I have read.

This was given to me quite a few years ago and has been sitting on the shelf waiting to be read. I would probably give it 4.5 stars, taking away that last bit for the ending & parts that slowed to a crawl. Overall, a surprising wonderful read full of life's lessons. I have underlined quite a few quotes in this one.

A coming of age story set in South Africa in the 30's & 40's. We follow Peekay from age 5 to 20, an English boy caught in a world of prejudice and racism. I loved that we see the people behind the ethnicity through his eyes. If I could describe him in one word, it would be resilient. He suffers losses throughout the book especially in his formative years and yet is able to take what he learned and turn it into a strength. His desire for knowledge is stoked by some incredible people he meets throughout his life, some for just a short time such as Hoppie who taught him the power of one and gave him a dream, to Doc who became a mentor for most of this time period. An "absoloodle" of a novel!

**Note: This was NOT the Young Readers Edition. I wish I would have known that there were two different versions...**
This book has a lot of good themes. Important themes--that's probably why it has such a high rating on goodreads and is on a gazillion "best book/must read" lists. It's filled with likeable, complex characters placed in impossible situations that display goodness, patience, resolve, kindness, and integrity. However... the "bad" characters and obstacles were too much for me. There is a lot of rough stuff. A LOT. I have no doubt that this is a realistic portrayal of WWII and post-WWII South Africa, but the language and violence (in many cases, stomach-turning) are severe enough that I can't think of very many people--if any--to whom I would recommend this book. If I could rate the overall story and message, it would definitely get 5 stars, but when you factor in all the "yuck," it gets one star.

*note to self* look for the "young readers edition!"

Super amazing book. It is hard to describe this book, but I'll give it a try. I would say that it is not a coming-of-age story, even though Peekay grows from the age of 5 to the age of 20 during the story. It is also not a story about WWII, even though the setting is in the late 1930s to mid 1940s, and includes Nazies and racism. It is not a book only about boxing, even though it does include quite a lot of boxing. It is the story of Peekay, wonderful, perfect Peekay. Peekay is so perfect that you will fall in love with him and find yourself admiring him. Peekay is so perfect, that he is even not too perfect.
It is a story about love and mentorship. Peekay connects easily with adults and learns lessons for life, he learns that small can beat big, he learns that you need to work First with the head, then with the heart, he learns about pride and sense of self (Pride is holding your head up high when everyone around you has theirs bowed. Courage is what makes you do it.).
Peekay is an open minded lovely boy with not a drop of hate or racism, who develops beautiful deep friendships: with the train conductor Hoppie, with the German Professor Doc, with the colored prisoner Geel Piet, with his best friend who is Jewish. All of this in spite the racism that surrounds him. (I laughed heartily when he said "I wanted to grow up and become a jew"). Peekay is brilliant, and is learning quickly. And he is learning something from everyone. He is an inspiring character, as also some of the rest of the characters.
The author was brilliant to show the connection between boxing and music, and those two and science. It is amazing how many opportunities are around us, and how many Davids can beat Goliathes if they just looked more closely and used their heads (and then their hearts).

It is brilliant and rich narrative. Some great laugh-out-loud moments are promised. This is Courtenay's first book that he wrote at the age of 55, which is by itself amazing and inspiring.

Read the book, and you might (highly likely) find yourself chanting "Onoshobishobi Ingelosi! Onoshobishobi Ingelosi!" because the Tadpole is an Angel and the book is absoloodle amazing.

I am embarrassed and upset to say that I feel disappointed in Courtnay. This is the first book I have read of his and having grown up on the movie, I thought reading it would be a cinch. I was wrong. It went on and on in great depth about characters and stories that went no where. I only saw fragments of what was in the movie and even then they were twisted slightly. Why is it an international best seller? Do people like to read stories that meander on and on and in circles? How on earth did they make the movie?

When I had finished, I was throughly disappointed ,as the very last scene is of peekay, the main character , beating up the baddie.
But the baddie is mentally ill, from working in the mines, it is a sickening fight, where I felt sorry for the baddie.
The main character, peekay, what a sanctimonious, self important sh*#!
He took everything that people who loved him, gave him and threw it away, and said that it burdened him, that the more they gave him, the more pressured he felt to not be himself.

WOW! Straightforward, solid, suspenseful, sentimental!

You know how so many authors now are trying to be clever in writing: flashbacks, flashforwards, decades mixed up - everything out of order? Yes, that can be interesting and wonderful. But I have to say, it was so refreshing to just sit down and read a well-told story and one that progressed in chronological order! It's a coming of age tale - covering 1939-1953.

I learned a ton about boxing, plants, music, South Africa, the start of apartheid, the Boer Wars. It was the kind of book that creates a list of other books to read.

I was going to also say an "easy" to read story, but I'm not sure "easy" is the right word. Was very difficult to read the first quarter of it because of extreme bullying scenes. The horrible racial prejudice was also tough to handle. But it's told in a way that somehow keeps tragedy in perspective and also keeps the reader hopeful. Themes of resilience, courage, humor, and loyalty come to mind.

A few flaws. Too long. Editor could have shaved 100 pages off the 500+ and it would have been fine. Also, if you like your fiction super fictional, you may be frustrated. It's been called fictional/autobiography and in certain sections, it felt like a full-on memoir. Even Courtenay's bio corresponds with the book, so there's no doubting that Courtenay was telling his personal story. Lastly, some younger and/or female readers may find it too "macho". Courtenay was a product of his times (like all of us!) and the few women characters that appeared were pretty one dimensional.

That being said, I still thought it was so interesting and a real page turner!