“First with the head, then with the heart.”

"When men can be made to hope, then they can be made to win.”

This is a brilliant book with characters that will stay with you long after you finish the book. Categorised as a "Coming of age", I was a bit surpised to meet Peekay as a 5 years old in 1930s South Africa.

Peekay is British kid who is sent off to boarding school after his mom's mental broke down. As a redneck, he is bullied in boarding school for bedwetting and later held as "prisoner of war" when Germany is on ascension. By the time he finished boarding school, the trauma changes and influences his future actions.

Peekay meets Hoppie - a boxing champion who sees his potential, a German music teacher (in the background of WWII) called Doc, Mrs.Boxall the town librarian, Geel Piet a 'kafir' prisoner who teaches him boxing. Over the years he becomes a boxing champion for the prison team while running many enterprises including smuggling tobacco for the prisoners and writing letters. All under the tutelage of his mother who becomes a born again Christian and fires the heathen nanny.

There is a subtle introduction of Apartheid. By offering hope and doing the right thing (like acknowledging his coach even though he was black) Peekay becomes the Little Tadpole to the various Zulu tribes and he is seen as the one prophecised to unite them all. Told from the POV of Peekay, these gradual changes are not as shocking but then they make a distinct impact. The societal changes have been handled brilliantly into the story without being drawn attention to.

This is a story of human spirit and goodness. Loved it!

The power of one good book!

This book was a slow starter for me, so I got the Audible companion audiobook.... and THAT made all the difference. Soon I was immersed into Peekay's life and found it to be a beautifully (although at times, VERY descriptive) crafted story of a South African boy's coming of age. But it was also so much more, a story of South Africa and the rising tide of Apartheid following WWII. The imagery, lyrical prose, humor, and pathos won me over as did Courtenay's introduction of marvelously rich characters! As Doc would say, this book is "being an eleven out of ten! Absoloodle!"

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.

Very moving. A weak and friendless English boy growing up in South Africa during World War II, Peekay turns to two older men, one black and one white, to show him how to find the courage to dream, to succeed, to triumph over a world when all seems lost, and to inspire him to summon up the most powerful force - the power of one. (excerpted from editorial reviews)

Uhh it was a school book so it wasn’t that good and I used spark notes for like half of it anyways

3.5*

Wow wow wow
What an amazing book. Emotional rollercoaster and although difficult in parts to hear about society in that part of history I would still rate this as one of my favourites. Wonderful characters that build and leaves you with hope in your heart.
Would recommend the audiobook 100%. Amazing narrator that brings the characters even more to life.

Audio version with introduction by the author himself. He is such a larrikin with a happy voice. Bryce Courtenay's debut, apparently toiled over at the kitchen table with his son's girlfriend stating "This is the best book I've read, you need to publish it" or words to the effect. The rest, they say, is history.

n  "First with the head, then with the heart"n

What an Australian classic, one that I should have read by now.

Peekay starts out as a tiny tot (I have a 6 year old son and therefore horrified) who suffers dreadful abuse at this young age at boarding school, at the hands of horrible older boys, one in particular. Emerging a wonderful, well rounded and amazing human being.

Memories of his beloved wet nurse, neurotic mother and beloved music teacher and mentor; this is an epic story centring on the discipline and craft of boxing. South Africa is a sometimes bleak and beautiful place, told from around the time of 1930-1940. Worthwhile reading. Amazing narration.

29/03/18 Addendum. I stumbled across notes taken during my audio read, so I have some more thoughts.

On Peekay losing one of his most favourite people in the world, due to a zealously religious and neurotic mother:
n   "The lord is a shithead and I allowed myself a good cry” “The only person I knew not to have camouflage was Nanny” n

There are too many sweet and wonderful comments from Peekay, I must purchase the hard copy, it would be a valuable asset to any bookshelf.

Peekay’s grandfather, I loved reading these parts between the young and the old: n  "There’s a good lad.” Tap tap. Stroke n” goes Grandfather’s pipe process.

Peekay’s perception: n   “Very high up born again Christian” n” This was so humorous with the full on nature of Peekay’s mother, so worried about the ranking of all this stuff!

I cannot read my writing, so I hope I am doing Mr Courtenay justice here. n   “To emerge as myself. To regain the power of one.” n

**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!"

One of my favourite books of all time! And Peekay is one of the best characters. It's a pretty long book but everything that unfolds is really enjoyable and holds a lot of meaning. Also had has some really funny parts as well. Looking forward to the day I read it yet again!

I wasn't sure whether I would like this book since all I knew was that it was about boxing which I am not a big fan of, but a girl had told me this was her favorite book so I thought I would give it a try. I loved it. In some ways it is a fasinating look at South Africas devastating history, but the protagonist's innocent perspective just draws you into his story. The characters in the story are what really make it great, Peekay's mentors, friends and even the evil adversaries he has to overcome. Even if you know nothing about boxing, the fight scenes are written in an accesible way anyone can picture and enjoy. I recommend this book to anyone who if you would enjoy a bildungsroman about having a dream and not ever giving it up...

4.5 Stars

What’s not to love about a book about rising up and succeeding and becoming a symbol to all the people ( White, Black, Boers) of South Africa!
An uplifting book about a young boy who is tormented at school and whose dream is to become a welter- weight champion. Peekay, the boy, is wise beyond his years. He listens and learns and becomes an instrument of change.
A beautiful, heartfelt book that was occasionally bogged down by too much detail, but nonetheless succeeded in all the important ways- a great story that is inspirational and satisfying!
Highly recommended!