Solomon's Song

The Australian Trilogy, Book 3

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 19 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is the story of two families, branches of the Solomons, transported to an alien land. Both branches eventually grow rich and powerful. But through three generations, the families never, for one moment, relinquish their hatred for each other. This novel is also the story of Australia, from its beginnings to its coming of age as a nation.

©2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"Narrator Humphrey Bower doesn't miss a nuance. His villains have a sharp, nasal nastiness, and his love scenes tickle the hairs at the nape of the neck. Bower's performance is spot-on." (Audiofile)

Great series

Never wanted the story to end. Wishing there was another book in this series. The narrator was perfect for this story.

headline is optional!

Unlike other reviewers who almost steered me away from this book, I am glad I listened to it. I agree that devoting so much of the book to WW1 was too much. The thing I really hated was the ending! Really? You couldn't do better than this? there was no reward for slogging through everything about the war. But the first part of the book was good.

Gripping story, excellently read

This trilogy is so brilliantly written - the characters, the dialogue, the plot - all superb. You really get to care about the people. And Humphrey Bower’s narration is the best audiobook I have ever heard. How he does all the different voices, and infused the written word with such emotion is amazing. Get all three books and you won’t regret it.

So disappointed

While I appreciate that this is historical fiction, the story of this family was enamoring right up to the very last minute. Whereupon I felt completely letdown. Devastated! I don’t know if this is really what happened historically to this species family, but the way the story ended felt like i was punched in the gut and then the puncher ran away….,,,,,it was so so disappointing. at the very end. Almost felt like, ok, I don’t feel like doing this story anymore so let’s wrap it up in a sentence

Sorry to Finish the Book

Would you listen to Solomon's Song again? Why?

Yes, but in sequence with the other two books...to spend time with Victoria and Ben as they pick up where the last generation left off.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Solomon's Song?

The last page, but that would be a spoiler.

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

What's not to like? He's astonishingly gifted at voicing very different characters. I'll look for him again and again.

If you could take any character from Solomon's Song out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Hawk. Who wouldn't take a seven foot tall, face-tattoo'd pacifist to dinner?

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend the series: it's a masterwork of the historical family saga variety.

Listened to complete the series...

Glad I listened to the whole series, but this was not my favorite Courtenay. Though I enjoyed parts, I didn't feel as invested in the new characters introduced and was left a little unsatisfied with the way some of the story lines were concluded.

Good--not great--and fitting end to the trilogy

Somehow, no matter the medium, the third entry in any trilogy ends up being the weakest entry in the series--Return of the Jedi and Godfather III being the most glaring examples. So, while not near as bad as the final Godfather film, Solomon's Song is decidedly worse than its forerunners. That being said, it is still a 3 1/2 - 4 star book.

The story picks up after the events of Tommo & Hawk but the next 20 years are skimmed through very quickly. There are more problems between the two branches of Ikey's family, dealing with the brewing business, but the crux of the story deals with the First World War and its repercussion for both the Solomon family and Australia as a whole. We follow Mary's great-grandson and Tommo's grandson, Ben Teekleman, as he lands on the beaches of Galipoli and fights the Turks in the name of Great Britain.

Galipoli was to become the seminal event that gave the people of Australia their identity. After the Battle of Galipoli, they were steadfastly Australian, set apart from the English, much like their cousins in America after the War of Independence. It is a fitting end to Courtenay's "love song to Australia," portraying the moment at which a people whose identity has always been tied to the Mother Country become a seperate and unique nation of individuals.

I have read some reviews that say this book was unnecessary and that Courtenay should have finished the story with Tommo & Hawk. I wholeheartedly disagree. It is true that, compared with The Potato Factory and Tommo & Hawk, this book is decidedly inferior. However, it is still an important and fitting end to this historically fictional account of Australia--from penal colony to independent nation. And besides, while it may not live up to its predecessors, the book is still very good. If you have read the first two entries, it is well worth your time and money to finish the story of Ikey Solomon, Mary Abacus, and their descendants.

The end of the Solomons

This is the end of the Solomon triology. I read each one as well as the 'Power of One'. Courtenay is a master story-teller; in fact, Hawk Solomon, I believe, is one of the best characters in English literature.
The birth of Australia and its early days up to the First World War are revealed beautifully and starkly in these three novels.
However, this may be the last Courtenay novel I will 'read'. The tragic endings are too predictable. I don't necessarily enjoy soapy Hollywood conclusions, but enough is enough. It is like the author wants to beat up the reader. This is particularly true in 'Solomon's Song'. You know what's coming and how it will all end.
It's unfortunate because these are wonderful stories, magnificant characters, and incredible humour even amid death.
However, I will look for books narrated by Humphrey Bower. His range of voices is astounding. He brings all the characters to life.
If it weren't for the predictable ending, this would be 5 out 5.

I'm a fan

This was a great trilogy story but the performance of the narrator made it the probably the best audio book series I've ever listened to. (that's a period).

many voices

How the narrator was able to vocalize so many distinct individuals and their accents from many different continents is amazing. Loved it.