The Persimmon Tree

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 27 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

A sweeping saga from Bryce Courtenay, Australia's most popular author.

The Persimmon Tree opens in Indonesia in 1942 on the cusp of Japanese invasion and the evacuation of Batavia (Jakarta) by the Dutch. Seventeen-year-old Nicholas Duncan is on holiday there, in pursuit of an exotic butterfly known as the Magpie Crow. It's an uncertain, dangerous time to be in Indonesia, and Nick's options of getting out are fast dwindling. Amidst the fear and chaos he falls in love with Anna, the beautiful daughter of a Dutch acquaintance, and she nicknames him 'Mr Butterfly'.

To assist in the escape, Anna's father gifts Nick his prized yacht, Vlermuis, to sail to Australia. Singapore has just fallen, the Japanese have made it to Sumatra, and the waters are dangerous. Vlermuis is not long out of Batavia when Nick is forced ashore for repairs. He witnesses the bloody execution of shipwrecked Allied soldiers by natives, and while burying what's left of the bodies, Nick notices one wounded soldier has escaped death, and he carries him back to his yacht.

The rescued soldier is a lower-class Irish Catholic American called Kevin Judge. He has no sailing experience, but he assists Nick in navigating through some dramatic storms and the two form an unlikely and lifelong friendship.

©2007 Bryce Courtenay; 2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2007 Bolinda Publishing

The Persimmon Tree

This was a wonderful story of the South Pacific during WWII. Very interesting perspective of two young people from completely different backgrounds. I think
both male and female readers will truly enjoy this book.

Captivating and thoroughly engrossing story

What did you love best about The Persimmon Tree?

The exotic adventure of it all: a multi-talented protagonist (a linguist, athlete, loving, understanding - too gorgeous for words), an oriental location, a deep love that is almost unattainable, and a fabulous story with war and danger and suffering!

What other book might you compare The Persimmon Tree to and why?

I find Courtney quite unique - such realism (both weakness and strength in the characters), nuanced feeling and exquisite story-telling. Power of One also had me at

Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favorite?

Of course, the protagonist, what was his name?

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were so many, but of course, after so many years, the lovers finally find each other even though they've both been through incredible suffering and injury.

Any additional comments?

I would highly, and enthusiastically, recommend this book for a powerful escape from life.

Not one of my favorites

To much repetitive explanations and self praise. I loved a lot of Courtenay’s books but in this one he went to far with the perfection of his characters. I finished the book just to be able to see if it would get a bit more believable. Even Bower’s narration was overly done.

Not Courtenay's Best

I have listened to several of the late Bryce Courtenay's books. While I enjoyed Persimmon, the style is not my favorite.
Anna and Nick, the protagonists, meet in the Dutch East Indies just as the Japanese invade Java. They are almost immediately separated. From that point on the story proceeds for each separately; that is, the time lines in each do not correspond to what is happening in the other's life. With, of course each having their own POV. I suspect the story would have been tauter if parallel.
I originally gave the story 3 stars, which it is ... if compared only to this master storytellers other creations.

This Wonderful Book Came To Life

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

A novel which kick starts you into an adventure that never loses plausibility? Can't stop.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters are believable by the lost standards of heroism and honor seemingly forgotten by today's generation?

Which scene was your favorite?

The final meeting with his father, ending that phase of his search

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When he met the Japanese Broadcast officer he was sent to hunt down, and discovered that they were both human beings in the middle of war.

Any additional comments?

I have read every Bryce Courtney novel written, and have thoroughly enjoyed his incredibly detailed narrative style, which is so beautifully brought to life in this Audio book by Humphrey Bower.
I Buy the Audio Books for exactly this reason? To bring a novel that I have enjoyed to life!

PLEASE do the sequel, "Fishing For Stars" in an unabridged version?

Abridged versions cannot ever do justice to the depth of his novels.

A Fortunate Life

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Bryce Courtney tells a wonderful story.He is the King of Storytellers but why does he make his characters so extreme in qualities. His women are the most beautiful,the men so brave,so intelligent. They do like James Bond take on incredible challenges and survive unscathed. He also makes assumptions which I find annoying.However the story manages to hold my interest and the non stop tension is maintained throughout the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Persimmon Tree?

There are many memorable moments but perhaps the greatest impact was the head of the Tuk Tuk driver Til impaled on a post by the gate was the most wrenching. Finding the Japanese Radio operater in the jungle and the unusual and totally unexpected reactions of the captured man was memorable but really stretched credibility.Still it was a nice touch amid all the horror of war.

Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favorite?

Til the Tuk Tuk driver was a wonderful and well developed character.It was easy to relate to this gentle and wise man. His relationship with Anna was a highlight of the book.

Did The Persimmon Tree inspire you to do anything?

No not at all. I found it very entertaining but far from inspirational. I found the historical context very interesting and hope to do some more research regarding the development of Indonesia.

Any additional comments?

Again I am impressed by the amount of research needed to write this book. I learnt some very interesting facts about the Pacific war.

Not entirely enthralled with this one

Most subjects Courtenay writes about I find interesting if not fascinating, however the large middle section of this book about the woman's training to please her captor held almost no interest for me at all. But that's just me, you may love this part of the book. This was my least favorite Courtenay book to date.

Historical Soap Opera

I wish I like this book more. I purchased both this one and the "Power of One" as they sound perfect for me. Both share many of the same strengths and weaknesses.

The story is well told and cohesive, albeit far-fetched and often over-the-top dependent on coincidence. The narrator presents himself as modest and lucky, but it does not take long to determine that he is a figment of a juvenile imagine. No 17-year-old boy is consistently the sex-object of all desirable women, an expert at everything he puts his hand to, superior to trained experts in the arts and sciences of most everything, and lucky beyond credulity.

Other reviewers have noted the complete lack of nuance and subtlety in this book. Traits and actions presented as unacceptable in an "bad" individual are passed over when exhibited by a "good" person. Characters do not develop over the course of the 7 years covered. There are very mixed signals of racial and sexual bias and discrimination, almost as if the author could not decide whether to reflect the standards of the time or to show that he is an enlightened man of the 21st century.

Finally, this is a very long book with a medium length book struggling to get out. Whole sections could be cut and not leave the book any less engaging or coherent. I generally like long books but by the end of this one (listened to over 5 days), I had my fill of Nick and his charmed life. Anna's sections are more closely written and did not to my ear have the same tiresome faux-humble presentation as the "Nick" portions.

The reader does a good job overall. He does have quite distinct voices for each of the characters and only very occasionally fails to use the right one. Some of the voices struck me as a bit too stereo-typed but that could be due as much to the writing as the reading.

Amazing story

Loved Nickolas. He’s my hero! Makes you appreciate what those who lived and served in WW II did for us and that humanity matters.

Incredible!

Again, Bryce Courtney never disappoints! This is truly a gem of a saga. So many rich details and wonderful characters. And on this journey you learn history. What more could I ask for ? The narrator is one of the best and I would read any book he narrates. I’m going to listen to the next one in this series and may reread some of the ones I read many years ago!!