The Persimmon Tree

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 27 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

It is 1942 in the Dutch East Indies, and Nick Duncan is a young Australian butterfly collector in search of a single exotic butterfly. With invading Japanese forces coming closer by the day, Nick falls in love with the beguiling Anna van Heerden.

Their time together is brief, as both are forced into separate, dangerous escapes. They plan to reunite and marry in Australia but it is several years before their paths cross again, scarred forever by the dark events of a long, cruel war.

In The Persimmon Tree, Bryce Courtenay gives us a story of love and friendship set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pacific during the Second World War.

©2007 Bryce Courtenay. By arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia).; 2013 Bryce Courtenay. By arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia). (P)2007 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"The ultimate international bestseller." (The New York Times)

"When the Japanese invade Indonesia in 1942, 17-year-old Australian Nick Duncan escapes by sailing a yacht across the ocean. It's a harrowing journey made manageable, in part, by Nick's hope that his new love, Anna, is safely on her way to Australia. Unfortunately, Anna is stuck in Indonesia, a prisoner of the Japanese. Humphrey Bower's narration makes it a pleasure. His skills should be a model. He reads with anticipation, so that a line written as a laugh or a sob is read as a laugh or a sob without being overdramatized. His characterizations reveal personality and motive, and hold steady throughout the book. And his pacing keeps us interested even when the plot is predictable." (AudioFile Magazine)

Great narration and epic story!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Persimmon Tree to be better than the print version?

In this case yes. Thouroughly enjoyed the narration. Character voices very plausible, even across genders.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anna. Her story resonated with me and I was almost instantly invested in her journey.

Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no.

If you could rename The Persimmon Tree, what would you call it?

wouldnt rename it. after understanding the definition of the persimmon tree, the title was very fitting.

Any additional comments?

Was disappointed in the rapid closure at the end, especially related to Anna. Would have like further description of her recovery and well being.

Outstanding

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

I would highly recommend this book--outstanding performance of a great story.

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

Too many to count.

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

Accent, difference in voices for the different characters--feeling for the subject.

Great way to learn of history

What did you like best about The Persimmon Tree? What did you like least?

It was nicely narrated and interesting. The main male character was unreasonably mature, knowledgeable and too good to be true for his 18 years

What was most disappointing about Bryce Courtenay’s story?

see above

Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Great narrator easy to listen to

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

possibly

Absolutely enchanting

Would you listen to The Persimmon Tree again? Why?

This is a beautiful story, very well told. Warning listening to this story is addictive. It is best suited for a voyage, where have time to savor this delicious tale.

Excellent read.

What did you love best about The Persimmon Tree?

The story behind the seeds.

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

It is hard to pick a favorite character. I felt connected to several of the characters.

Great book and an excellent narrator

I really enjoyed this book and i look forward to the next two in the triology

Amazing historical fiction at its absolute finest

I love historical fiction and this work was one of the best I’ve heard. This book is simply the quintessential novel to take your arm and guide you through a real piece of history through the eyes of characters who become your friends. I will miss them. So incredibly written and conceptualized. And as always, the narration of Humphrey Bower is the pinnacle of narration…there is no one better at this craft

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.