The Power of One

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 21 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

"First with your head and then with your heart." So says Hoppie Groenewald, boxing champion, to a seven-year-old boy who dreams of being the welterweight champion of the world. For the young Peekay, it is a piece of advice he will carry with him throughout his life.

Born in a South Africa divided by racism and hatred, this one small boy will come to lead all the tribes of Africa. Through enduring friendships with Hymie and Gideon, Peekay gains the strength he needs to win out. And in a final conflict with his childhood enemy, the Judge, Peekay will fight to the death for justice.

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

of One

If you could sum up The Power of One in three words, what would they be?

Life deepening book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Power of One?

- Doc and PeeKay's relationship.
- the love that PeeKay had for Giel Pete.
- PeeKay 's bird was killed.
- Judge made PeeKay eat crap. How can people be so evil to one another. It hurt me to hear this.

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

He was right in the story, every word was heartfelt as if it were his own story. His voice reflected the emotions and I loved listening to him.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried and became angry at all of the injustices this little boy had to live through. I despise the way people pick on others and put down others because they are different.

Any additional comments?

Excellent Book! Excellent Narration!

slow at times

I did not enjoy this book as much as the potato factory...it was still good though, albeit slow at times.

My all time favorite audiobook!

Great story - the audio version is wonderful! The narration is excellent. I tend to lean toward Sci-Fi/Fantasy, but read everything. I read this about 3 years ago and recommend it anyone I can. This is my all time favorite book. The other 2 are Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth and the Harry Potter series. After reading The Power of One, I also read the sequel, Tandia, and it was excellent as well. You will not be disappointed. I have listened to many other Bryce Courtenay books, but I have to say that The Power of One and Tandia are by far my favorites.

Powerful

Any additional comments?

I hate boxing, and yet I loved this book -- that's how good it is.

interesting read

Great Story. I did not think I would be interested in the boxing details at all but it's still captured the imagination.

My most favorite novel, read by a master

The Power of One moved me as a teenager, and now as an adult I've cherished it again. A brilliant story, a masterpiece. The reader is also brilliant, a master of accents, character, as well as distinguishing different ages of characters.

Slow start, with a strong building story

Would you listen to The Power of One again? Why?

Yes, it is a positive and enlightening story that should be the basis for a modern thinker raising the next generation. Heroic in scale, yet the only superpower is mindful determination.

What did you like best about this story?

The wonder as you see the mystique of a mind being built, and the effect of a single mind's effect on the world.

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

I have not listened to other books of his, but I will now.

If you could take any character from The Power of One out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Doc is the inspirational figure in this tale for me. I could see other characters that I would love to listen to over dinner, but the man that taught Peekay to think... that is a man that offers true power and wisdom.

Any additional comments?

This is not written as a first book. This is a novel many try to achieve writing once in their life. It is an aw inspiring heroic tale of an ordinary boy that should have never been on anyone's radar, but became larger than life as life hits him and he trudges forward.

Fantastic book and excellent narration

Really engaging story about a little boy in South Africa. I knew very little about South Africa's history so I found I learned a lot about the culture and the struggles that led up to Apartheid. I immediately purchased the sequel!

Classic audio book

This is a classic audio book written by a great Australian writer. I have been wanting to read this book but have been turned off by the size. Decided I should get the audio book to see how it reads and was not disappointed. Well read by Humphrey Bower. Highly recommended.

"First with the head, and then with the heart..."

(The headline is a quotation from the book). I'd like to start with the heart and say that I loved listening to this story, often with tear-filled eyes and lump in throat because its so close to home. I didn't want it to end, so immediately ordered the follow-up, Tandia, as well. I loved the extra effort put in by the producers, such as the Zulu music at the intro, etc. The Courtenay/Bower combination is indeed powerful. Mr Bower is a brilliant story teller, and although his accents are off the mark, he brings the characterisation to life wonderfully.

Now "with the head" ... Clearly, Mr Courtenay knows how to spin a tale. And how to make it sell! While writing from a secure seat within a runaway bandwagon, he appeals unashamedly to popular opinion, and leaves thinking to the intelligence of his readers/audience. Sweeping generalisations. prejudices, and over-simplifications are the marks of an advertising man, such as Mr Courtenay is (to my knowledge). Without its gripping storyline and intermittent pepperings of realism, the characterisation would almost become caricature. This book is about popular appeal. However, i believe that Bryce Courtenay could write good literature if he focussed more in that direction.

In the meantime, i'm quite happy to enjoy the "soap operatic" stories he churns out. They really are FUN! :-)