Tommo and Hawk

The Australian Trilogy, Book 2

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 20 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Brutally kidnapped and separated in childhood, Tommo and Hawk are reunited at the age of 15 in Hobart Town. Together, they escape their troubled pasts and set off on a journey into manhood. From whale hunting in the Pacific to the Maori wars of New Zealand, from the Rocks in Sydney to the miners' riots at the goldfields, Tommo and Hawk must learn each other's strengths and weaknesses in order to survive.

Along the way, Hawk meets the outrageous Maggie Pye, who brings love and laughter into his life. But the demons of Tommo's past return to haunt the brothers. With Tommo at his side, Hawk takes on a fight against all odds to save what they cherish most. In the final confrontation between good and evil, three magpie feathers become the symbol of Tommo and Hawk's rite of passage.

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

Critic reviews

"Narrator Humphrey Bower captures each character, making listeners forget that one majestic voice creates the various natives, the Irish, the English, and people of all ages. Few will fail to be enthralled by this adventure saga, which skillfully captures history while keeping listeners glued to their earphones." (Audiofile)

Captivating

Delightful sequel to the Potato Factory. Delightful as in the characters come to life with Humphrey Bower's superb narration, not delightful in the sense that trouble and violence befall Tommo & Hawk. I loved how Ikey returns in the form of recollected life lessons that his adopted sons use to help them navigate their troubles.

first book was slow... almost quit. this was gripp

gripping good! the story the delivery the voices absolutely enjoyable. cried often. I loved it

I love you, Bryce Courtenay!

I bought the Potato Factory with my monthly credit. What a great deal! Phhhffffttthhhh... No 6 hour novel for me. I'm getting 23 hours of Audible magic for FREE!!! That's what I thought, until only three days after spending my bright and shiny new credit, I finished the book. NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, I had to suck it up and buy this book. Jeez. 21 hours of book isn't cheep. Let's see. 21, divided by....carry the one....equals...86 cents per hour. Ok. I guess that's not too bad. I would have paid twice that. Ssshhhh... Don't tell Audible. But really, the book was worth every penny.

So, here's what the books about:

Hey! Let's go hunt whales! Yeah. That sucked. But being wrongly imprisoned and likely being hanged for murder sucks worse. Wait. What's that? The Maori saved us. Well, since we're already here, let's teach them better ways to win fights with these a**hole white guys who won't quit trying to take their land. Also, let's get with the ladies. They're hot! (Tragedy and sadness and spoilers.) Now we're in Sydney. Let's play cards and do drugs and drink stuff. Oh yes, and meet women, feed poor kids, save some Mongolians (or are they Chinese?) from a mob, try to earn some legal money, and become a bare knuckles boxing champion. And finally, once and for all, take down the mongrels.

It's like Forrest Gump goes to Australia. If it had been any other writer, the book would have failed miserably. But Bryce Courtenay is a genius. It's never unbelievable, but it is often tragic. I was boohooing within the first three minutes. As with the first book, the sex scenes bothered me. I may have the punctuation skills of a child, but I am an adult. An adult with a dirty mouth even. But, phew! Those sex scenes make me blush. Go on, Mr. Courtenay! Get your freak on!

Great! Now I'm done with the second book, and only six days since I got my last credit. Ok. No more Starbuck's or fancy nails for me. I'm saving my pennies for the next book.

Average story plus great narration = good listen

The narrator really made this book - great job! The story was average, but had good characters and some very interesting parts. Overall a good read.

Brilliant

I chose this book because of its New Zealand history and I took a while to subsequently start listening, as I anticipated an emotional rollercoaster. That it was and once I started I couldn't stop. I loved the history and became enfolded into the lives of the major characters. The writing was superb and the narration also. I missed the first in the trilogy, but am back to download the last. I will then no doubt download the first and start listening all over.

Tommo and Hawk

Bryce Courtney nails it again with this relentlessly crafted tale. The tender and ruthless characters rise from the pages in such a way that this reader was near in love with them all...save the villainous mongrels who we hope all meet their just rewards.
Humphrey Bower's reading and presentation is better than a grammy/emmy/golden globe or academy performance abd I absolutely freak8n marvel that one man is actually doing all that. Kudos to you, Mr. Bower and ever Mr. Bryce.

The story of two unforgettable Brothers

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

One of my favorite audio books of all time.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tommo and Hawk?

The story was mesmerizing. Heartbreaking at times and uplifting at others. A woman who loves children but knows she can never have her own is given two amazing twins.

Incredible sadness of a family torn apart, and then eventually mended, but not fully healed.

What does Humphrey Bower bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He makes every character distinct (and there are many).

If you could take any character from Tommo and Hawk out to dinner, who would it be and why?

It would be Hawk, the incredible "Black Maori." A man of great heart, incredible integrity, and intelligence who is most defined by the unwavering love he has for his brother.

Any additional comments?

I found the information about the history of New Zealand and the Maori people fascinating.

The Saga Cont. Part II of the Australian Trilogy,

Where does Tommo and Hawk rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the BEST!

Who was your favorite character and why?

You cannot separate Tommo and Hawk and in this book Mary is STILL my fave character! She has such an Iron spirit

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

STill awesome, he reads and performs the characters so that it is like you are getting to KNOW them and do not have to create them in your mind

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I am too busy to do this but I wanted to and could not wait to start up and listen some more

Any additional comments?

I love the scene where Mary rescues Tommo--- OMG! you must read this second book of the Australian Trilogy

Fabulous Second Installment

Tommo and Hawk starts with the return of Tommo and ends with the departure of Tommo. In between is the description of the unlikely twins' coming of age and finding themselves.

As usual, Bryce Courtenay has written a gripping epic novel which is masterfully researched. The description of whaling is brought to life and is utterly gripping and gruesome.

I was a little afraid that the story of joining the Maori and fighting in New Zealand might become too political and preachy, but as usual, Bryce Courtenay handles things deftly. And as always he sets up scenarios and characters which recur later in the series.

Getting reacquainted with Billy Lanney was a nice surprise, for example. Getting reacquainted with Sparrow Fart was not such a nice surprise.

This middle book chronicles a roughly four-year period when the twins leave Mary and become whalers and then join the Maori before returning to Australia. Back in Australia, Hawk meets a courtesan named Maggie Pye and falls in love with her. Tommo unfortunately falls victim to the opium pipe and the clutches of the nefarious Sparrow Fart. In a sense, Hawk grows in this book while Tommo withers. Unfortunately, Tommo is so haunted by his time in the wilds when he was kidnapped as a boy that he cannot escape his demons.

Toward the end it finally appeared as though things were going to go well for Mary, Tommo, Hawk and Maggie Pye. But as always, fortune has other plans in store.a

The book again has a Dickensian flavour, although not in the same way as the Potato Factory. But the ending of the book has the flavour of A Tale of Two Cities, and the sacrifice made by Sydney Carton is similar to that made by Tommo.

Tommo and Hawk is lush and well-written and full of derring-do and acts of heroism. Life in Australia at the gold mining camps is brought to life in all its seedy realism. This is another book with gritty descriptions of the life and times in the early colonization of Australia.

As always, Humphrey Bower brilliantly narrates the story. His ability as a narrator is I think unparalleled. Bower is an absolute genius.

I don't understand the negative reviews of this book. I read and listen to a lot of books, and I would put the Australian trilogy at or near the top of my listening list. I often get antsy toward the middle and end of an audiobook, wishing for the end, but that is never the case with any of these books. I have now finished the entire series, and it still resonates. I think I might pick it back up and start again with the Potato Factory.

I was saddened to hear of Bryce Courtenay's passing in November. Now I have to go and get more of his works.

Tommo and Hawk does not suffer from the sophomore curse. Nor does it contain excessive or overly graphic content. Whatever graphic content is in the book is necessary to the story. The description of whaling and life aboard a whaling ship is probably more graphic than anything even remotely sexual in the books. Courtenay does not shy away from descriptions of floggings and brutal treatment at the hands of men (and nature). But it all adds to the story and is well done.

This is definitely worth 5 stars in every category and well worth the credit. It would even be worth paying for at full list price.

great , emotional part 2 of the trillogy

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tommo and Hawk?

Ahh, that would be a spoiler, but the horrors that befall Maggie Pie

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

Just as good, saying that I have only listened to him perform Bryce Cournteys work

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

Much the same as the most memorable moment was???