Tommo & 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.

©2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing. By arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia

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???

Sensational

What a writer. Right down to the nitty gritty of human existence. I love the way he gets his history so detailed and captures the spirit of different races- high or low as they may be. One of the best writers ever.

Entertaining story and characters.

I enjoyed this book overall. Characters and story are entertaining and intriguing. It would help to read the preceding book to understand more back story. However I found myself fast forwarding thru many portions as the descriptions and action scenes would last very long.
The reader did a great job.

Almost as good as the first book

Any additional comments?

This part of the story is quite a different one compared to the story of the first book in this series but it is just as good. This book is written in 1st person with the twins telling the story themselves. I am not sure if I find this good or bad but it is definately a difference that makes this book a little less attached to the first volume. I miss Ikey in this one.

Predictable and Tiresome

I loved Potato Factory so much that I quickly downloaded the other two books in the series - Tommo & Hawk + Solomon's Song. I should have left well enough alone.

Tommo and Hawk was good for maybe the first half of the book. However, it became so predictable and tiring that I was grateful when it finally ended. I found myself predicting what would happen and how it would happen, and the only enjoyment (beyond completing the task of finishing this book) was in whether I'd predicted every part correctly.

Now I have Solomon's Song, which promises to be even worse if the reviews are accurate. I"ll definitely try Bother Fish which gets great reviews.

Steve

Five stars!

After listening to the Potato factory I could not wait to hear about Tommo and Hawk. So different and jet so much brotherly love and understanding. All what these twins go through on the sea and later on land with the people whom they shared unbelievable faith. Bryce Courteney is a first class storyteller and Humphrey Bower is a first class narrater.

engrosing story and historical

i listen to books on trips in the car. I learned so much from this series but it was moving as well and kept me engaged. I did not want it to end.