Whitethorn

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 24 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of The Power of One comes a new novel about Africa. The time is 1939. White South Africa is a deeply divided nation with many of the Afrikaner people fanatically opposed to the English. The world is also on the brink of war, and South Africa elects to fight for the Allied cause against Germany. Six-year-old Tom Fitzsaxby finds himself in The Boys Farm, an orphanage in a remote town in the high mountains, where the Afrikaners side fiercely with Hitler's Germany. Tom's English name proves sufficient for him to be ostracised, marking him as an outsider. And so begin some of life's tougher lessons for the small, lonely boy. Like the whitethorn, one of Africa's most enduring plants, Tom learns how to survive in the harsh climate of racial hatred. Then a terrible event sends him on a journey to ensure that justice is done. On the way, his most unexpected discovery is love.

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

FABULOUS!

This is my 12th Bryce Courtenay novel and my favorite by far. You won't be disappointed. I love Humphrey Bower's performance of the Courtenay novels.

A modern day story

Really good and I am sure truthful. I would love to see a novel written within and about our current times in South Africa...
A challenge Mr Courteney.... I look forward to your novel

Wow another Bryce Courtney brilliance.

I think this man will is the most brilliant writer I have ever come across. Seriously!! Sometimes he can be long winded but it always has a purpose in the scheme of the book. The long tales of the horrible “Boy’s Farm” became trying to me . But I saw later in the book how this accented the whole rest of the story. It was necessary for the rest. This man knows life inside out here on Earth, from the bottom in the cess pits to the heavenly clouds above. Bryce Courtney is gone for now . Farewell

Another excellent story

Can listen to Bower all day the absolute best at his game. Making the story alive!!!! Really enjoyed the story by Bryce. On my top shelf.

Typical Bryce Courtney/Humphrey Bower ....awesome

Where does Whitethorn rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Though a great book, this is not my favorite Bryce Courtenay book. If you haven't read/listened to The Power of One (my personal favorite), The Potato Factory, Tandia and others, you should treat yourself. As with all his books, you will laugh, cry and experience many emotions. His stories are influenced by his personal experiences growing up during difficult times in South Africa and his life in Australia. I was sad to hear of his death November 22. He will be greatly missed!
Humphrey Bower is by far my favorite narrator. He has an uncanny ability to change his voice and make the characters come alive! Such a talent is rare, you will not be disappointed. It's easy to understand why Bryce Courtenay chose him to read his books...what a great duo! Another book that he narrated beautifully (not Bryce Courtenay's) is Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, if you like Bryce Courtenay, you should like this one, too.

Great book

I really enjoyed Whitethorn.
It did have some disturbing parts in it but if you can get past those parts it is a brilliant story. The way Bryce Courtney tells the story through the eyes of a young boy is just so entertaining.
I shared this book with my 60+ Mother and 90+ Grandmother and they both loved it, so much so they have listened to it more than once.

Fantastic!

Yet again, Bryce Courtenay writes an amazing, well written story. I enjoy the foundation of history henhanced by fiction. I highly recommend this book.

Bryce C. is amazing, but this book is not his best

while Bryce C. always writes amazing books, this is not his best work, it's a little wordy when it's not necessary. feels a little scattered or it just doesn't flow like his others. But still he's an amazing author, and even his not "best" books are miles above many other writers.

Absorbing

I was enthralled by the locations and characters in the story, and delighted with Humphrey Bower's narration.

Wonderful

I have a thing for long books. I love getting into a story, especially one that covers a good part of a lifetime of a person. This book made me laugh out and sob several times. I will think of it and the stories of Africa for quite a while.