Solomon's Song

The Australian Trilogy, Book 3

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 19 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is the story of two families, branches of the Solomons, transported to an alien land. Both branches eventually grow rich and powerful. But through three generations, the families never, for one moment, relinquish their hatred for each other. This novel is also the story of Australia, from its beginnings to its coming of age as a nation.

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

Critic reviews

"Narrator Humphrey Bower doesn't miss a nuance. His villains have a sharp, nasal nastiness, and his love scenes tickle the hairs at the nape of the neck. Bower's performance is spot-on." (Audiofile)

Part 3 still great!

If you could sum up Solomon's Song in three words, what would they be?

Moving, Epic, Wish it would keep going

I am loving all of Bryce's books. As a fellow adman I am jealous and appreciative of his command of storytelling. Nice mix of moral, interest and, of course, all the wonderful Aussie and S. African turns of phrase and expressions. Makes me feel dumbs a box of hair :)

Humphrey Bower is the new king of narrators.
He rivals and surpasses in some ways Scott Brick and John Lee.
Amazing with accents, characters and emphasis

The Courtenay books are the best I have listened to in years! And I have 2 accounts listening to about 5 a month while super commuting.
You will love
Enjoy!

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

All great

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A life well lived is a life well loved.

Very real… the agony & suffering are so real.

I felt a part of the lives of the characters, such suffering & yet goodness & courage prevailed.

Seems to get off the track

I loved The Potato Factory and Tommo and Hawk. I also liked Solomon's Song but it didn't seem to hang together with the first two books. Courtenay should have written a separate book about the First World War and had the third book continued with the saga started in the first two books. A good share of the third book was Ben and the war,little about the Hawk/Benjamin, Joshua/Ben relationahip and the business.

I'm a sucker for sagas

and the Australian trilogy fit the bill. As for this volume, t Mr. Courtenay doesn't go over the edge historically and made sure to include the sodden trenches of France along with the horrors of Gallipoli. Now that I have Humphrey Bower's voice in me head much of the time, I must tell you that there is no better narrator; some who compare, but none better.

Four stars because I'm getting tired of being guilty of grade inflation and though I liked Solomon's Song very much, The Power of One and The Potato Factory are ~1 star better.

By the way, I am going to try to get the following: Bryce Courtenay helped with the publication of "An Anzac's Story" by Roy Kyle. Kyle was at Gallipoli (and France later) as an ordinary soldier and began this memoir at 89.

What a great ending to this awesome trilogy!

Any additional comments?

I started the novel but an ear infection slowed my iPod listening down, but it did not dampen my enjoyment ... what a marvelous trilogy - "Solomon's Song" concluded this series without leaving me wondering or wanting ... Humphrey Bower gave an exemplary reading throughout bring each character to a satisfying fullness making it so easy to keep up with all the personalities ... Bryce Courtenay wrote a brilliant trilogy that kept my attention book one thru book three - rest your soul, your talent will be missed ... I highly recommend this trilogy whether you like fiction, historical fiction, Australian fiction or just a rousing good story - it crosses so many genres ... I hope folks will enjoy this trilogy in the future as much as I did!

PART THREE -- BRUTAL, SHOCKING, THEN SILENCE!

Well, how was Courtenay supposed to end this story based on history? I needed to hear about Gallipoli as I didn't even know where it was! I have seen people just shake their heads in mention of it, so I needed this book with its carefully planned descriptions -- rats included! Courtenay is not simply taking a stand against war, like choosing milk over lemon. He expresses several times his gut level take on the results of old men planning a war that young men will die fighting. I have sat frustrated in staff meetings with lieutenant bars on my own shoulders across from a grizzled and giggling major, while waiting for an elderly Lieutenant Colonel way past his sell-by date to say, "Well we kicked that around enough -- " without making any decision whatsoever! I have seen how ego rules these matters. And my Vietnam veteran husband left a poem about old men playing dominos, the domino theory being a knee-jerk shorthand picture of strategy in Southeast Asia where so many of his friends died, including Jack Freppon, a blond orphan raised in NYC's Harlem by a black family. Jack was hit while waving to his friend across a hillside.

Courtenay set up the shocking end to this book by carefully describing the various family members and how their lives were moving along as WWI approached. He even describes Victoria's "toilette" on the day she meets with David and Abraham Solomon. This is a marvelous lesson in dressing for success practiced decades before its time: no makeup, hair in a bun, neutral colors, sensible shoes. And Hawk's first idea had been to have her tart herself up! She has already finished law school. We get it loud and clear that this is a powerful and determined young woman embodying oodles of potential, whether or not her brother comes forward. We see how David has taken charge of indoctrinating Joshua, how Abraham is a reasonable man sadly overshadowed by his father. Alas, while the good die young, the bad sometimes do die old! Courtenay shows us that Hawk feels his strength waning, even as his mind and will are clear. Hawk is measuring himself against the task at hand, doing his best to set precedents that will reward future generations.

Then Ben comes forward as a true hero, a man who can always think what to do next when others are literally losing their heads. We know he is handsome like his Dutch father, but I fell in love with his intensity, his coming up with creative solutions to impossible situations. Anyone forced to work for an inadequate supervisor can appreciate how Ben is able to work with a real weirdo young OIC and turn him into a cooperative team member and ultimately a friend and brother. Suddenly we see the results of constant practice of a skill -- both with the rifle and in Ben's case with the Maori fighting axe. We see the men ordered to help each other, friendships formed that will have to continue in Heaven.

Sarah Atkins is a real breath of fresh air near the end of the book. Always having to scrimp, extremely modest, she is amazed when Ben treats her to a new coat in London. Another coat for her friend. Ben puts his money where they can well enjoy it. Obviously, Sarah has no clue her fiance is wealthy! These descriptions are delicious. As in, "We'll always have Paris!" or in this case, London. In looking online for historical background, I opened a 99-year-old document showing lists of nurses with sweet names like Edith and Myrtle.

No, the book doesn't fizzle at the end! We can imagine the rest. Joshua will never lead the company! Victoria will have to work with Abraham. We can hope she marries and has fine children and a real helpmeet in her partner. I would love to know more of the sources Mr. Courtenay used for this story. But to take the story any further would be like kicking around ideas about Prince William and his Kate. It will be what it is. History happens. Better to stop here and get it loud and clear that wars are planned by old men and solve nothing.

Whew!

Too much repetition!

I couldn't wait to start Book 3 and, although I'm not half way through it yet, I feel cheated. There is so much time spent repeating the story line from Books 1 and 2 that I feel bored. Let people read the first two books if the story won't be cohesive without that knowledge. Don't make me spend my time and money on a repeat. Disappointed....

Beautifully written, as I've come to expect.

I was a little surprised by the somewhat abrupt ending to the story. I loved the trilogy!

Well crafted but quick to resolve

The whole series is well written taking us on a fantastic journey through time and multiple lands and cultures.

This third book rapidly moves into the next 2 generations while continuing many of the central conflicts from the earlier books.

The last third of the novel focuses on WWI in a captivating and detailed manner. The main characters stay key to the bigger story.

My only issue with the conclusion of the trilogy is its abrupt ending. It technically resolves the series - but feels rushed and less thorough than the capabilities of the author had proved up to that point.

Worth it!

This was the best Book of the Trilogy. It was hard to stop listening, and it was gut wrenching.