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)

Let Down a Little

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

Yes- If they have read the previous 2 books "The Potato Factory" & "Tommo & Hawk" this is essential to round out the story

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

It was good to see how the Solomon dynasty ended however i felt it was a bit clipped and rushed

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

Humphrey's narration was excellent he is by far one of my favorites. Throughout the trilogy his narration rarely waivered and the characters were easily identifiable.

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

The ending was terrible for me and made me feel like it had all been for nothing, this may have been the point, however i would have been just as happy if Bryce has taken some licence

Any additional comments?

The Potato Factory and Tommo & Hawk were great. I did feel coming to the last third of this book like the writer had got bored of his own story and rushed the ending to finish it. In my view i would still recommend the trilogy as a whole and Solomons song as rounding out the first two books

Beware the Ending

I truly enjoyed the characters and the story in this trilogy. A tiny bit less so in book two and then book three. The killer for me was how it all ended. So abruptly that I was thrown out of my chair and through the picture window. Prepare for that and this is a great trilogy!

Absolutely brilliant story and narration!

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

Thank you Bryce!

What did you like best about this story?

Felt emotionally involved with each character which rarely happens.

Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favorite?

Hawk...almost too good of a person to be real but his message was universal; personal responsibility, humility, determination, fairness and love of family.

If you could rename Solomon's Song, what would you call it?

Wouldn't change a word.

Any additional comments?

A big "Thank you" to Bryce Courtnenay...your gift for Australia was perfect and greatly appreciated by this American!

Did not want it to end.

Each of the three books in the Australian Trilogy has provided a wonderful balance of history and fiction culminating with Solomon's Song. Many have spoken about the ending and I, like them, wish it could have ended differently. That being said I longed for a sequel, but that cannot happen. So we are left open and wondering what will happen to those remaining and their futures. And we are given the freedom to finish the story for ourselves.

The impact of Gallipoli and Courtenay's emphasis on all of the details, including those most gruesome, sometimes made it difficult to listen. Yet, there was a reality that I, who will never experience a combat theater first hand, was given an opportunity to understand on a very deep and personal level. At the conclusion, I wept - not just for the characters, but for the futility of war and for the families whose sons and daughters face the same absurdity on a daily basis. We fight for our countries, but in doing so we are fighting someone's son or daughter and there is an inevitable loss that cannot be explained. Courtenay portrayed this in Solomon's Song and it is applicable to each war in which we engage.

After I listen to the rest of his books, I will go back and re-listen to all three once again. I miss the characters - Ikey, Mary, Tommo, Hawk, Maggie Pie, Ben, and Victoria. They became my friends. And I am continually amazed by the artistic agility portrayed by Humphrey Bowers. He is truly amazing as he brings each character, in their own voice, to life.

Solomon's last song!

Sadly the trilogy comes to an end. When I got the Potato Factory in one of Audible's great sale offers I never dreamed I would hooked on a historical fiction story (not my usual genre). But I couldn't wait for each of the sequels. I was disappointed a little with Tommo and Hawk, but Solomon's Song made me laugh and cry and cry agian. Had I been reading instead of listening it would have hard through the tears but worth every tissue. Humphrey Bower is perfect once again delivering a stellar preformance of all the different characters.

My advice - don't miss the Trilogy!

good story I loved the narrator.

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

Yes, I have recommended the whole trilogy

Any additional comments?

This book was good but out of the three my least favoritel

Interesting Trilogy, but leaves you hanging

Would you consider the audio edition of Solomon's Song to be better than the print version?

Humphrey Bower's voice definitely adds to the piece.

What did you like best about this story?

I always appreciate Courtenay's attention to detail - you can see, hear, and even smell his stories.

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

He did a nice job with a range of characters giving each a distinct personality.

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

I will admit to walking around with headphones in during every spare moment for several days to the great annoyance of others around me during this one.

Any additional comments?

Well written and performed, but it left me feeling like the story was unfinished.

Incredible

As with most great books, as the story neared its close, I found myself dreading the end. This finale did the full trilogy complete justice, and more. c'est magnifique

Ran out of steam

Any additional comments?

First, narration was excellent as always. However, having listened to the other books in this trilogy, I felt this book ran out of steam. Predominately it was about Gallipoli and introduced a whole host of new characters. You lose contact with Hawk and the rest of the family and what is going on back in Australia. It felt like an entirely different story by the end. It wasn't bad though and the descriptions of WW1 are realistic and brutal.

amazing trilogy

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

absolutely amazing. Definitely worth reading / listening to all three books. I would highly recommend all three books to any reader