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

Way too much dialogue

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Too much talking

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Tommo talked too much

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Hawk was a terrific guy....but maybe too good

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No....too gory

Any additional comments?

This author can do much better

A bloody decent yarn!

Brilliant author, brilliant reading, brilliant characters, brilliant story!
I feel like I am transported to those times in history!

another great bryce courtenay book

the narration is amazing I cannot fathom how he keeps 30 plus character voices straight and believable

Great naration. Looking forward to the next one

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

Its interesting.

What did you like best about this story?

The crazy things that they had to go through and where it brought them.

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

MaryBell. Sperm whale Sally.

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

?

Any additional comments?

Just listen to it. You will like it.

Bravo! Addicting!

Storyline and characters extraordinarily well develop. Sequencing keeps readers engaged. Bower’s reading leaves me without words— drawn in— like a play in my mind! Credit to a gifted writer and an extraordinary narrator.

Love Courtney’s Creations

Well written, excellent voice of reader… Hared for the story to end. Can’t wait to listen to the final book of series.

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.