Whitethorn

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

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

What can I say...it's Bryce Courtenay!

Every time I begin to read a Bryce Courtenay story, I am thinking to myself, "How can this one be as good as the last one I read?", and every time I am quite surprised to find that the one I'm reading is just as fantastic as all the others! His stories are all different, but engaging and interesting all the same.
In this story, which is, incidentally read by the INCOMPARABLE Humphrey Bower (so wonderful and easy to listen to and whose voice is perfect for Bryce's stories) there are characters who fall on hard times and through his/her life experiences, find a way to conquer his/her demons. Going along for the ride, learning for ourselves along the way, make this book, as all the others, great listens.

I don't know how he does it!

This man writes about locations, time periods, and events in which I have no interest whatsoever. There are many things I AM interested in, but early 20th century politics in the southern hemisphere is not one of them. HOWEVER... Courtenay is a storytelling genius and brilliant wordsmith. When I start listening to one of his books, I am hooked almost immediately and don't want it to end. The dates, political events, and places only form a backdrop and give context to the story.

I think the way his books are woven together, it is difficult to give a plot summary without revealing things that would be better left to the author's own wording and timing. I can say that the character narrator is a six year old boy when the book opens. He grows up in an orphanage and the story follows his eventful life until the age of about 30. There is a thread running through it that pulls you along and keeps you interested right to the very end.

I also need to mention the narrator, Humphrey Bower. Does he have any accent of his own? He appears to be some sort of voice chameleon. I've heard him do so many different voices and accents so well, that I can get no sense of what he would sound like in normal, natural conversation in his own home. If you place a high value on a talented narrator, this book will certainly please you on that score.

This is the 6th Courtenay book I have listened to, and I've never been sorry for purchasing one. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good tale, well told.

Fantastic

From the moment I started listening I could not stop. The story and plot were very engrossing and Humphrey Bower did a fantastic job of bringing all the characters to life. As previous reviewers have said there is a section of the story right at the beginning of the novel which is quite graphic but once past that point the story is delightful. Very similar to "The Power of One" in many ways so if you enjoyed that, then this is a must read.

Sister Novel To "The Power Of One"

Any additional comments?

I feel like this is the book that Courtenay would have like to have written when he completed The Power Of One. It's a more polished story from a more experienced author, but with a little less heart. It's a good read and I definitely recommend it, but you will see a lot of parallels to The Power Of One...too many for my taste.

Excellent

I have listened to 12 Bryce Courtenay books so far on a BC love fest! Whitethorn, Jessica, and Four Fires have been my favorites. I can't believe I saved them for so far down the line. They are much better than The Power of One or the Potato Factory, which seem to be the most popular.