The Power of One: A Novel by Bryce Courtenay
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Book Reviews of The Power of One: A Novel
Book Review: The Power of One
Summary: 5 Stars
"I was a child of Africa, a white child to be sure, but nevertheless Africa's child. The black breasts that had suckled me and the dark hands that had bathed and rocked me had left me with a burden of obligation to resist the white power..." (360) As Hitler's reign of hatred encompassed the world, a small English boy strived to survive the bigotry and brutality of South Africa. Peekay, as this boy came to be known, was tormented in his childhood, forced to carry the culpability of the English's imprisonment of the Afrikaners. An outcast at age five, Peekay grew up quickly, vowing to persevere and transcend with the power deep inside himself- the power of one. Fueled and nurtured by a series of vastly contrasted mentors, Peekay dreamed to become the welterweight champion of the world, a dream that would drive him during the transition of boy to man. Along the way he would discover a land of deeply imbedded prejudices- of hate. Yet he would also discover the ability within himself to rise above this hate, to inspire those devoid of hope. Written with overwhelming beauty and passion by Bryce Courtenay, The Power of One is a fiercely drawn portrait of a boy struggling with the oppression and prejudice surrounding him. It details a triumph over societal hate with a search to the depths of the soul. It is a mesh of characters that embody intelligence, oppression, mysticism, love and hate, all shaping Peekay's destiny. The tale is a remarkable compilation of wit and suspense, tragedy and triumph. Infused with impressive imagery and a deeply inspiring message, Peekay's extraordinary journey will elicit both laughter and tears from its readers. While a novel in excess of five-hundred pages may seem a daunting task for the reader looking for an easy read, the story line is completely enthralling and well worth the time investment. Peekay becomes a very real person, and it is hard to part with him when the pages draw to an end. And, although a tale that commences with the tormenting of an innocent child seems anything but an uplifting or enjoyable experience, The Power of One is a truly inspiring tale, leaving the reader a bit better for having experienced its message. An engrossing narrative, The Power of One explores the hatred that kindles within the soul of mankind. At the same time, it provides a message of hope, that withinall of us there resides the incredible power to triumph over this hatred, put simply by Peekay: " The power of one is based on the courage to remain separate, to think through to the truth, and not to be beguiled... The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated." (423) These powerful insights, so universally true, urge the reader to search within themselves for this power, to value their own individual spirit above all else. Peekay's journey from weakling to welterweight champion, from childhood to manhood, from innocence to enlightenment becomes one of epic proportions, inspiring all who come along for the ride.Book Review: Peekay; deliciously fresh
Summary: 5 Stars
My Mother gave me a copy of "The Power of One" on an occasion when I had run out of reading material. Since my reading tastes differ quite markedly from my Mother, (Mills and Boon), I fully expected to throw the book away after the first few chapters. What actually happened was I could not stop reading it. In the end I finished it at about 5am the next morning after going without sleep. It is terrific. The story is set in South Africa as we follow the life of a small English boy by the name of Peekay. As his Mother suffered a breakdown following the death of her husband, Peekay was raised mostly by his native nanny. As a result he eventually learned to speek English, Afrikaans, and Zulu.
At about the age of four he is shipped off to boarding school, where he is not only the youngest boy there but also the only Englishman amongst the Afrikaners. He therefore is subject to much bullying with only his pet Chook at his side for support. Despite a bed wetting problem, which is later solved by a great Zulu medicine man, he makes it through his time at school until his mother moves towns and calls him back to join her.
On his train journey to get there, Peekay meets a man who will become a major influence in his life. He is a fairly successful boxer who gives Peekay a methodology for dealing with life. "First with the head then with the heart", he says. Further more, he fires the small boys imagination and Peekay finds his purpose in life, to be a world champion boxer.
On his arrival into his Mother's town he finds the second major influence in his life, Professor Von Vollensteen, or Doc. Peekay is almost adopted by Doc who acts as a respite from his now born again mother and also teaches Peekay Music, Botany and a love of nature. When world war two starts the Doc is taken to prison as a German and as a result Peekay follows. This is where he meets Geel Piet. A native life term prisoner who gives Peekay a thorough grounding in the arts of boxing.
The remainder of the novel takes Peekay through the rest of his education, a romance, overseas and further towards his lifelong goal of being a boxing champion. I don't want to go into detail for fear of spoiling it for you. The plot whilst important, is almost unnecessary to enjoying this book. The style in which Courtenay writes, is beautiful. It just sweeps you away. I almost feel justified in taking some pride in this Australian Author however Bryce was born and raised in South Africa so they have an equal claim to pride.
Bryce Courtenay is an interesting man. I actually met him once in Hawaii but since this review is about his novel, I wont go into the author any further. "The Power of One" was followed by the sequel "Tandia" which finishes the story. Although to my mind it is not as good as the first. If you are going to read any of the books on this page make the first one "The Power of One".
Book Review: Absolutely Touching
Summary: 5 Stars
I was absolutely blown away by the beauty and soul of Africa that was captured in this riveting book. It is an absolutely magical journey that kept me reading for days on end. I had to admit, before I read this book I was sceptical...boxing?? Why would I want to read about boxing? However when I began on Peekay's journey, the sheer beauty and expression of the words and the images that they created in my mind formed the most excellent novel I have ever read so far in my life. The book is about a boy, Peekay, oppressed during his childhood because he is a "rooinek," a red-necked Englishman. The children and the teachers at his school are extremely discriminative against him because of his nationality. The children and the teachers have sworn allegiance to Hitler, and because Peekay is English, he is therefore an enemy to the almighty Hitler. After a horrible experience at this boarding house, he is relieved to find out that he will be living in another town, Barberton, South Africa. On the train to Barberton, he meets Hoppie Groenwald, who teaches him about boxing. Peekay begins to form a dream: to be the welterweight champion of the world. Hoppie teaches Peekay, "First with the head, then with the heart," which I think is a good motto for any day of your life. When he moves there, he finds out that many changes have taken place. His beloved nanny is now gone, banished by his Christian-crazed mother, and he has plenty of time to himself, which he likes to spend up on the hills near the town. This is where he meets Doc, who begins Peekay's incredible journey to believe in himself, to believe in the power of one. When Doc is sent to the prison for simply being German, Peekay finds out there is a boxing squad in the prison. Doc encourages Peekay to accomplish his dream, and a prisoner and excellent boxing teacher, Geel Piet helps Peekay to become the greatest welterweight that he can be. These are only the beginning of the wonderful and inspirational adventures that lie ahead in this uplifting and inspiring revelation. Peekay is characterized as a perfect being, which I found sometimes a little repetitive, but I think it was absolutely appropriate that he did accomplish all of this, because he worked so hard to achieve it. Not only does this book help inspire me to be a better person, but it has also made me believe in my dreams to reach further, and expand my horizons farther than I have ever known. There are absolutely beautiful parts in this book, where you almost get caught up with the excitement and brilliance, the joy and the soul that can be felt almost all over the book if you look hard enough, "Never had a composer's work had a stranger debut and never a greater one...but it would never sound better than it did under the African moon in the prison yard when three hundred and fifty black inmates lost themselves in their pride and love for their tribal lands. Without warning, a roar of approval from the people that would have been impossible to stop.Book Review: The Power of the Written Word
Summary: 5 Stars
An amazing novel written brilliantly by Bryce Courtenay, it is the story of Peekay a young boy growing up in South Africa WWII. To say that I could not put this book down is an understatement.
Courtenay has produced rich characters that come to life on the page. You cheer, cry and cringe in horror as you follow the life of Peekay and the people he interacts with. In addition, the lush, inspiring, beautiful and harsh descriptions of South Africa make the reader feel as if they are there and is not only the background of the story but Africa is the story of Peekay. The novel begins with Peekay being shipped off to a boarding school at age five. He is haraassed, tortured, and abused by the "judge" and his posse but is a survivor who is determined to live. On a semster break he encounters a man who is a boxer and shows him kindness, dignity and begins to explain the power of one. This has such a profound influence on Peekay that his life obsession after this meeting is to be the welterweight champion of the world. The power of one is really the power of believeing in yourself. To follow your dreams and to be authentic. Through a series of moving freindships with the adults in Peekay's life he begins to understand this. Doc, a brilliant musician and botanist plays a central role in his life and urges him to be himself and to show others his extraordinary intellect. He teaches him and shares in his love of Africa. As Peekay emerges from merely surviving to fully inhabiting his person he begins to understand more fully the power of one. He meets Geel Piet a man in prison who is more tortured than Peekay was in boarding school simply because of the color of his skin. He teaches Peekay how to box and Peekay in return accepts him for who he is and loves him. As Peekay finds his place through his acceptance of others he gains a mythical status with the African people in the community. He becomes the "tadpole angel" who can unite the black and white races together. His friendship with Morrie, who is Jewish, and also feels like an outsider has a profound effect on Peekay. At prep school for the first time he has a friend of his own age. Morrie finds that Peekay's immediate acceptance of him although he is Jewish amazing and the two find that they have much in common including their equal brilliance. Not only does Peekay's life change because of these friendships, but what he finds is that he has a profound impact on these people's life as well. There are many other people in Peekays life who influence it and move it and the reader is held spellbound as they watch the fine web that Cortenay has woven and marvels in the intricacies of life that can be conveyed through writing. This is a life changing book and the reader will be the better for having read it.
Book Review: I Usually Don't Write Reviews ...
Summary: 5 Stars
However, this book is WELL worth every minute it may take you read it. I've had the book for several months and finally opened it last week.
After reading "The Power of One", if you don't laugh, cry, tremble, smile, hit something, or hug something, you are inhuman. This is by far one of the most heartwarming and heartwrenchingly beautiful books I have ever read.
By the way, if you are thinking about getting the movie after reading this book, this is what the movie description says:
"The Power of One is an intriguing story of a young English boy named P.K. and his passion for changing the world. Growing up he suffered as the only English boy in an Afrikaans school. Soon orphaned, he was placed in the care of a German national named Professor von Vollensteen (a.k.a. "Doc"), a friend of his grandfather. Doc develops P.K.'s piano talent and P.K. becomes "assistant gardener" in Doc's cactus garden. It is not long after WWII begins that Doc is placed in prison for failure to register with the English government as a foreigner. P.K. makes frequent visits and meets Geel Piet, an inmate, who teaches him to box. Geel Piet spreads the myth of the Rainmaker, the one who brings peace to all of the tribes. P.K. is cast in the light of this myth. After the war P.K. attends an English private school where he continues to box. He meets a young girl, Maria, with whom he falls in love. Her father, Professor Daniel Marais, is a leader of the Nationalist Party of South Africa. The two fight to teach the natives English as P.K.'s popularity grows via the myth. Maria is killed. P.K. looses focus until he sees the success of his language school among the tribes. He and Guideon Duma continue the work in hopes of building a better future for Africa."
WHAT?!? P.K? Orphaned? The Rainmaker? Where is the Judge? Or Grandpa Chook? Where is the Crystal Cave? Where is Morrie? Where are the mines? Where is the dream of "Welterweight Champion of the World", not to mention Hoppie?
I suppose you can't blame Hollywood for making such a botchery of a book like this. There is no possible way it could EVER be felt on screen the way it is with words. However, it is unforgivable that PEEKAY (Not P.K.) was not known as the Tadpole Angel.
I suppose that if you've never read the book, the movie would be standard Hollywood fluff, with all the political, cutsie, hero-that-changes-the-world, love story type stuff that people seem to go for.
Which is also the reason I prefer to read and this is one book I will read again and again and again.