The Power of One

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 21 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

"First with your head and then with your heart." So says Hoppie Groenewald, boxing champion, to a seven-year-old boy who dreams of being the welterweight champion of the world. For the young Peekay, it is a piece of advice he will carry with him throughout his life.

Born in a South Africa divided by racism and hatred, this one small boy will come to lead all the tribes of Africa. Through enduring friendships with Hymie and Gideon, Peekay gains the strength he needs to win out. And in a final conflict with his childhood enemy, the Judge, Peekay will fight to the death for justice.

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

The Best

Five stars does not seem enough to share between Author and Narrator. The story, the language used and the way it's narrated are brilliant. The first person story telling is real, entertaining and chilling. The first few chapters as a five and six year old had the hairs on my arms almost constantly on end. My new favourite Audiobook by far.

Universal, transcendent, a must read

This is my favorite book of all time. I consider myself a well read person and have never been much of a repeat reader- but nothing- nothing - not even Jane Austen- has quite affected me like the Power of One. (Ok maybe that is apples and oranges but you get the point). This should be taught in schools. Literally the best book of all time. And the audio version is quite good! Do not even hesitate to get this!

Outstanding!

Terrific story, learned a lot about South Africa and you can see it with the words, excellent narrator! I highly recommend this listen!

Powerful

A powerful book, somewhat spoilt by extreme characterizations drawn by Bryce Courtenay, otherwise a truly gifted story-teller. The book is set in that shameful period when South Africa moved into institutionalized Apartheid, and its strong anti-racism message is inspirational. However, the author’s near-universal portrayal of Afrikaners as moronic, sadistic and fanatic Nazis blemishes the book. The truth was bad enough without this extreme exaggeration. The large number of Afrikaners killed fighting against Hitler’s Germany and the leading roles played by Afrikaners such as Smuts and Reitz to counter the South African right-wing indicate complexities Courtenay chooses to ignore. Courtenay also tends to patronize black South Africans, who, according to his story, relied on the mysticism of belief in a little white boy, Peekay, rather than in their own rising leaders, this in a country that spawned many great leaders, including Gandhi, Luthuli and Mandela! Given that the author describes this tale as largely autobiographical, this indicates a spectacular ego! A more mundane note: his portrayal of Afrikaners as invariably being unable to understand black languages (in contrast to Peekay) is peculiar – in my experience, in rural areas (where Courtenay and Peekay grew up) young English and Afrikaans kids all had a reasonable grasp of the local black languages, and some were very fluent. Many (like Peekay) were raised by black nannies, and many (unlike Peekay) played with young black kids, until they went to all-white schools. Anyway, enough of that rant! The narrator, Australian Humphrey Bower is excellent in capturing the pathos of the story - however, his bizarre rendition of South African accents jars. Some illustrations: Murray (for Marie) biscuits, Teeekee (for tiekie), and daaaga (for dagga). A great pity a talented SA narrator was not used – perhaps Paul Slabolepzy or the late Bill Flynn. Having said that, a great listen!

Still changing my life after 17 years of rereading

What made the experience of listening to The Power of One the most enjoyable?

Humphrey Bower is an amazing narrator. I've read The Power of One many times and am used to being able to fly through the book at my usual breakneck speed. Not this time, though, as Humphrey Bower tells a proper story. His skilled narration caused me to slow down and savor every word. As a result, I re-experienced the book in an entirely new way.

What did you like best about this story?

The Power of One is, at its core, a story of how to approach life. The main character Peekay lives through incredible challenge and grievous loss over and over, yet he always stands up one more time than he falls down. The first time I read The Power of One, it was required summer reading going into my first year of high school. It changed my 14-year-old self in a way that only the greatest stories do. Seventeen years later, the effect of Peekay's story is still with me, and I hope it will leave the same impact on new readers.

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

Humphrey Bower is by and far my favorite male narrator. His accents are flawless, swinging from South African to English to African lilts in a way that keeps my focus firmly on the story. I've read this book at least a dozen times, and yet found myself enjoying an entirely new understanding of certain characters through the warmth and/or coldness Bower infused into their character voices.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I can't say anything more without giving away one of the most beautiful parts of the story, but I will say that Rasputen leaves a new indelible imprint on me with every re-reading. The other part of the book that moved me was Africa itself, described the way a person might describe a beautiful landscape to their blind best friend. Throughout these pages, you are IN Africa.

Any additional comments?

This is a proper "story", meaning that it takes time to unfurl. The novel is full of action, yet isn't fast-paced the way a thriller might be. Every scene is fully explored, every emotional nuance is examined, and the overall impact is that you *are* Peekay as he goes through the incredibly unique situations of life in 1940s South Africa and the following decade.

One of the most enjoyable books I've ever read.

Captivating and mesmerizing. Didn't want it to end. A little profanity but not gratuitous. Highly recommended.

Brilliant Book. Brilliant narrator!!

What did you love best about The Power of One?

Everything.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Power of One?

Too many to select just one.

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

Too many to select just one.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

This has always been a great book. It's complemented here by what is by far the best narration I've heard on any audio book. You can lose yourself, effortlessly, in this!

Fascinating

totally enthralling; characterizations were engaging.

Narrator is superb

It is hard to believe that all those voices come from one person. He is absolutely marvelous. I cannot imagine anyone else reading this story.

Both striking and inspiring

Of all the books I've read lately, this grabbed me fastest and has influenced me most. Told from the point of view of Peekay, a child of British breeding in South Africa, we see the roiling struggle for dominance and rule between the Boers and the British and the accompanying struggle for survival and dignity of the many native tribes and clans that made up the black majority in the region. How did a small but brilliant boy from a poor white family come to inspire the clans to unite and reach for the hope they know is there as much for them as for anyone else?

The story is gripping, the characters sympathetic, the time period fascinating, and the narration superb. Definitely not a book to ignore!