![]() ![]() In the process he expanded the "power" of the PK character, who is based on the author. The author's self-deprecating introduction to the audiobook mitigates this "great white hero" aspect, though, as he explains that he wrote the novel as a exercise to learn the craft of writing and hadn't planned to submit the manuscript. That aspect is very well done in one sense, but in another sense, it is just one more tale of a white man hero among the Black masses, and I wonder how Black South Africans evaluate the book. I enjoyed it even though "coming of age stories" are not my usual picks and I abhor boxing (several matches are described in detail).My main motivation for reading "Power of One" was its presentation of historical background to racial strife in S. I had a paper copy for years but did not get past the first few chapters - the audio version I crammed into every free moment over four days. This was a great story with excellent narration. Of all the audiobooks I have listened to in the past ten years, only the Courtenay/Bower combination has done that - and consistently. I never tired of his superlative 'absodoodle'. The German character Doc is wonderful, especially the way that Bowers brings him to life. This is not the kind of story to worry too much about convenient twists and turns. Only one did reappear and it was the latter. One, the 'good' one I thought surely should the other, the 'bad' I thought could. There are two early significant characters that I expected might reappear. ![]() The story is marked by great struggles to overcome injustices and stiff odds, some perhaps stereotyped villains and saints, but also nuanced and unique characters to balance it out. He is ruled by a genuine sense of humility that saves the day. Swept along by the story, it is not an issue. But only if you stop to add it up in a dispassionate accounting. Yes, Peekay's accomplishments strain credulity. The narration is superb, with Bower handling a variety of accents and personalities and sexes in deft and entrancing form. The stories are vivid, well-plotted, with stirring story arcs. Compelling story lifted higher by the narrationĪfter several listens to books by Bryce Courtenay, it strikes me that this author's books, narrated by Humphrey Bower, represent something of the ideal in mainstream, audiobook fiction. ![]()
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