I decide to buy The Power of One after attending a Leaders seminar when I was in high school. The reason I bought the book was because I had just sat through 2 hours of listening to a 60 year old man telling us about his journey through life. This man happened to be Bryce Courtenay.
I must say that listening to Bryce Courtenay speak, just the vibe that he gives off, you can tell that he is so full of life and one of the funniest and kindest people that I have ever met. I figured that if his writing was anything compared to his personality then The Power of One must be really good. So I went out and bought it.
I had first seen the movie before I knew anything about Bryce Courtenay and thought it was pretty good. Let me just tell you that the movie is not nearly as good as the book. Which I can understand of course because putting 629 pages of pure brilliance into a 90 minute movie would prove to be of somewhat of a task.
The book is set in South Africa and follows the life of a boy named Peekay, a white boy, "who will grow up to lead all the tribes in Africa on a journey to freedom". Along his journey Peekay meets many people that pave the way for this young boy to achieve his destiny.
I don't want to give too much of the story away because you'll probably send me hate mail for ruining it.
When Bryce was giving his speech he mentioned that he based a lot of the events in the book on his own life how he as raised in Africa. So I felt that buying it was a way of getting to know Bryce a little better.
If you're going to become a Bruce Courtenay fan I suggest you brace yourself for the obsession that follows reading this book. I handled it well, very well actually, I ended up going out and buying every single one of his books. And also lining up for 7 hours to get each personally signed.
You can imagine my dispair when I realised that the best book that I've ever read was ending. But Mr. Courtenay did not fail me when he ended the book with the most spectacular chapter. So I laid it down after finishing the last page, breathing hard and wiping tears out of my eyes. "DAMN!" I yelled "why did it have to end????". After falling in love with Peekay I was not ready to lose the one thing that had kept me alive for the past month. Yes, I was so intent on making the book last that it took me a whole month to read.
If you become crazily obsessed, don't fret, there is a sequel. So you should check out Tandia for the conclusion to The Power of One.
Well as you can see I have high praises for this book. And after reading every Harry Potter book I still can say that The Power of One is the best book I've ever read.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
He obviously had such an effect for you to go and buy all his books. I have read many books where I have been disappointed when I watch a film that has come from it. Fionaxx
Kiera13 16.06.2003 03:10
Excellent op. Not my type of book, but you make it sound so compelling xxx