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Summary: Absolutely Touching
Review: 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.
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Summary: My favorite book ever
Review: I am first encountered the book, The Power Of One by Bryce Courtenay around the age of 13 the summer before high school. I was on a whitewater-rafting trip for two weeks and as my best friend read Black Boy by Richard Wright (also a favorite) I devoured the pages telling the story of Peekey, an English boy living in South Africa during the apartheid. At the age of six Peekey is herded off to an all-Boer (Dutch) boarding school because his mother has a breakdown. At the school he is tormented for his nationality, there are many violent scenes including one where he is urinated on by a nazi-motivated classmate. Throughout his few years at the boarding school his mother, his nanny (who was like his second mother) and his only friend, a chicken named Grandpa Chook all die, actually, Grandpa Chook is slaughtered by the other boys. Finally, Peekey is sent to live with his grandfather and Peekey encounters a German musician who cannot return to Germany because of the war. Peekey and the musician in exile become the best of friends, spite their age difference of around 60 years. In a trade-off Doc (as he is called in the novel) teaches Peekey science, literature, music, and Peekey helps him with his studies of plants. Because of the war Doc. is forced to go to jail, but Peekey is permitted visitation rights to continue his piano lessons. In the jail Peekey learns to box by an in-mate, a man brilliant of trickery who also becomes Peekey's close friend. Peekey knows at least 5 African dialects and becomes idealized in the jail, because he writes for the illiterate and sneaks in tobacco leaves for the jailed. In the novel the brutalities of apartheid are revealed but not the essence of the book. Courtenay does not in anyway preach. The novel is truly written beautifully (which is not something I say about most books) and includes humor, despair and the story of race relations, and young boy coming of age in Africa
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Summary: FYI - All those "The Power of One" Lovers
Review: After reading a few reviews of the book I simply adore, I found that it might help if you all knew that the later editions of "The Power of One" and "Tandia" have been re-edited!! Lots of minor details not really relating to the storyline have been cut out. Since I read these 2 books at least once a year and have bought later editions as well, I realised that some stories are missing... An example from "Tandia": How Peekay obtained the doll for Carmen, or How Ms. Smith was employed, etc., etc. It these minor details that make the book even more charming and heart warming... If you get the chance, see if you can get hold of an earlier edition. It's worth it!
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Summary: Skip the movie, Read the Book FIRST
Review: Annotation: An inspiration story of a young man named Peekay who struggles in South Africa during World War II to find that it only takes one to change the world. Peekay overcomes obstacles by using his courage to show the power of one. Author Bio: Bryce Courtenay was born in 1933 in South Africa. He arrived in Australia in 1958 and a year later became an Australian Citizen. He is married to Benita. He also has three sons with her. Courtenay began an advertising career at age twenty six and within five years, he had become Australia's youngest creative director. He retired full time in 1993 to become a writer. Power of One was his first novel and became an international bestseller. The book is translated into eleven different labguages. The book has sold over two million copies. Courtenay also wrote a book, April Fool's Day, in which it was wrote about his youngest son who died in 1991 from AIDS. Evaluation: I was fist introduced to Courtenay's book when I saw his movie in the seventh grade. Four years later, I decided to read the story behind the movie in this novel. There is no comparison. The movie is a amended summarization of the book and although it is very inspirational, it is not as life changing as the book. I was enthralled in the hardships of Peekay's life as a growing boy in South Africa. He faces many obstacles in racial discriminations with the Afrikaaners since he was English. It is astonishing to see how this boy not only survived his childhood; he also made a tremendous impact on South African society by using the power of one. Peekay meets many people along his journey that only flavors the soup pot. This book was a life changing event for me. Not only did I feel like crying and helping Peekay with his mission, I felt like I have to make an impact on society today. This book receives my highest rating and I can not wait to begin reading it again.
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Summary: This book should be on eveyone's must-read list.
Review: A gift from a friend, the Power of One became my favorite book. The story concerns Peekay, who is white, growing up in South Africa in a time of racial hatred. Picked on and ostracized because of his nationality, skinny frame, and precocity, Peekay's childhood is spent mostly alone. However, along the way, he meets people who will have later on have an influential impact on his life. Although the subjects of the book concern racism and the sport of boxing, to me the prevailing theme embodied in the Power of One is above all an affirmation of the individual - the recognition of the inner strength and courage that comes with acting upon one's own beliefs and initiative in a largely conformist society. I identified with Peekays's individuality, his ability to think for himself, and his heightened sense of intellectual curiousity. This is a book that will tug at the heartstrings, but one that will also bring a smile to your face at its comic moments. It will also make you think, as some profound insights into the philosphy of life are offered. The novel inspires awe at the sheer beauty and power of Coutenay's prose. The Power of One is a compelling read, it will leave few readers unmoved.
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Summary: What a great ride!
Review: I too am shocked I missed this when it came out! This is an uplifting book that follows a young boy who does not feel there are differences in people based on color. However the world in the 1930's, 40's, 50's, and beyond... is different and he knows he must somehow adapt to survive. He belives in the power of himself, in his dignity, in humankind's dignity. This belief becomes a ripple effect to cause smalll but significant changes in the link of oppresion. If you like sports- you will like this book. If you like good conquering evil- you will like this book. If you like great writing and history- you will like this book.
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Summary: THE BEST MANDATORY READING-- EVER!
Review: From the unconventional mother role, to the silent friendship Peekay has extremely unique relationships with others throughout his life. His rare connections to others makes him a boy who matured at a young age into an independent man. His independence from others makes him loyal to his dreams and a success. In the mist of obstacles, the power of one is ultimately unbreakable in the story of Peekay's life.
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Summary: The Power of One- Western Literature
Review: In this story there are some key issues surrounding water and its affect on the "Power of One." After his first year at school Peekay returns home and tells his Zulu nanny about his problem. Like any good Zulu mother she immediately summons the best medicine man of the tribe, chief Inkosi-Inkosikazi, to rid young Peekay of his "night waters". Conjuring his mysterious powers he transports Peekay to the foot of a mystic rushing waterfall and tells him to cross by progressively leaping from stone to stone. Peekay's triumph over this task gave him the symbolic "Power of One." The title was given by Inkosi-Inkosikazi himself and it became Peekay's new secret to life.
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Summary: Power of One review
Review: In the novel The Power of One a character of particular significance to me is the protagonist Peekay. The adversities that he faces and the challenges he over comes truly speak for the power of the human spirit. The character accurately demonstrates the power of the individual to affect the world around him and the world as a whole. Through his persistence to achieve his goal he exhibits what one determined person is capable of accomplishing. The character personifies what we as individuals strive to become like and what we wish we could be like. The idea of the power of one is embodied in Peekay and through him the reader can understand how one person can achieve great things. Not only is the story a powerful tale but the characters, settings, and situations are so believable that the reader truly gains a sense of realism.
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Summary: The Power of One
Review: South Africa is a country that has had its fair share of struggles. Many of these struggles are the same struggles of the main character. There is the history of bad blood between the British and the Boers. Peekay experiences this early in life at grade school. Further on in life he realizes the oppression of the blacks. Even in high school he tries to start a program to educate the Africans. These conflicts even fall in chronological order as they did in Africa. From an early age Peekay spoke English, Afrikaans and Zulu fluently. His Childhood nanny was a Zulu woman. Most of his time spent learning to box was spent in the Boer prison. Peekay is himself a part of everything that is South African. He is the personification of South Africa.
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