Power of One

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: This book is a beautiful masterpiece that tells about the sad life a young bot who was born in the wrong era and the wrong color. It tells about his suffering through boarding school and the torment he gets from the other boys. Later on he meets so very influencial people who change his life and make him strive to be all that he can be. He proves him self to be strong enough to come over not only his past, but the harsh world he knows where aparthied rules over all.

Rating:
Summary: this is crap
Review: this book is all about snakes, and fat people, and is disgusting and makes fun of black people.

Rating:
Summary: a mlife altering experience
Review: the power of one was one of the most compelling books i have ever read. this book gives a fantastic insight into South Africa and has led me to research SA. it is a powerful and beautifully written book that is a must read for everyone. the sequel, Tandia is also a brilliant book, whilst not a literary masterpiece like Power of One, it is brilliant and concludes PKs life for those who are curious.

in short fantastic

Rating:
Summary: A book Forrest Gump!(Pity sarcasm doesnt translate to print)
Review: Note to all writers: NOT ALL PITHEE STATEMENTS ARE SMART! SOME ARE INCREDIBLY DUMB! Unfortunately Bryce Courtenay did not take this into consideration when writing his "deep"(although its nothing more than dimestore) novel.Characters are about as well thought out as a children's film.The good guys are great.The bad guys are super evil. (Courtenay picks Nazi's as opponents,so hey, he's fighting for Jews as well!)

Now keep in mind I'm not one to trash a good adventure tale.The boxing scenes are the only saving grace of this novel. But when an adventure tale acts as if it's the Gospel on the ways of the world, people, and pretty much anything else that can be mutilated through syrupy melodrama,it just comes off as grating.(Two of my favorite escapism films, Rocky and Raiders of the Lost Ark, both aspire to be nothing more than what they are: Very well done b-movies.Would you actually want a Rocky armed with mercurial wit? Bryce Courtenay thinks so.)

This book is so horribly flawed that there's no way I could come up with a list of grievances(EVERYTHING is bad, "Patch Adams" bad). Rather, I'll list what is good about the book. 1. The book's early boxing scenes.

But then again, you might like this book, despite that its terrible. Other readers compared the book to "Forrest Gump"(their reviews were favorable). I think thats a very succinct way to pur it. Critics noted that the book "Forrest Gump" differed greatly from the film, most notably that cynical satire was replaced with schmaltzy oozing sentimentality. I've never seen "The Power of One" movie, but if the film version changed the same way Forrest Gump did, I'd bring some air freshener to eliminate the putrid stench of gooshiness that might exude from the screen. A bad book. Avoid.

Rating:
Summary: If you read it once, you will read it again!
Review: If 'The Shawshank Redemption' is the movie I measure all others against, then this book serves as the same ideal-I first read it several years ago, and again recently just before reading the fantastic sequel 'Tandia'. It doesn't matter what kind of books you normally read, you will probably feel as I did when you finish the final page-that you may never read a book this good again. Read the 'Power of One', then read 'Tandia'...just make sure you can get away with a few days of little or no sleep, or contact with the outside world while you do!

Rating:
Summary: something like forest gump. only better.
Review: the story is about a kid whos purity and strenth lead him to triumph even against all odds and without really trying. he becomes a legend not by trying to do something great but by trying to do something right.

if you have read this book I am looking for a recordig of the concerto of the great southland (if it exists) if it does please let me know.

[e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: 4:20's reveiw
Review: A kid was born during World War 2 and his mom had a nervous breakdown. he was taken to a boarding school were they did not like the English kind. When the kid grows up he goes to a jail like camp where he learns how to box. During the next few years he tries to teach blacks how to read, write, and what is going on in the government. The book caught my attention because I like anything about World War 2, and this story took place during that war. The kid goes to box a black guy who has never been beaten before and it is said that who ever beats him is the rain god. The fight lasted for a long time and when it was all over the black guy had given up and said to the kid "You are the God I will not fight any more." From then on the two people were friends. This book is not for every one because of some of the launguage. I recomend this book for people who like reading about wars and boxing.

Rating:
Summary: Incredibley beautiful.
Review: The truth was, I only read The Power of ONe because we had to an assignment for English about our favorite author, and The Powe rof One being a rather large book, I figured it would make me look smart if I did my report on the novel. But the end of the novel though, my attitude had completely changed. This is my new favorite book, and I suggest everyone read it, you will be insipred!

Rating:
Summary: The Power Of One
Review: The power of one is set in South Africa where a young boy is condemened at school. He is the only Englishman in a school of africaans and is tourchered, but this tourcher helps his strenght of will later in life, even if he doesn't know it at the time. Then he meets Hoppie Groenawald. A very succsful boxer who gives Peekay, an idea and a small piece of advise. To become the Welterweight champion of the world. 'First with the head, then with the heart', a piece of information which helped me aswell. His time in his home town with his mother and grandfather bring on many new surprises. His mother has been 'Born again' and Peekay has no real friends. Until he meets Doc, a german music Proffessor, who soon becomes the closest friend to Peekay. When the war begins, Doc is put in Prison for the simple reason is a German. But as he is a music proffessor, he is allowed to have his piano and is not under top security, so he can still give Peekay music lessons. Peekay helps smuggle tabacco into the prison and is know as the tadpole angel, a name tht will follow him until he dies. Peekay then takes his first step to becoming the Welterweight Champion of the world, he joins the prison boxing squad. To his suprise he is a natural and is the best in the town, and can beat kids a few years old then him, becasue 'small can beat big' as Hoppie would say. Then he goes off to bording school and meets Morrie. A clever young jew who is about the same standard of interlect as Peekay. Together they scam their way through High School. But Peekay still wants to become the boxing champion of the world, and with Morrie as his manager he is invincible-literaly!. Peekay didn't win the scolarship to Oxford so he goes to work at the mines and meets a long lost enemy. Maybe boxing has another good point! This is the most moving book i have ever read. It sends a message to us all: About black and white, About following your dreams, and that Small can beat big.

I recoment this book to anyone from 10 years up!

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful South African story
Review: "The Power of One" is an incredibly beautiful, flowing piece of work. I first read the novel in high school, and was mesmorized my the story, and finished it in a matter of days. Bryce Courtenay's description of South African society in the war years and beyond is incredibly detailed, and allows the reader to see S.Africa through the eyes of Peekay. After completing the book, I knew that I wanted to visit South Africa, and learn more about the history of the country - little did I know that I would do just that two years later. To sum up this book in one word, I would have to use 'magical'. The pace is quick, the story compelling, and the pages seem to turn by themselves.

'Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika' - 'God bless Africa'