Rating: 
Summary: A powerful tale, you can not put down
Review: A book as compeling as The Power of One is truly a rare find. You will see it is impossible to put down. Courtenay combines persnal experience and history to create a novel which truly
moves the reader. His story of a young boys struggle to reach
maturity in pre WWII South Africa, captures you and won't let go.
The boy's story is so interesting it grabs in the first chapter.
The character's are so real I felt as though I knew them all.
The story is so beautifully written, South Africa comes alive in
the eyes of the reader.
Buy this book and begin your journey into this childs struggle.
You will be touched and compeled to read further as you turn each
page. The Power of One is a book you will never forget.
Rating:
Summary: Incredibly Inspirational
Review: I was reccomended this book by my football coach. It was his favorite book throughout highschool, and It is safe to say that it is mine as well. This book can be appreciated by all, even if you have no knowledge of boxing or the South African Culture because i sure didn't.This book takes place in South Africa during Hitlers reign of terror and the protagonist is self-named Peekay. Due to him being from an English speaking family, he is is hated by the majority of South Africa which is overrun with Boers, nazis, and nazi sympathizers. He becomes a boxer with dreams of becoming the welter weight champion of South Africa. This brave young man grows up through this hateful prejudice in one of the most inspirational tales of all time. This is a story of independence, perseverence, and self pride. In which the power of one will always prevail.
Rating:
Summary: The most powerful and uplifting book ever written!
Review: Set in the Transvaal region of South Africa, "The Power of One" is the heart-warming story of Peekay, a six year old boy who experiences early in life the ravaging effect of racial division during the WWII era. He is left with a wisdom and intelligence which serves him well throughout his life. Bryce Courtenay has written this truly magical novel about boxing, education, success, inner strength and the meaning of life, based on his own experiences in South Africa as a child. The author has captured the epitomy of political and racial turmoil in South Africa while presenting the reader with a fast-paced, balanced book. All I could say (I was too dazed) as I finished the book was "Wow!!!" I'm quite sure you will too, especially if you are looking for a magical touch or enchantment in a book. I hope this book will warm your heart and change your life forever, as it did mine. I'll leave you with a quote about life from our narrator Peekay: "The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further, or box better...'First with the head and then with the heart,' means more than simply mixing brains with guts. It means thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts."
Rating:
Summary: Power of One
Review: I thought this book was exceptional. I laughed, cried, and celebrated for Peekay and his endeavors. I loved this book so much that my first born son is named Peekay and I will make him proud to have such a name.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book in all areas
Review: This is one of the few books that i have read that i was truely amazed by. Peekay is the greatest protagonist, being a person that anyone would want to stand beside. As Peekay fights for the life of South Africa, it shows his true strength. This is an amazing book with great characters and a great message.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read, Absoloodle!
Review: Bar none, the most powerful, engrossing, and emotional experience I've ever had with a book. Read it!
Rating:
Summary: A Story of Courage and Strength-A+!!
Review: This is the first I have ever read of Courtenay's writing, and I did enjoy the story all the way through.
It takes place in Africa, back in 1939. A boy Peekay, as he was later called was an english child. The story begins with Peekay being taken from his dear nanny, as his mother was unable to care for him, and he was sent to a boarding school. There he was considered not "one of them," the African's that is, so he was bullied almost to death, and picked on for everything. After about 2 years there, he was sent back home to his mother who had recovered. Before that, during the trip home, he meets a friend, Hoppy, who cares for the boy and was like his big brother during the whole trip. Hoppy was a boxing champion, and it was such that he struck an interest with Peekay in boxing, and from there on when he met Hoppy, he just had to learn. Hoppy thought Peekay was a natural, and truly encouraged him in the short time they had together.
When he reaches home, he goes out one day to meet a new friend
that would always be there for him for the next many years of Peekay's life. "Doc," as he was called was an older established professor of music who was retired in the story. He latched on to the boy right away, and was like a father to Peekay. One day though, Doc was sent to prison much to the shock of many others, and Peekay was devastated. But within a short time, he connected with "Doc," in jail and not only did Peekay visit Doc, but the other prisoners became his greatest of friends. This is also where he learned the real sport of boxing. The prison offered classes in it, and Peekay was accepted even though he was too young, (about 8 at the time), they accepted him as he was overly eager to learn.
This started a whole new life for Peekay. He beat everyone in the ring, even some of the toughest men. He grew with boxing into bigger and bigger tournaments, and later when he started a new boarding school, was the most well-known kid there for his outstanding talents as a boxer. His new friend Morrie became his partner in business, and later they hired the best teacher Solly, who was the BEST in the boxing division in Africa.
The book is definitely a great read, and a story you won't
forget after reading. I will probably try Tandia later.
Rating:
Summary: The Power of One
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read! A story about a young boy's life and entry into the hard world of adulthood - way before he should have made the journey. A story of love between young and old, male and female, white and black. An amazing read!
Rating:
Summary: Epic book!
Review: I started reading this book after hearing that it was a good read. Good read does not come close to how good this book is! It made me cry with conviction, laugh out loud and I was riveted from the start until the last page. A film adaptation of the book was made but it did not come close to portraying the sheer volume and depth of this book. Wow...a must read!
Rating:
Summary: Magtig! Wonderlik!
Review: This Power of One is one powerful book!
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay is an inspiring story of a young English boy who grows up in South Africa experiencing the very worst of the race and class struggles infesting South Africa around the time of the second World War. His first hand experiences take him on a journey to discover a powerful and motivational force within himself that enables him to not only survive, but influence, this oppresive environment.
Not very often has a book moved me in such a way. I felt swells of emotion throughout this book. There is something familiar and satisfying about rooting for a young child to figure out how to "beat the system" and outsmart the dictative and oppressive adult world. Very similar in style to the wildly popular science fiction novel "Ender's Game" which I highly recommend to those who loved this book.
Courteney's seemingly effortless writing style flows so smoothly that you may never find yourself have to re-read one line of this book. It travels forward with a good pace and has many climactic moments interspersed along the way.
I highly recommend this book to all.
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