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Guests | February 8, 2012

Nathan Englander: IMG Big Think

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Tonight is the first event for the new book, and I've spent most of the afternoon at home with curlers in my hair and cucumber circles on the eyes... Continue »
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The Power of One

by Bryce Courtenay

The Power of One Cover

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In 1939, as Hitler cast his enormous, cruel shadow across the world, hatred of a similar kind took root in South Africa, where the seeds of apartheid were newly sown. There a boy called Peekay was born. He spoke the wrong language — English, the language spoken by those who had sent the Afrikaners to the world's first concentration camps during the Boer War. He was suckled by a woman of the wrong color — black, the color of fear and disdain. His childhood was marked by humiliation and abandonment. Yet he vowed to survive — he would become the welterweight champion of the world, he would dream heroic dreams.

But his dreams were nothing compared to what awaited him. For he embarked on an epic journey through a land of tribal superstition and modern prejudice, where he would learn the power of words, the power to transform lives, and the mystical power that would sustain him even when it appeared that villainy would rule the world: The Power of One.

Review:

"Unabashedly uplifting....Asserts forcefully what all of us would like to believe: that the individual, armed with the spirit of independence — 'the power of one' — can prevail." The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Review:

"The Power of One has everything: suspense, the exotic, violence; mysticism, psychology and magic; schoolboy adventures, drama." The New York Times

Review:

"Marvelous...It is the people of the sun-baked plains of Africa who tug at the heartstrings in this book....[Bryce] Courtenay draws them all with a fierce and violent love." The Washington Post Book World

Synopsis:

In this magical novel, an irresistible boy tells the story of his survival and coming of age against the background of South Africa during and just after World War II.
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About the Author

Bryce Courtenay was born in South Africa, is an Australian, and has lived in Sydney for the major part of his life. Visit him on the web at www.brycecourtenay.com.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 9 comments:
saradreilly, September 27, 2011 (view all comments by saradreilly)
I always give this book as a gift to my book loving friends and it has never failed me...EVERYONE LOVES IT. It is not defined by gender, age, race or any "type" of reader. The last time I bought a copy of this book for a gift I re-read it myself.
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saradreilly, September 1, 2011 (view all comments by saradreilly)
Hands down absolutely one of the best books I have ever read (as an adult!) Every one I recommend this to is also thrilled and grateful for the title. Coming of age and so much more. READ THIS BOOK or at least put it on your bucket list...you will not be sorry.
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dotschott, January 27, 2010 (view all comments by dotschott)
A "take hold" kind of read! It brings back that wonderful highschool or college feeling that you had when you had to read a required reading that turned out to be amazing, insightful, symbolic and not light-hearted.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780345410054
Author:
Courtenay, Bryce
Publisher:
Ballantine Books
Location:
New York :
Subject:
Historical
Subject:
Fiction
Subject:
World war, 1939-1945
Subject:
Action & Adventure
Subject:
Children
Subject:
War
Subject:
Historical - General
Subject:
South Africa
Subject:
War stories
Subject:
Children -- South Africa -- Fiction.
Subject:
World War, 19
Subject:
Children -- South Africa.
Subject:
Literary
Subject:
Adventure
Subject:
Literature-A to Z
Copyright:
1989
Edition Description:
Trade paper
Series Volume:
104-248
Publication Date:
19960931
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
544
Dimensions:
8.34x5.54x1.16 in. .94 lbs.
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Related Aisles

The Power of One New Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$15.00 In Stock
Product details 544 pages Ballantine Books - English 9780345410054 Reviews:
"Review" by , "Unabashedly uplifting....Asserts forcefully what all of us would like to believe: that the individual, armed with the spirit of independence — 'the power of one' — can prevail."
"Review" by , "The Power of One has everything: suspense, the exotic, violence; mysticism, psychology and magic; schoolboy adventures, drama."
"Review" by , "Marvelous...It is the people of the sun-baked plains of Africa who tug at the heartstrings in this book....[Bryce] Courtenay draws them all with a fierce and violent love."
"Synopsis" by , In this magical novel, an irresistible boy tells the story of his survival and coming of age against the background of South Africa during and just after World War II.
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