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rachelditty's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book took me so long to actually get into. My co-worker gave it to me, and it took me months to really start paying attention to it. I don't know if it was because the first half of the book had the war in it, or Courtenay's writing style, or what. But once Peekay got to boxing in the prison, I was really hooked.
"'Always listen to yourself, Peekay. It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention. If you are wrong, no matter, you have learned something and you will grow stronger. If you are right, you have taken another step toward a fullfilling life... Experts, what did I tell you about experts, Peekay?... Alway you should go to the source, to the face of the rock, to the beginning. The more you know, the more you can control your destiny. Man is the only animal who can store knowledge outside his body. This has made him greater than the creatures around him. Everything has happened before; if you know what comes before, then you know what happens now. Your brain, Peekay, has two functions; it is a place for original thought, but also it is a reference library. Use it to tell you where to look, and then you will have for yourself all the brains that have ever been.'" (p. 157).
"'Always it is man who wants to make heaven and hell. God is too busy training the bees to make honey and every morning opening up all the new flowers for business.'" (p. 171).
"'Cleverness is a false presumption... It is like being a natural skater, you are so busy doing tricks to impress that you do not see where the thin ice is and before you know, poof! You are in deep, ice-cold water, frozen like a dead herring. Intelligence is a harder gift. For this you must work, you must practice it, challenge it, and maybe toward the end of your life you will master it. Cleverness is the shadow, whereas intelligence is the substance.'" (p. 268).
"'The rest is easy. The rest is only good management. When men can be made to hope, then they can be made to win.'" (p. 337).
"Good conversational debate is an end in itself, and talking for the love of conversation is what makes us human." (p. 385).
"'Requiem for Geel Piet' is not my music, it is the music of the People. The necklace is only mine because I strung the beads.'" (p. 388).
"Hoppie's dictum to me, 'First with the head and then with the heart,' was more than simply mixing brains with guts. It meant thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts." (p. 423)
I think Peekay and Morrie fall in love in college, by the way.
"'Always listen to yourself, Peekay. It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention. If you are wrong, no matter, you have learned something and you will grow stronger. If you are right, you have taken another step toward a fullfilling life... Experts, what did I tell you about experts, Peekay?... Alway you should go to the source, to the face of the rock, to the beginning. The more you know, the more you can control your destiny. Man is the only animal who can store knowledge outside his body. This has made him greater than the creatures around him. Everything has happened before; if you know what comes before, then you know what happens now. Your brain, Peekay, has two functions; it is a place for original thought, but also it is a reference library. Use it to tell you where to look, and then you will have for yourself all the brains that have ever been.'" (p. 157).
"'Always it is man who wants to make heaven and hell. God is too busy training the bees to make honey and every morning opening up all the new flowers for business.'" (p. 171).
"'Cleverness is a false presumption... It is like being a natural skater, you are so busy doing tricks to impress that you do not see where the thin ice is and before you know, poof! You are in deep, ice-cold water, frozen like a dead herring. Intelligence is a harder gift. For this you must work, you must practice it, challenge it, and maybe toward the end of your life you will master it. Cleverness is the shadow, whereas intelligence is the substance.'" (p. 268).
"'The rest is easy. The rest is only good management. When men can be made to hope, then they can be made to win.'" (p. 337).
"Good conversational debate is an end in itself, and talking for the love of conversation is what makes us human." (p. 385).
"'Requiem for Geel Piet' is not my music, it is the music of the People. The necklace is only mine because I strung the beads.'" (p. 388).
"Hoppie's dictum to me, 'First with the head and then with the heart,' was more than simply mixing brains with guts. It meant thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts." (p. 423)
I think Peekay and Morrie fall in love in college, by the way.
toebean5's review against another edition
3.0
I kept going back and forth on this book. There was a lot of racism and violent situations that made me uncomfortable, but since it is set in apartheid South Africa, I guess that is just par for the course. But I learned a lot- this is not a region I'm very familiar with- and some of the scene setting and relationships were really lovely. But there is a scene with a chicken death that really wrecked me- I had to put it down for a couple of weeks because it was just too wrenching for me. But then again, to be able to write about a chicken death in such a way that wrecks a person? That's kind of impressive. See? Back and forth.
I think that one of the themes that made me the most uncomfortable was that our white, male protagonist was sort of depicted as a savior for Africa, a person to unite the races. However much Peekay didn't want that role, it was still written by the author, and just made me feel a little... hrmph. (Because that's an adjective) The undeniable parallels with the American prison industry and institutionalized racism was pretty hard to ignore, which worked in its favor. Back and forth.
But for what it is worth, the group really liked this title. Racism, violence, and all. Go figure.
I think that one of the themes that made me the most uncomfortable was that our white, male protagonist was sort of depicted as a savior for Africa, a person to unite the races. However much Peekay didn't want that role, it was still written by the author, and just made me feel a little... hrmph. (Because that's an adjective) The undeniable parallels with the American prison industry and institutionalized racism was pretty hard to ignore, which worked in its favor. Back and forth.
But for what it is worth, the group really liked this title. Racism, violence,
Spoiler
carving a Union Jack into the flesh of a caricature-level-bad-man and sodomizing a prisoner to deathterryansimon's review against another edition
5.0
I was pointed towards this book by a colleague, after I recounted my South African experience to her. Granted, mine was a holiday, and very highly sanitised compared to PK's South Africa, but the names felt familiar to me.
I borrowed it for a short trip away, and found myself unable to put the book down even though I was battling jet lag and fatigue. A brilliant book, I feel, that show cases how beautiful the country of South Africa is, and how contrasting the land and people are.
I borrowed it for a short trip away, and found myself unable to put the book down even though I was battling jet lag and fatigue. A brilliant book, I feel, that show cases how beautiful the country of South Africa is, and how contrasting the land and people are.
marblemadness21's review against another edition
5.0
Consider this a review of The Power of One and Tandia. This is easily my top 5 favourite book of all time (regardless of genre). You will love Peekay from the start and feel all of his ups and downs just as he does. I've been recommending this book to friends for years and they all come away loving it. Read it!!
and_read_corbitt's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jcunning57's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
nichebooks's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book - so poignant in its description of childhood and growing up. It covered all the aspects of growing up: overcoming prejudices, learning about yourself and others, realizing dreams, finding that you have something to offer the world. I'd read this again in a heartbeat.
a_vdm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0