By Elaine Burns
Bryce Courtenay is an South African author, living in Australia who initially made his mark in advertising and began writing at the age of 50. He died in 2012 at the age of 79 and left behind a prolific legacy of novels. The Power of One is his best known and is believed to be at least semi-biographical.
The Power of One, published in 1989, is a novel about a young boy growing up in South Africa just prior to WW2. It deals with the aftermath and bad feelings of the Afrikaans to the English (Rooineks) after the Boer War, the apartheidism of the country, the effect of the war and growing up in all this turmoil.
The main character Peekay, short for Pisskoff, a taunting nickname given because he wets his bed, is an English child who is wet nursed and raised by a black nanny until the age of 4. His mother suffers from mental health issues and is institutionalized, his father is never mentioned, his grandfather assumes care for him and he meets and interacts with a host of colourful (pun definitely intended) characters. Many of them are wonderful role models for Peekay, some are brutal.
At the age of four he is sent to a boarding school where he undergoes nothing short of torture. This makes this book a good read for students who are bullied and for those that bully. In fact it is on the required reading list for some high schools and universities.
During the course of the story Peekay meets a witch doctor, a German botanist, a Jewish Teacher and her father, a librarian, several black workers on the South African train system, a prison guard, a prisoner, boxers, born again Christians, a black activist, a Russian copper mine worker and an assortment of other characters both good and bad but always helpful in the development of his character. Some in the guise of “What doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger”.
Through this journey Peekay develops a paradigm for life in what he calls “The Power of One” which at times is a “keep under the radar” attitude and at others a come out swinging approach. I use the later term intentionally as much of Peekay’s maturity is found in the boxing ring. His goal in life is to be the welterweight champion of the world.
Throughout this novel one keeps expecting to discover Peekay’s identity, hoping that he will prove to be a well know critic of and leader against apartheid as well as a champion for the blacks in South Africa. Whether this happens or not has no impact on the quality or relevance of the novel.
All of us liked this book. Some felt it was too long. Some felt that the anecdotes went on too long. Some felt that it was transformative. Some found some of the boxing descriptions were too graphic. Some were horrified by the childhood cruelty. Most of us felt it was an ultimately uplifting read.
We recommend this book.
May’s book:
Goldfinch by Donna Tratt
Friends of the Meaford Library (FOML) Update:
The FOML Executive meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month in the board room of the Library. We are a volunteer organization that raises money to help the Meaford Public Library. Volunteers are needed for the Net Shed, as well as the Executive. Come out to a meeting and see where your interests could enhance our work.
The FOML Volunteer Appreciation Tea is May 9th at 2pm at the Net Shed.
