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Whitethorn
- Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
- Length: 24 hrs and 33 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction
Non-member price: $26.29
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strong performance
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This is Bryce Courtenay's moving tribute to his son, Damon, a hemophiliac who died from medically acquired AIDS on April 1, 1991, at the age of 24. April Fool's Day is controversial, painful and heartbreaking, yet has a gentle humor. It is also life-affirming, and, above all, a testimony to the incredible regenerative strength of love: how when we confront our worst, we can become our best. This tragic yet uplifting story will change the way you think.
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Amazing true story
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The Family Frying Pan
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Mrs. Moses is a small woman with a big heart and enormous courage. The only survivor of a Cossack raid on her village, she takes with her a big cast-iron frying pan, so heavy that she can only sling it over her back. Yet this is no ordinary frying pan, it's The Family Frying Pan, blessed with a Russian soul.
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Campfire Stories to Freedom
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Thommo returns from Vietnam to an Australia that regards him as a mercenary guilty of war crimes. He begins to develop all kinds of physical and mental problems, and thinks it must only be him until he finds he is not alone. Ten mates, all who remain of his platoon who fought and died in the Battle of Long Tan, are affected the same way.
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Not my sort of book.
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The Persimmon Tree opens in Indonesia in 1942 on the cusp of Japanese invasion and the evacuation of Batavia (Jakarta) by the Dutch. Seventeen-year-old Nicholas Duncan is on holiday there, in pursuit of an exotic butterfly known as the Magpie Crow. It's an uncertain, dangerous time to be in Indonesia, and Nick's options of getting out are fast dwindling. Amidst the fear and chaos he falls in love with Anna, the beautiful daughter of a Dutch acquaintance, and she nicknames him 'Mr Butterfly'.
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Perhaps one of the best novels I have read
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Solomon's Song
- The Australian Trilogy, Book 3
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Here is the story of two families, branches of the Solomons, transported to an alien land. Both branches eventually grow rich and powerful. But through three generations, the families never, for one moment, relinquish their hatred for each other. This novel is also the story of Australia, from its beginnings to its coming of age as a nation.
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Best 3 book series ever
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Tommo and Hawk
- The Australian Trilogy, Book 2
- By: Bryce Courtenay
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Brutally kidnapped and separated in childhood, Tommo and Hawk are reunited at the age of 15 in Hobart Town. Together, they escape their troubled pasts and set off on a journey into manhood. From whale hunting in the Pacific to the Maori wars of New Zealand, from the Rocks in Sydney to the miners' riots at the goldfields, Tommo and Hawk must learn each other's strengths and weaknesses in order to survive.
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very moving
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Born in a South Africa divided by racism and hatred, this one small boy will come to lead all the tribes of Africa. Through enduring friendships with Hymie and Gideon, Peekay gains the strength he needs to win out. And in a final conflict with his childhood enemy, the Judge, Peekay will fight to the death for justice.
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Fantastic Narration!
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The Silver Moon
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- By: Bryce Courtenay
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Each of us has a place to return to in our minds, a place of clarity and peace, a place to think, to create, to dream. For Bryce Courtenay this place was a waterhole in Africa where he used to escape to as a boy, in search of solitude. One evening, while lingering there, he witnessed the tallest of the great beasts drinking from the waterhole in the moonlight, and was spellbound. Ever since, he drew inspiration from this moment.
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What listeners say about Whitethorn
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Renee
- 21-11-2016
Another unputdownable effort!
Bryce Courtenay's stories are always intriguing, believable, and amazingly interesting. Humphrey Bower delivers the audio in his usual wonderful manner. this is an amazing partnership.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 07-08-2019
Loved it
Humphrey Bowers is a most brilliant and entertaining reader and always places me in the culture with his accents and inflections. Great book Mr Courtney. Thank you.
1 person found this helpful
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- linda goodall
- 28-05-2019
Bryce Courtney's brilliant once again
Loved it! The research, fluency of his writing of event and beliveability of the story is what we expect and receive from this brilliant author.
1 person found this helpful
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- Pierre Sydney
- 29-03-2019
Whitehorn
This book is lengthy but gripping right from the start while finishing in an amazing fashion. I literally couldn't leave this story and was listening intently in my car and just about everywhere else whenever I had a moment! Highly recommended. Loved it as well as gained so much additional appreciation about the African continent at that time. The authors extensive research as well as the recounting by Humphrey Bower (and all the different accents) was exemplary.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 19-06-2018
A truly great book!
A wonderful book. One can i marine it would represent actual happenings that occurred at that time in history. Justice was served!
1 person found this helpful
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- Kevin
- 25-02-2018
A triumph of justice against the odds
Another great book from Bryce with some of his familiar and trade mark sayings and rules of morality. I really enjoy Bryce's books, great value for money, interesting, even captivating and brilliantly narrated by Humphrey Bower ...nobody does it better.
1 person found this helpful
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- Brad
- 08-04-2017
Great
Another cracking story from BC and the most excellent narration by Humphrey Bower. It would be hard to find a better narrator!
1 person found this helpful
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- Veronica Josephs
- 20-03-2017
Humphrey Bower is excellent at narrating!
I had looked at this book a few times, but decided to give it a miss.
So glad I finally bought it!
I love the research that goes into Bryce's books. He really helps you 'see' into the worlds he creates. This book will go into my Must Listen To Again library.
1 person found this helpful
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- Catherine
- 04-10-2020
It kept me reading
I found myself glued to this book. Amazed the main character had to go through so much from childhood to adult. But I cheered at the end. Great read
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- TishRyder
- 03-06-2020
Brilliant writing
Slowly slowly in the beginning, what you don't realise is that you are being sucked in to this remarkable story of the life of Tom and you cant put it down. Brilliant and very well rounded! Loved it!!
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- Melinda
- 19-08-2013
Recycled 'Power of One'
What made the experience of listening to Whitethorn the most enjoyable?
I've enjoyed several of Courtenay's books with Humphrey Bower narrating. While Bryce Courtenay is a great story teller, Humphrey Bower's talent puts the story over the top.
Would you recommend Whitethorn to your friends? Why or why not?
If you've read 'Power of One' this is almost an exact recycle of that story. Stick with 'Power of One' and you won't be disappointed.
10 people found this helpful
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- Geoff Croshaw
- 31-01-2010
another masterpiece with a slight issue
Having listened to all available books by Bryce, this is the first time I have had a slight issue. Before that the good stuff....As usual Mr Bower is superb in the delivery of this novel and the novel itself is another masterpiece.
I did find however that there was a little to much of Peekay in this book, and in fact great tracts of it could have been in Power of One.
This still will not stop me from checking every month for the next BC/HB journey to download.
9 people found this helpful
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- Melissa
- 06-12-2012
Typical Bryce Courtney/Humphrey Bower ....awesome
Where does Whitethorn rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Though a great book, this is not my favorite Bryce Courtenay book. If you haven't read/listened to The Power of One (my personal favorite), The Potato Factory, Tandia and others, you should treat yourself. As with all his books, you will laugh, cry and experience many emotions. His stories are influenced by his personal experiences growing up during difficult times in South Africa and his life in Australia. I was sad to hear of his death November 22. He will be greatly missed!
Humphrey Bower is by far my favorite narrator. He has an uncanny ability to change his voice and make the characters come alive! Such a talent is rare, you will not be disappointed. It's easy to understand why Bryce Courtenay chose him to read his books...what a great duo! Another book that he narrated beautifully (not Bryce Courtenay's) is Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, if you like Bryce Courtenay, you should like this one, too.
14 people found this helpful
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- kaz47
- 03-04-2006
Whitethorn
At the beginning of this book I nearly stoped listening because of the harsh circumstances, but just in time things looked brighter. From then on the book becomes a wonderful experience and the whole plot is fascinating right to the end.
The reader is absolutely ingenious and makes the whole book so much more enjoyable to listen to than you could ever imagine if you were merely reading it.
13 people found this helpful
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- Jan
- 22-04-2013
My Favorite Bryce Courtenay, with a warning
I came very close to completely quiting this book early on, as I have had to do with several other of Bryce's books. There is an act of older male child on younger male child sexual abuse as seen though the younger child's uncomprehending eyes. This is the only act that you "see" but a 2 minute fast forward would remove the worst of it. The incident is essential to plot, but knowing it happened is enough. The book is definately adult themed even without the above episode, but language is remarkably clean. The message is positive and hopeful, the history of South Africa and its challenges are beutifully covered. Tom, the orphan, you follow from 7 - 30 or so, is a delightful innocent soul, and the friends he makes along the way become your friends too. You will meet people from all walks of life, of all levels of morality, but right and goodness are the hero's here. If you liked Power of One, you will like this... as they are very similar.
5 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 16-11-2012
Epic, Awesome
How could it have taken me so long to find other Bryce Courtenay books besides The Power of One? Whitethorn was a huge pleasure, made more so by the skill and talent of Humphrey Bower, who adds so much to this book with his reading. Do yourself a huge favor and listen to this book.
5 people found this helpful
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- Reece
- 05-01-2011
Fantastic
From the moment I started listening I could not stop. The story and plot were very engrossing and Humphrey Bower did a fantastic job of bringing all the characters to life. As previous reviewers have said there is a section of the story right at the beginning of the novel which is quite graphic but once past that point the story is delightful. Very similar to "The Power of One" in many ways so if you enjoyed that, then this is a must read.
4 people found this helpful
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- John
- 15-06-2012
I can not praise this book enough
Would you consider the audio edition of Whitethorn to be better than the print version?
I only do AudioBooks these days.
Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
They have all been good, but Whitethorn hold a special place in my heart
Who was the most memorable character of Whitethorn and why?
The Doggie
Any additional comments?
This has to be one of my most favourite books... Possibly #1
As someone who was bullied at boarding school, I identified with the main character.
Loners often only find love and feel comfortable with animals or other outcast human beings.
I will listen to this again soon.
If this book does not make you cry, you don't have a soul....
Thank You Bryce Courtney for this wonderful gift
6 people found this helpful
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- Scott
- 24-04-2015
Sister Novel To "The Power Of One"
Any additional comments?
I feel like this is the book that Courtenay would have like to have written when he completed The Power Of One. It's a more polished story from a more experienced author, but with a little less heart. It's a good read and I definitely recommend it, but you will see a lot of parallels to The Power Of One...too many for my taste.
1 person found this helpful
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- horslovr
- 12-11-2012
What can I say...it's Bryce Courtenay!
Every time I begin to read a Bryce Courtenay story, I am thinking to myself, "How can this one be as good as the last one I read?", and every time I am quite surprised to find that the one I'm reading is just as fantastic as all the others! His stories are all different, but engaging and interesting all the same.
In this story, which is, incidentally read by the INCOMPARABLE Humphrey Bower (so wonderful and easy to listen to and whose voice is perfect for Bryce's stories) there are characters who fall on hard times and through his/her life experiences, find a way to conquer his/her demons. Going along for the ride, learning for ourselves along the way, make this book, as all the others, great listens.
1 person found this helpful
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