Journal 1

After reading the first seven chapters of The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay, I can say that I am really enjoying the book. (I am reading the book for the 2D English course in year twelve, completing a number of assignments on it in the near future.) There are a number of reasons why I am enjoying the book, but I like it mainly because the author made me sympathise with the main character - Peekay. In the opening sentences of the book, Courtenay already made me sympathise with him. “Before my life proper started at the age of five… ...I was torn from my lovely black Nanny… …and sent to boarding school.” Contrasting the loving words with the cruel, Courtenay makes you feel like Peekay has been done an injustice. The way he is treated at boarding school, bullied by racist kids that are far older than him, immediately makes you sympathise for him and stick up for him.

The ‘stream of consciousness’ way of writing is quite relaxing and it makes you feel part of Peekay, feeling what he feels, seeing what he sees. The first line: ‘This is what happened’, makes it sound as if Peekay has just cracked open a beer and is about to tell you his life story.

The book is also enjoyable because it has an interesting story line. I especially liked reading about Peekay’s new friend, Hoppy Groenewald. Hoppy is the local boxing hero of the railway men, and becomes a role model for Peekay, giving him the confidence he needs. Hoppy teaches Peekay about boxing, inspiring him to become a welterweight champion. This made me feel much better about Peekay. Before he met Hoppy, Peekay just wanted to get home and cry to his Nanny, but Hoppy gave him a dream that he could now strive for.

I found that the book had quite rough language. On some occasions there was even blasphemy, and, as a Christian, I find that it takes the enjoyment out of reading those sections.

My expectations for the rest of the book are that it will have a very thrilling ending. From what I can gather from the blurb on the back of the book (And in a final conflict with his childhood enemy, the Judge, Peekay will fight to the death for justice), Peekay will probably become a champion boxer and eventually kill the Judge in a boxing match. This is the final triumph where, as Hoppy put it, ‘small overcomes big’. I hope that Peekay will become a Christian, although from what I have read in the first seven chapters it doesn’t look like he will be converted. Whatever happens, I expect it to be a fantastic read - I just hope that the assignments won’t ruin the enjoyment I get from reading The Power of One.