Solomon's Song Audiobook By Bryce Courtenay cover art

Solomon's Song

The Australian Trilogy, Book 3

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Solomon's Song

By: Bryce Courtenay
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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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.©2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Fiction Historical Fiction

Critic reviews

"Narrator Humphrey Bower doesn't miss a nuance. His villains have a sharp, nasal nastiness, and his love scenes tickle the hairs at the nape of the neck. Bower's performance is spot-on." (Audiofile)
Masterful Storytelling • Rich Historical Detail • Exceptional Narration • Excellent Trilogy Conclusion
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I won’t spoil this book for those who have not yet listened to it. I will just say that after the absolutely perfect 10 star epic Potato Factory, and the lesser but almost equally enjoyable, Tommo and Hawk, this finale comes up short. The author has dropped his previous deep character development for an anti-war statement that the listener can see coming from a mile away. So many great storylines just piddle out and the entire book shifts into nothingness, with a completely predictable and abrupt "message" ending. I absolutely love this trilogy and am so sad that it ended with such disappointment. Having said that, the overall story was well worth the credits and I'm 90% happy with it all. Then again, I was 200% happy after The Potato Factory :)

If only to finish the trilogy

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This was a great conclusion to the story of 2 sides of the Solomon family.The narrator is excellent. One of the best. He made me want to sit in my driveway and keep listening. I look forward to listening to other books by this author and narrator.

Excellent

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Solomon's Song, the third and final installment in the Australian Trilogy, tore my heart and had me in tears on a number of occasions.

The novel spans time from the late 19th century through to World War I.

Hawk is the unsung hero and the glue which holds the story and the entire family together. The biggest tragedy is that Hawk remains alone following the death of his beloved Maggie. Hawk becomes a surrogate father to Tommo's daughter, and helps raise her with Mary. Unfortunately, if Hawk has a fault, it's that he feels too much and is blinded by emotion.

Some of his decisions are questionable, and result in more difficulty. A case in point is his decision about how to deal with the other branch of Ikey Solomon's family as a way of atoning for having stolen the contents of Ikey and Hannah's safe without having passed any of it on to Hannah and David.

This book contains more description of the other half of the Solomon family. The entire branch of the family is tainted. Hannah was odious, and none of her offspring are any better. David Solomon is thoroughly nasty and unlikeable, and it's unfortunate that he didn't come to a nastier death about 40 years earlier. His son Abraham is less morally repugnant, but he is weak-willed and spineless and ultimately agrees with the decisions made by his irascible and nasty father. Abraham's son Joshua is merely a pawn of David's and he is also morally weak and repulsive. I wanted to slap him. In fact, I still do.

There is finally some interweaving of the two branches of the family and their fortunes. The Tommo / Hawk / Mary branch of the family is rounded out by Tommo's half-Maori daughter, Hinetitama, and her family.

Hinetitama unfortunately suffers from the same demons as Tommo, and all hope for her is lost when Mary stupidly arranges for Slabbert Tikkelman, Hinetitama's Dutch lover, abuser and enabler, to come to Hobart to marry HInetitama and work at the Potato Factory. Slabbert Tikkelman has no redeeming features, and it's unfortunate that he wasn't killed off earlier in the book. The ultimate downfall and degradation of Hinetitama is terribly sad and appalling. Bower's narration of Hinetitama in the hospice in her 50s when she is reunited with Hawk is superb. It's a complete tear-jerker. What a terrible waste of a life.

Hinetitama's children, Ben and Victoria, grow up under Hawk's care and are poised to take over the family business, but Ben is called away to war.

Many reviewers have criticized Solomon's Song as a piece of anti-war propaganda, but that's not a fair criticism. The horrors of trench war are brought to life with Courtenay's usual brilliant research and writing. But the focus is on more than just Gallipoli. The tedium and terror of training and travel are set out, as well as the futility of the landing at Gallipoli. Ben becomes a great leader on the front lines, and is wounded. He convalesces and recovers in London, becomes betrothed to his shipboard nurse, and then heads out to fight in the front lines of France. Meanwhile, the evil David has pulled strings so that Joshua is coccooned and protected from any hard duty. Joshua eventually feels shamed by the fact that he is sitting comfortably working in an administrative position, and gets himself sent out to fight on active duty in France.

Not surprisingly, the fates of Ben and Joshua are intertwined. As with Hawk, as soon as there is hope and light and laughter for Ben, it is snatched away by cruel fate. Joshua survives but is left with the curse of madness brought on by the war.Yes, the book ends suddenly, but not surprisingly.

There is just so much in this series to love. It's brilliant. It's also brilliantly narrated.

I will go back and listen from the very beginning, in order to catch all the references which I may have glossed over on first listen.

Solomon's Song is ultimately unsatisfying in that I wanted the series to continue, but all good things must come to an end.

Didn't Want it to End

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I enjoyed this book. I really enjoy the writing style of this author, and his extensive historical research, making his books such an enjoyable read (or listen)
This book concentrates on WW1 and the battle at Galipoli.
Again, I did not know much about this era, or this battle.
In school, WW1 was glossed over, and more concentration was placed on WW2, so I learned quite alot.
Having said that, I enjoyed the first book in the trilogy the best. (The Potatoe Factory), the 2nd, Tommo and Hawk, the least, and this book I found to be nowhere near as wonderful as the Potatoe Factory, but it was still good.
IMHO, worth your credit. Make sure to start at the beginning though, with The Potatoe Factory.

Last of the trilogy

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In history WW2 tends to overshadow WW1. The accounts of WW1 were moving. It wraps up the series nicely.

Moving

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Courtney is a bit long winded but the story is good enough -- if a bit gory -- to carry you along.

Great saga

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Where does Solomon's Song rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Third book in series need to listen to previous two to get full impact of the book. I listened to all three back to back over course of 6 weeks. The three books together are so good will make you disappointed in anything you listen to afterwards

Who was your favorite character and why?

Given that the three books span 3 generations, you feel vested in the characters. Difficult to pick a favorite one.

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

Great, glad they kept same narrator for all three books.

Great Book

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Would you consider the audio edition of Solomon's Song to be better than the print version?

AUDIO DOSE NOT PREVENT ME FROM DOING OTHER CHORES. WISH THE STORY CONTINUED INTO THE NEXT GENERATION

What did you like best about this story?

THE STORY OF THE IMMIGRATION OF TASMAINIA AND THE NATIVE PEOPLE

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

THE POTATO FACTORY IS PERFICT

CHARLES DICKENS COULD NOT OF DONE BETTER

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This series was going along great, sometimes dark, sometimes positive. Then the last hour or 2 of this audio book it stopped making any sense. It felt contrived, rushed, and and out of character. It was as if the author got tired of writing and just made something up to hit the deadline. It was a very disappointing conclusion to the series.

contrived ending

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I so enjoyed this book by Bryce Courtney, one of my top five favorite authors. If you’ve never listened to one , I would highly urge you to.

This particular book is the third in a trilogy . The first half catches you up on the family. The second half involves Hawk’s grandson Bens involvement in the First World War. Well researched and entertaining, with a dry wit throughout. I loved it !

Solomon’s Song is beautiful

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