mike_morse 's review for:

Tommo & Hawk by Bryce Courtenay

5.0

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We are huge Bryce Courtenay fans, and also fans of Humphrey Bower who reads the audio book versions. Tommo & Hawk doesn't disappoint, and is probably a bit less violent than the other books, although the villains are totally evil. There is no doubt that Bryce is telling history at points in the book, and maybe it's a bit too obvious, but still, he's done his research, and it's an interesting history. For example, the passages on whaling are fascinating in their own right, and jibe with what little I know about whaling (based on my trip to Norfolk). This book uses a literary device of having each chapter written in first person, with Tommo and Hawk switching roles every chapter. Since the characters are so difference, this allows Courtenay to give both sides to controversial historical episodes. We're already thinking about a trip so we can listen to the third book in this trilogy, "Song of Solomon".