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The Persimmon Tree #2
Fishing for Stars
Fishing for Stars has, at its heart, two passionate, unforgettable - but very different women. One is exotic, damaged, and shrewd; the other beautiful, determined and zealous. Both are bitter rivals for the love of the same man.
My story is set in Australia, the Pacific Islands, Japan and Indonesia during the latter half of the twentieth century. Nick Duncan is an ingenuous male with a great deal more female on his hands than he can possibly hope to understand.
The contest he is called upon to referee is the clash between the two great loves of his life: the seductive Anna Til, and the older, equally fascinating Marg Hamilton. Nick struggles between their worlds: one exploiting the world's riches for profit, the other fighting to save the environment and its creatures, large and small.
I hope you like Fishing for Stars - it is a story of ambition, destruction, love, tears and laughter, with a soupçon of hope thrown in.
Bryce Courtenay
My story is set in Australia, the Pacific Islands, Japan and Indonesia during the latter half of the twentieth century. Nick Duncan is an ingenuous male with a great deal more female on his hands than he can possibly hope to understand.
The contest he is called upon to referee is the clash between the two great loves of his life: the seductive Anna Til, and the older, equally fascinating Marg Hamilton. Nick struggles between their worlds: one exploiting the world's riches for profit, the other fighting to save the environment and its creatures, large and small.
I hope you like Fishing for Stars - it is a story of ambition, destruction, love, tears and laughter, with a soupçon of hope thrown in.
Bryce Courtenay
601 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
88 people are currently reading
1136 people want to read
About the author
Bryce Courtenay
58 books2,304 followersArthur Bryce Courtenay, AM was a South African-Australian advertising director and novelist. He is one of Australia's best-selling authors, notable for his book The Power of One.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 7, 2012
I have very mixed feelings about the book. I should have rated it when I was three quarters of the way through it and I would have then given it four stars! I loved the characters of Anna and Nick and was fascinated by both their histories, together and separately, and loved the detailed descriptions of the different customs of Japan. I got very immersed in that section of the book. The third main character Marg, however, did not work for me. Despite the writer's descriptions of her character she remained two dimensional and unlikeable in the main. I found the book overlong and would have been happy had most of the final part been omitted. In fact I have a confession to make!! For the first time in my life I skipped about forty pages and jumped to the last chapter as I was no longer interested in what the politics were that Marg was involved in. I have enjoyed Bryce Courtenay's other novels more but this does have much to recommend it. You can always skip some of the more long-winded sections!
January 30, 2010
I will probably never read another Bryce Courtenay book again after reading Fishing for Stars - an exercise in boredom, predictability and blatant disregard for the reader's intelligence. Fishing for Stars appeared to be a recipe/formula of sex, ego, arrogance and predictability that one could find in any second-rate novel written by any novice writing a formula-based collection of words to create a perception of depth and originality. Power of One, Jessica, two exceptional books by Bryce Courtenay are besmirched by association of having been written by the same author who produced such a poorly disguised effort in formula writing as Fishing for Stars.
January 2, 2016
I struggled with this - I wanted to finish it for completeness, having read and liked but not loved The Persimmon Tree, but found Nick's self-justification of his lifelong obsession with having sex with Anna to be rather nauseating, and she was basically an evil bitch who got away with it because she was beautiful. Marg was both more interesting and more likeable, but we don't get the end of her story, and the whole book is really quite disjointed, and overly long. I did find the history parts interesting, although because this is fiction it's hard to know which bits of it actually happened.
August 27, 2019
Usually I really enjoy Bryce Courtenay novels, but couldn't get into this one... a bit boring.
November 22, 2011
I found this book worked well through parts one and two, but it all fell apart in part three for me. The jump from Japan to other seemingly unrelated specifics on business and politics in Australia and elsewhere really bored me. It dragged on in minute details that seemed not to advance the plot. An overall disappointment for me.
Personally I'm starting to feel like Courtenay writes rather similar characters overhand over. I've read The Power of One, Tandia, Jessica, Brother Fish and Fishing for Stars. There's the clever yet self-depicating protagonist, the wildly beautiful leading lady who is extremely good at business, but cones from a fractured past including physical, emotional and sexual abuse. There's a heavy weight on business and political specifics. It's set in a wide range of venues, sweeping from Australia to Japan etc.
Personally I'm starting to feel like Courtenay writes rather similar characters overhand over. I've read The Power of One, Tandia, Jessica, Brother Fish and Fishing for Stars. There's the clever yet self-depicating protagonist, the wildly beautiful leading lady who is extremely good at business, but cones from a fractured past including physical, emotional and sexual abuse. There's a heavy weight on business and political specifics. It's set in a wide range of venues, sweeping from Australia to Japan etc.
July 23, 2010
I LOVE Bryce Courtenay books, but this wasn't his best. The history of Java, the Australian Green Movement, and the war in the South Pacific was, as always, interesting, but I couldn't fully get into Nick's character. As a woman, a story of one guy equally loving two opposing women for nearly his whole life, leaves a bit to be desired. I kept waiting for Anna to get over her vaginismus but she just dies! And while many parts of the book were intriguing, I didn't find them gripping like I have with other Courtenay books. The Persimmon Tree (part 1 of this duo) was better than this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2023
I’m feeling kind of relieved to have finished this book, as it was very long, and the final third was quite hard going. I think it could have been edited more tightly, there were many details we really didn’t need to know. I found myself disliking all the three main characters for various reasons, they were not people I could warm to. And yet I found them absolutely fascinating, their flawed humanity very real, their stories sympathetic. So I kept reading.
The story arc was huge (I read the first book a couple of years ago and this is very much the continuation). I really enjoyed the background contexts - the rebuilding of Japan after the war, the political development of independent Indonesia and the Pacific Islands, the emergence of the green movement in Australia and South East Asia, the fate of the comfort women abused in the war and the ongoing abuse of women worldwide, and the rise of the feminist movement through the post war decades, the different possibilities of today’s world. These things were the backdrop to this story of these damaged, flawed people, the love that bound them together, the ghosts that haunted them, the ways they survived and made sense of their lives. But in many ways the backdrop was also the story, I felt I learned a lot, and although the writing was occasionally a bit didactic, I didn’t mind, I decided I was up for it, though it did sometimes interfere with the flow of the book.
The story arc was huge (I read the first book a couple of years ago and this is very much the continuation). I really enjoyed the background contexts - the rebuilding of Japan after the war, the political development of independent Indonesia and the Pacific Islands, the emergence of the green movement in Australia and South East Asia, the fate of the comfort women abused in the war and the ongoing abuse of women worldwide, and the rise of the feminist movement through the post war decades, the different possibilities of today’s world. These things were the backdrop to this story of these damaged, flawed people, the love that bound them together, the ghosts that haunted them, the ways they survived and made sense of their lives. But in many ways the backdrop was also the story, I felt I learned a lot, and although the writing was occasionally a bit didactic, I didn’t mind, I decided I was up for it, though it did sometimes interfere with the flow of the book.
January 31, 2019
One man in love with 2 women, one older. One younger. One married. One a prisoner to the Japanese. Whilst this book is a long read (600 pages) I found it deep and insightful and worth reading if you have the time. This book explores the discipline of the Japanese culture then transports us to Tasmania to protest the destruction of lakes, rivers and trees. Nick Duncan shares his life loving two women simultaneously. One woman, Anna, a beautiful heroin addict, trained in bondage, establishing power over her Japanese captures, the other, Marg, a widowed ex naval officer, determined to save the world from political destruction. .
.
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This book is not flipped through quickly and requires long chunks of time to get through a chapter. Fishing for Stars is based on true events and made for a very interesting, historical read.
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.
.
This book is not flipped through quickly and requires long chunks of time to get through a chapter. Fishing for Stars is based on true events and made for a very interesting, historical read.
CATCH MY OTHER REVIEWS AT https://www.instagram.com/noorreadsbo...
August 21, 2022
This is the second book in The Persimmon Tree series by Bryce Courtenay. The story, as is common with Courtenay, covers a lot of years and includes some real events. It is quite epic.
Covering a period from the Second World War to just after the turn of the century, this is a tale of love, romance, espionage, corrupt politicians, and business. Starring two very different women, one exotic, damaged and shrewd, the other beautiful, determined and zealous. Both share a love for the same man.
At a mere 601 pages, it isn't as long as some Courtenay books, but very readable and enjoyable.
Covering a period from the Second World War to just after the turn of the century, this is a tale of love, romance, espionage, corrupt politicians, and business. Starring two very different women, one exotic, damaged and shrewd, the other beautiful, determined and zealous. Both share a love for the same man.
At a mere 601 pages, it isn't as long as some Courtenay books, but very readable and enjoyable.
April 23, 2018
I love Bryce Courtenay books, but this one really should have received a 2 1/2....... on the positive side - the narrator - HUMPHREY BOWER was excellent!
June 3, 2021
Long and not as good as Persimmon Tree.
April 19, 2022
This book was engaging , full of adventure, sorrow , challenges. It was full of anticipation, strong personalities colourful characters . Visually the descriptions came into focus , clearly and sharp. Over all an engaging , believable story.
May 20, 2019
I probably shouldn’t have read this one right after the Persimmon Tree. It was not as good. The environmental story line felt forced, and I had enough of his whiny complaints about his sex life. I’d recommend the persimmon tree, but I would skip this one.
April 11, 2015
This was not my favorite book by the author. I found the first third to be a repeat of old material. It became more interesting after that, but I think sequels should assume readers will be more responsible and diligent.
I also found Courtenay's obsessive focus on his characters sex-life off-putting. It read more like an old man's whinging and his constant descriptions of the women in his life in terms of body parts and clothing got old.
Bowers continues to be a wonderful narrator, so I'll probably listen to everything he reads.
I also found Courtenay's obsessive focus on his characters sex-life off-putting. It read more like an old man's whinging and his constant descriptions of the women in his life in terms of body parts and clothing got old.
Bowers continues to be a wonderful narrator, so I'll probably listen to everything he reads.
March 16, 2011
Bryce Courtenay's "Power of One" is on many a reader's top ten list, so when I saw this, I just picked it up, thinking it would be ok at least. Umm... no.
This is apparently a sequel to "The Persimmon Tree," which I have not read, but is generally well received. I feel like I have to read that book now. I've already vested 700 pages of my life in these two characters, Anna and Nick (I consider Marg inconsequential) and I don't want it to be wasted.
This is apparently a sequel to "The Persimmon Tree," which I have not read, but is generally well received. I feel like I have to read that book now. I've already vested 700 pages of my life in these two characters, Anna and Nick (I consider Marg inconsequential) and I don't want it to be wasted.
April 3, 2013
Eh. A man's view of the women in his life where he seldom hits the mark & of course everyone is fabulously rich living in the South Pacific.
The plot line itself jumps around & his ramblings become increasingly intolerable as the book goes on, yet it wasn't SO horrible that I couldn't finish The book. However I did have to skip thru many of the long winded rhetoric.
Not a keeper.
The plot line itself jumps around & his ramblings become increasingly intolerable as the book goes on, yet it wasn't SO horrible that I couldn't finish The book. However I did have to skip thru many of the long winded rhetoric.
Not a keeper.
May 10, 2010
I've read all of Bryce Courtney books, but this one left me cold. I didn't finish it...so boring.
June 18, 2023
I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
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Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/boats-for-sa...
https://numberoneboats.com/boats-for-...
https://theboatyacht.com/boats-for-sa...
https://numberoneboats.com/boats-for-...
August 3, 2025
This book by one of my favourite authors was a great disappointment. I have very mixed feelings about the 3 stars I have ultimately given it, because those stars are for the first two thirds of the book only, the remaining 200 pages were the ramblings of a pathetic and not very interesting old man, obsessed with his own sexuality, followed by the totally unnecessary story of the preservation of a Tasmanian wilderness, which had absolutely nothing to do with the previous 400 pages.
It was like reading two entirely different novels under one cover. I have to admit I skipped through the last one third of this novel because I found it a waste of my time. And I Never thought I would say this about a Bryce Courtenay book.
Nick was a very unlikeable hero figure, as were his two female companions - Anna a strong, greedy, conniving, manipulative woman, who I thoroughly disliked, - and Marg a bully and control freak, who treated Nick like her toy boy. I did not find a single character in this story with whom I could feel any empathy, even given the facts of their abusive or difficult backgrounds.
The only sections I really enjoyed were those regarding the contrasts between the old Japan and the modern Japan, along with the strange social and cultural changes that have taken place over the past decade. It was interesting to learn how their traditional values are being undermined and adapted to the modern world, perhaps at a faster rate than anywhere else on earth. The Japanese are steeped in tradition, but at the same time are enthusiastically embracing new ideas and developments. Maybe I should celebrate the fact that I did learn a great deal about the East while reading this book.
It was like reading two entirely different novels under one cover. I have to admit I skipped through the last one third of this novel because I found it a waste of my time. And I Never thought I would say this about a Bryce Courtenay book.
Nick was a very unlikeable hero figure, as were his two female companions - Anna a strong, greedy, conniving, manipulative woman, who I thoroughly disliked, - and Marg a bully and control freak, who treated Nick like her toy boy. I did not find a single character in this story with whom I could feel any empathy, even given the facts of their abusive or difficult backgrounds.
The only sections I really enjoyed were those regarding the contrasts between the old Japan and the modern Japan, along with the strange social and cultural changes that have taken place over the past decade. It was interesting to learn how their traditional values are being undermined and adapted to the modern world, perhaps at a faster rate than anywhere else on earth. The Japanese are steeped in tradition, but at the same time are enthusiastically embracing new ideas and developments. Maybe I should celebrate the fact that I did learn a great deal about the East while reading this book.
October 12, 2017
Nick Duncan is a semi-retired, wealthy shipping magnate who lives in idyllic Beautiful Bay, Vanuatu, where he is known as the old patriarch of the islands. He is grieving the loss of his beguiling Eurasian true love, Anna, and is suffering for the first time from disturbing flashbacks to the Second World War. So he puts pen to paper and tells the compelling tale of the life he has lived since his war-hero days. It’s an adventurous life that has had at its heart the love of two passionate and unforgettable - but very different - women. The seductive Anna Til and the beguiling Marg Hamilton have spent a lifetime in contest for Nick’s devotion. Nick remains torn between them, and struggles between their two opposing worlds of economic exploitation and environmental crusade - until he is called upon to referee…… Moving between the exotic Pacific Islands, Japan and Australia, over several decades, Fishing for Stars is an epic drama of adventure, ambition and unconventional love, and the stunning sequel to Bryce Courtenay’s best-selling The Persimmon Tree. ‘Just the right level of intellectual and emotional stimulation for a relaxing holiday read.’ Sunday Age ‘Fishing for Stars has, at its heart, two passionate, unforgettable - but very different - women. One is exotic, damaged and shrewd, the other beautiful, determined and zealous.’ Sunday Telegraph brycecourtenay.com facebook.com/BryceCourtenay
March 18, 2021
"Fishing for Stars" is Bryce Courtenay's (South African-Australian author) second book in a sequence describing events in Nick Duncan's life. The first one - "The persimmon tree" I really really liked. It had amazing adventures, love story, weird kinky Japanese stuff, war and intelligence services. "Fishing for stars" is a continuation of events after Nick is finally reunited with Ana, half Dutch have Javanese beauty who got totally screwed up by her Japanese master and got into heroin addiction. I thought the book should be really promising, but I got disappointed. The author took a very ambitious task to depict events that lasted about 40 years, until the main characters became really old. It was soaked through with emotions and relationships as well as Australian/Tasmanian green movement politics in 70s and 80s. Educational but very very far away from me and I guessed too detailed. So I give this book a 3 out of 5. The adventure when Nick and Ana went to Japan, kidnapping, Yakuza, the old master of Ana's - that was still nice to read. I guess that the author had to make a hard stop there...
November 9, 2019
This was one of the worst books I have ever read. It completely and utterly beggared belief. Bryce asks us to believe that not only is Nick's butterfly-collecting friend, who he has never met but corresponded with over 25 years, just happens to be a leader of the Tokyo yakuza AND we are also expected to swallow that his 'mama-san' just HAPPENS to be the geisha who training Anna during the war. This is not historical fiction, this is pure fantasy - although I've never read a fantasy book (and I've read a few) that was so superbly improbable.
And then when the story moves on to Marg and the fight against the damming of the Franklin river - did Bryce just decide he no longer felt like writing a novel and now was switching into providing us with a historical and political account of this event? A few paragraphs about this would have sufficed - the intricate details were in no way necessary to the story. I feel like Bryce just decided this was something he was interested in and so he was going to chuck it in and lecture us all about it. Bored me to tears.
And then when the story moves on to Marg and the fight against the damming of the Franklin river - did Bryce just decide he no longer felt like writing a novel and now was switching into providing us with a historical and political account of this event? A few paragraphs about this would have sufficed - the intricate details were in no way necessary to the story. I feel like Bryce just decided this was something he was interested in and so he was going to chuck it in and lecture us all about it. Bored me to tears.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2018
I want to give this more stars, I really do. the backstory of the characters is detailed and complex. the story is interesting and there's a heap of research that's gone into it. However, I couldn't finish the book I got a little over half way and then the two characters Anna and Nick, bored me and made me angry.
It's the same dialogue between them repeatedly in different situations.
Anna wants to do something that Nick doesn't like. Nick feels sorry for himself, gets mad and over protective. Anna emotionally 'manipulates' him. Nick admits to himself he has been manipulated by a thing that all women do (I'm not going to even get started on the sexism in this) and he gives in.
It sucks because there's a lot of interesting content and knowledge. Frustratingly though, the characters feel like cardboard cutouts rather than real people.
It's the same dialogue between them repeatedly in different situations.
Anna wants to do something that Nick doesn't like. Nick feels sorry for himself, gets mad and over protective. Anna emotionally 'manipulates' him. Nick admits to himself he has been manipulated by a thing that all women do (I'm not going to even get started on the sexism in this) and he gives in.
It sucks because there's a lot of interesting content and knowledge. Frustratingly though, the characters feel like cardboard cutouts rather than real people.
January 6, 2023
What was Bryce thinking?
Throughout the whole novel there was an annoying thread of the protagonist obsessing re getting a root, trying to get a root or missing out on getting a root.
Sweet lord above!
One of his ladies had vaginamitis or something which caused involuntary spasms of the vagina thereby preventing old mate from entry. And there was a journey in the novel trying to help the lady to exorcise her demons re that problem.
The other woman, once free of her husband, realised her lady bits were a bit loose so she undertook a strict regimen of pelvic floor exercises to tighten it up for old mate.
Unfortunately all the focus on his love interests vaginas detracted considerably on the sound historical research that was threaded through the story.
Disappointing.
Throughout the whole novel there was an annoying thread of the protagonist obsessing re getting a root, trying to get a root or missing out on getting a root.
Sweet lord above!
One of his ladies had vaginamitis or something which caused involuntary spasms of the vagina thereby preventing old mate from entry. And there was a journey in the novel trying to help the lady to exorcise her demons re that problem.
The other woman, once free of her husband, realised her lady bits were a bit loose so she undertook a strict regimen of pelvic floor exercises to tighten it up for old mate.
Unfortunately all the focus on his love interests vaginas detracted considerably on the sound historical research that was threaded through the story.
Disappointing.
February 6, 2020
As a fan if Bryce Courtenay and a lover of the first in this series, The Persimmon Tree, I was utterly disappointed with this book. Whilst I did finish it, it was a hard slog. Courtenay continued with his great ability to define and describe a character however I went from loving the strength of both Marg and Anna in The Persimmon tree, to completing despising them and their thoughts and pursuits in Fishing for Stars. Likewise, I struggled with the amount of focus Courtenay puts on the events going on rather than the actual characters and the story. If he was trying to set the scene, I think he failed this time. I would highly recommend The Persimmon Tree, but not Fishing for Stars.
May 24, 2021
Moving between the exotic Pacific Islands, Japan and Australia, over several decades, Fishing for Stars is an epic drama of adventure, ambition and unconventional love, and the stunning sequel to Bryce Courtenay’s best-selling The Persimmon Tree. ‘Just the right level of intellectual and emotional stimulation
I love Bryce Courtenay's character development in most of his books, but this one just fell short.
The story dragged at times and repeated itself but over all good not great but good.
I love Bryce Courtenay's character development in most of his books, but this one just fell short.
The story dragged at times and repeated itself but over all good not great but good.
June 29, 2024
It is always a great, entertaining experience to listen to Bryce Cortenay's books. He is funny, thorough with his research, and full of different kinds of characters. If you want to have fun, listen to his books. I can not believe that Fishing for the Stars is my eighth Bryce Courtenay book, but the unforgettable one is "The Power of One," his debut novel—excellent narration, like in all his books.
May 10, 2020
I was looking forward to the continuation of the story from book one. And it was a very very long book. The book is about three people. It’s a love triangle of sorts. I didn’t care for the long political and Tasmania’s Greenies movement to save the lake. It was way two long, almost two hours as I was listening to the audio book. And then it’s wrapped up swiftly and the book ends.
Although I have read The power of one series I don’t think I will be reading any more of his books.
Although I have read The power of one series I don’t think I will be reading any more of his books.
November 22, 2022
Preferred The Persimmon Tree
Although I did enjoy this book, I have to admit I enjoyed The Persimmon Tree more. I found this one rambled in places and some of the characterisation was a little stereotypical and 'male viewpoint'. was this deliberate or author projection? I'm not sure.
Although I did enjoy this book, I have to admit I enjoyed The Persimmon Tree more. I found this one rambled in places and some of the characterisation was a little stereotypical and 'male viewpoint'. was this deliberate or author projection? I'm not sure.
July 29, 2017
Oh Mr. Courtenay, what were you thinking? Did your publisher ask for a quick book? Did you want to reveal your innermost sexual fantasies in a tale so unbelievable?
I will read other books you have written but this one's a big shallow disappointment.
I will read other books you have written but this one's a big shallow disappointment.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews