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24th out of 257 books
—
69 voters
Tommo and Hawk (The Potato Factory #2)
Hardcover, 675 pages
Published
June 30th 1999
by Penguin Books
(first published August 6th 1998)
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Like probably the majority of sequels, this one the second installment of a trilogy, it didn’t live up to the original. Granted the storyline got advanced, but often not in a good way - I found myself not buying in emotionally to the characters or their problems. I think it could have been a much more interesting story had the author expanded on different aspects of the brothers’ travels. Don’t get me wrong, Tommo and Hawk had a lot of good moments. But by the end, I wanted to move on. I didn’t...more
Tommo and Hawk, by Bryce Courtenay, narrated by Humphrey Bower, produced by Bolinda Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
This is the second book in the series, about Ikey Solomon and the next generations in 19th century Australia. In this second book, the twins have been reunited after having been kidnapped. Hawk was found fairly soon after the kidnapping, but Tommo wasn’t found for seven years. Both underwent horrible abuse during their kidnapping. Mary Abacus wants her two sons to remain in Tasm...more
This is the second book in the series, about Ikey Solomon and the next generations in 19th century Australia. In this second book, the twins have been reunited after having been kidnapped. Hawk was found fairly soon after the kidnapping, but Tommo wasn’t found for seven years. Both underwent horrible abuse during their kidnapping. Mary Abacus wants her two sons to remain in Tasm...more
This is the second book in The Australian Trilogy by Bruce Courtenay. I finished the first book, and moved hungrily on to this one because I had to find out what happens to Tommo and Hawk as they develop as human beings in their world. Their inner thoughts, their conflicts, the choices they make, what happens to their families: I had to know.
All of the characters remain true to themselves throughout the story, and I know this because I have been given the inside story in the narrative. And, I k...more
All of the characters remain true to themselves throughout the story, and I know this because I have been given the inside story in the narrative. And, I k...more
This is Book #2 in this trilogy of the history of Australia.. I met Hawk and Tommo in the first book and was anxious to learn more about these men and how Australian history was woven into their adventures.
I gave this book 3 stars because all the dialogue bored me.. There was a lot of dialogue, which did add a certain understanding to each particular situation... but I wanted to move more quickly to the next historical situation and the next adventure..
And oh, the adventures Hawk and Tomma had...more
I gave this book 3 stars because all the dialogue bored me.. There was a lot of dialogue, which did add a certain understanding to each particular situation... but I wanted to move more quickly to the next historical situation and the next adventure..
And oh, the adventures Hawk and Tomma had...more
This book was a little too coarse for my taste, but I did enjoy it for its historical value.
I won't write a long and detailed review, as so many others have done a great job of it. I listened to this in audio, narrated by Humphrey Bower. Love this narrator, and I felt as I though there were multiple characters narrating. I strongly recommend that The Potato Factory is where to start. Vital info in the first book hinder getting to know many of the key characters-- especially Ikey Solomon. I grew to admire Hawk's integrity and his devotion to his brother. As a woman, the preparation for...more
I read "Tommo and Hawk" despite the fact that I knew it was the 2nd book in a trilogy. Somewhere I read that it was a stand-alone novel, but I disagree as the ending is too hastily covered and omits essential characters. I was somewhat dissatisfied. Why can't a novel have an uplifting conclusion? Even without the knowledge of a sequel, one would hope there was more to come. For me, the ending left the reader hanging.
Regardless, this is a very well-told tale of twin brothers who have had to endu...more
Regardless, this is a very well-told tale of twin brothers who have had to endu...more
Jan 17, 2011
Sue Smith
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-read-in-2011
An excellent continuation of the story started in the book 'The Potato Factory', following the twin brothers Tommo and Hawk as they become young men finding their way in an often cruel world. So incredibly well written, with descriptions that paint vivid pictures that really let you in on the tales as if you were right along side them as their adventures unwind. Often tragic but always uplifting, it's really an epic tale of how you can become you're own person in a world that seems fraught with...more
When I read this book, I didn't know it was the second book in a trilogy. I thought I'd get lost in story, but that wasn't the case at all. I enjoyed it so much that I went to buy the first and the third books. There wasn't a boring instance in this thick book. The characters were so alive and movingly portrayed they were really leaping out of the pages. The ending was hanging, which of course was understandable, but the book can stand on its own. The bits about New Zealand and Australia - and t...more
It's been a long time since I read this book, but I remember how brilliantly Courtenay treated the history of New Zealand during the section of the book that is set in New Zealand. I myself am from New Zealand, and I am slightly ashamed to say that New Zealand history has always seemed so bland and uninteresting to me. Courtenay managed to make it vibrant and interesting.
That's not the only good thing about this story, not by a long shot, but it has been years and years since I read Tommo And Ha...more
That's not the only good thing about this story, not by a long shot, but it has been years and years since I read Tommo And Ha...more
I have yet to be disappointed by anything that Bryce Courtenay writes. My first Courtenay experience was with The Power of One. This is one of those books that will stick with you and is one you'll never forget. I moved on to the sequel, Tandia, and loved it also. I couldn't quit on Courtenay after that and moved on to The Potato Factory, the first in his Australian trilogy. Amazing. Then on to Tommo and Hawk. As this one ended, I experienced so much emotion I burst into tears. I couldn't pick u...more
Courtenay has written a book steeped in the richness of early Australian History.
I did find this book a little disappointing. I am not much into violence and I found that whilst historically correct (assumption) many of the violent scenes were too long and graphic for my liking.
The book depicts in detail the quality of characters and hardships of early Australia in a pleasing and vivid way.
I did find this book a little disappointing. I am not much into violence and I found that whilst historically correct (assumption) many of the violent scenes were too long and graphic for my liking.
The book depicts in detail the quality of characters and hardships of early Australia in a pleasing and vivid way.
The second book in the Australian trilogy. Took me a bit longer to get into it but I grew to love all the main characters. I did expect something bad happening to them based on the previous book and I was not disappointed. If the first book in the trilogy was mostly about fortitude and hope, the main message of this one seems to be "don't let the mongrels win"; yet they win in the end.
This is the 2nd in the Potato Factory trilogy. Start with Potato Factory, then Tommo & Hawk, then Solomon's Song! I just loved this whole series! Read the synopsis but be ready for a rich history of Australia and well developed characters you truly care about. Don't read just one of these and best to read them in order. I listened to the audio version and the reader was exceptional!
Mr Courtenay is great storyteller and his books are fantastic.
I am so glad that I had Solomon's Song when I finished this book, because first 100 pages belongs to Tommo and Hawk ( looks like Ikley had his sticky fingers in it!)
I was intrigued with the way Hawk is justifying his fight with Lightning Bolt,knowing that it is wrong, and that it will cost him dearly (and it did, much more than he expected).
I am so glad that I had Solomon's Song when I finished this book, because first 100 pages belongs to Tommo and Hawk ( looks like Ikley had his sticky fingers in it!)
I was intrigued with the way Hawk is justifying his fight with Lightning Bolt,knowing that it is wrong, and that it will cost him dearly (and it did, much more than he expected).
Het vervolg op "the potatoe factory" speelt rond 1860 en neemt je mee van Tasmanië naar Nieuw Zeeland en later naar Sydney, Australië. Van walvisvaart naar de Maori-oorlogen naar de goudvelden. Net als het vorige boek over de onderlaag van de bevolking maar heel mooi verteld. Je krijgt sympathie voor de hoofdrolspelers al loopt het met de meesten niet goed af.
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This book starts right were The Potato Factory left off. Absolutely wonderful book, the story is so compelling and one cannot stop reading because it absorbs you at every moment. The characters are so interesting and rich that one becomes completely immersed in this book. A must read.
Just finished this 2nd installment of a 3 part series (if you can loosely call it a series), and it was very good story telling, but gets tedious on the ship and fighting in New Zealand. The ending will leave you turning pages with the light on until late at night.
This was book two of the Potato Factory trilogy was a continuation of the terrific writing, insightful characterization and detailed portrayal of the history and development of Australia and New Zealand. I love this author but unfortunately I can´t find his books in the library, but they were well worth spending my audible credits on. I´m now listening to the third book and loving it as well.
I was a bit torn with this book - I really enjoyed The Potato Factory and it was great to continue the story of Mary Abacus and her sons - but there was a lot of violence which made it much less enjoyable for me...I am taking a break from Bryce Courtenay but do plan to read the final book in this trilogy as I find the story of New Zealand and Australia quite fascinating.
I actually read this book before "The Potato Factory", and enjoyed it as a stand-alone book. Once I got into in I knew that there was a first one, but I didn't miss not reading it, and once I did read it, I found this one much better!
The saga of the Potato Factory continues. If you liked the first, you will like the second. The first part is a was a little hard to get through but necessary to the plot and to update us on the boys/men. As with the first, it ends with a cliffhanger. The author once again transports the reader to different places and explores the cultural values as well the visual splendor. Old characters continue to pop up. I've already ordered the third and last of this triology.
Since I am not especially interested in military history, the midsection of this book had not much appeal to me. But once the Maori wars were over for Tommo and Hawk, the story picked up momentum and it was truly a page turner. Very happy to finally read this book. I am now on the third book of the trilogy, Solomon's Song. Highly recommend this series.
Bryce and Humphrey have still got it! (audio version)
Can't wait to listen to the third and final book in this series.
Warning: There are some rough parts in the book. IE: love scenes, rape, violence and language.
Can't wait to listen to the third and final book in this series.
Warning: There are some rough parts in the book. IE: love scenes, rape, violence and language.
After finishing The Potato Factory I could straight away delve into the sequel Tommo & Hawk, about the lives of twins, from different fathers. The brutal behaviour against woman and young children in this book often made my skin crawl, but I could not put it down. The descriptions about life on a whaling boat, and how the Maori tribes in New Zealand were disrespected,
hunted and often killed by the white supremacy settlers, made me shake my head in shame to be human. What really stood out for...more
hunted and often killed by the white supremacy settlers, made me shake my head in shame to be human. What really stood out for...more
Another Humphrey Bower narrated rendition of the second in the Potato Factory trilogy. Intense is a good descriptive word and for we Gringos you'll learn about the Maori Wars in New Zealand.
As I have said before, thus far I like anything written by Bryce Courtenay. "Tommo and Hawk" is the second book of the Potato Factory Trilogy. This novel covers life of Maori People of New Zealand, being crew on a whaler, and early settlement of Australia. I liked this book...right up to the end. It ended abruptly....left me hanging. Of course, there is another book to the trilogy "Solomon's Song"....the story of Australia. I look forward to this book.
I didn't think it could get better but this one was just as amazing as The Potato Factory. Mr. Courtenay continued the story of Ikey and Mary through to the lives of their adopted children, Tommo and Hawk. OMG! I am sorry that this book is over but so glad there is a 3rd book!!!! I am continually amazed by how real Bryce Courtney can make history seem. I learn so much about history and human nature while reading his books. While it is true that life is stranger than fiction- Bryce's fiction carr...more
I enjoyed well told history of Australia adn New Zealand in this book, but can't recommend due to lewd and overt sexuality in scenes. It deals with hard topics, but was very well written.
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| very gruesome | 1 | 7 | Mar 23, 2012 04:48pm |
I was born illegitimately in 1933 in South Africa and spent my early childhood years in a small town deep in the heart of the Lebombo mountains.
It was a somewhat isolated community and I grew up among farm folk and the African people. At the age of five I was sent to a boarding school which might be better described as a combination orphanage and reform school, where I learned to box - though less...more
More about Bryce Courtenay...
It was a somewhat isolated community and I grew up among farm folk and the African people. At the age of five I was sent to a boarding school which might be better described as a combination orphanage and reform school, where I learned to box - though less...more
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Feb 04, 2013 11:38am