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Tandia

Book 2 in the series:The Power of One

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"Tandia" is the sequel to "The Power of One" and continues the story of Peekay and introduces Tandia, a half-black, half-Indian woman in apartheid South Africa. The narrative delves into the lives of these two characters as they fight for justice and equality in a divided society. The plot is rich in detail, intertwining the characters' personal struggles with the larger social issues of the time, creating a powerful and emotional story that captures the reader's attention. The writing style is described as rich, engrossing, and rhythmic, drawing readers into the story and making it difficult to put the book down.

Characters:

Characters are well-developed, with Tandia representing resilience and complexity, while Peekay evolves into a figure of hope and moral integrity.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines rich detail with an emotional resonance, though some readers note occasional repetitiveness and excessive length.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot delves into the racial prejudices of South Africa during apartheid, offering a deep look at the intertwined journeys of Tandia and Peekay as they navigate personal and societal challenges.

Setting:

The setting is a vivid representation of apartheid-era South Africa, exploring the socio-political landscape and its impact on individuals.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally slow, with a lengthy narrative that may feel drawn out to some readers, leading to moments of skimming.
On the morning she was raped Tandia had risen just before dawn and come back to the graveside to pay her proper respects to Patel. Someone had been there before her. She looked at the grass around the...

Notes:

Tandia is a sequel to Bryce Courtenay's The Power of One.
The story is set in South Africa during the 1950s and 1960s.
Tandia is a mixed-race girl, born from a relationship between her Indian father and black house servant.
The novel discusses issues of racial prejudice and oppression common in apartheid South Africa.
Peekay, the protagonist from The Power of One, continues his journey as a law student and boxer.
Tandia faces horrific violence and prejudice from a South African policeman and is later forced to live in a brothel.
Peekay's character evolves, becoming a lawyer to help the disenfranchised after returning to South Africa.
The book includes a variety of minor characters that deepen the narrative's richness.
Tandia and Peekay's lives become intertwined as they fight for equality together.
The book is lengthy, with some copies being around 900 pages long, which some readers found excessive.
While it has a powerful storyline, many readers felt it didn't quite match the quality of The Power of One.
The novel combines hope and despair in the context of a repressive political system.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Contains content warnings for graphic violence, sexual assault, and themes of trauma related to apartheid.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance, primarily focused on the developing relationship between Tandia and Peekay, set against a backdrop of societal restrictions.

From The Publisher:

Half-African, half-Indian and beautiful, Tandia is just a teenager when she is brutally attacked and violated by the South African police. Desperately afraid and consumed by hatred for the white man, Tandia seeks refuge in a brothel deep in the veld.

There she learns to use her brilliant mind and extraordinary looks as weapons for the battles that lie ahead: she trains as a terrorist. But then Tandia meets a man with a past as strange as her own: Peekay, an Oxford undergraduate who is also the challenger for the world welterweight boxing championship - and a white man.

And in a land where mixed relationships are outlawed, their growing love can only have the most explosive consequences.

Ratings (3)

Loved It (3)

Reader Stats (3):

Read It (3)
 
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