The Silver Moon

By Bryce Courtenay

Hastings District Library category says “Read a memoir or a biography”. This is my choice. Bryce Courtenay’s swan song, as it were. It’s a collection of musings and insights on his life, his death and his writings. As all of Courtenay’s writing, it is well thought out, reflective and thought provoking. It’s 123 pages and the longest book I’ve read in one sitting. I’m quietly proud of myself for that, though it has more to do with Courtenay’s captivating use of language and pace than it has to do with my perseverance. I loved this little memoir. It was a delight to me and, although I’ve only read 3 of his novels in the past, it’s encouraged me to take a fresh look at his work. Little did I realize so much of The Power of One was based on Courtenay’s early life, should’ve known, that I thought about it.

Synopsis

 “Forever since, when I go to think, I go to the place where the giraffe comes to drink from the silver bowl of the moon.” Each of us has a place to return to in our minds, a place of clarity and peace, a place to think, to create, to dream. For Bryce Courtney this place was a waterhole in Africa where he used to escape to as a boy, in search of solitude. One evening, while lingering there, he witnessed the tallest of the great beasts drinking from the waterhole in the moonlight, and was spellbound. Ever since, he drew inspiration form this moment. The Silver Moon gathers together some of the most personal and sustaining life lessons from Australia’s favourite storyteller. In short stories and insights, many written in his final months, Bryce reflects on living and dying, and how through determination, respect for others and taking pleasure in small moments of joy, he lived life to the fullest.  

Author 

Bryce Courtenay was born in the Lebombo Mountains, South Africa. In 1955, while studying journalism in London, Courtenay met his future wife, Benita Solomon, and they emigrated to Sydney in 1958. They married in 1959 and had three sons – Brett, Adam and Damon. His novels are primarily set in Australia, his adopted country, or South Africa, the country of his birth. His first book, The Power of One, was published in 1989 and, despite Courtenay's fears that it would never sell, quickly became one of Australia's best-selling books by any living author. The story was made into a film, as well as being re-released in an edition for children.

Other Books

 The Power of One (Power of One #1) (1989)
 Tandia (Power of One #2) (1992)
 A Recipe for Dreaming (1992)
April Fool's Day (1993)
The Potato Factory (The Potato Factory #1) (1995)
The Family Frying Pan (1997)
Tommo & Hawk (The Potato Factory #2) (1998)
Jessica (1998)
The Night Country (1998)
Solomon's Song (The Potato Factory #3) (1999)
Smoky Joe's Cafe (2001)
Four Fires (2001)
Matthew Flinders' Cat (2002)
Brother Fish (2004)
Whitethorn (2005)
Sylvia (2006)
The Persimmon Tree (The Persimmon Tree #1) (2007)
Fishing for Stars (The Persimmon Tree #2) (2008)
The Story of Danny Dunn (2009)
Fortune Cookie (2010)
Jack of Diamonds (2014)
The Silver Moon (2014)