I have always loved this movie and have watched it many many times. When I found this book on a friend’s bookshelf, I knew I had to read it and I am so glad I did.

Now like with any movie that originated from a book, there are characters and story lines completely cut out. While reading the book, I was introduced to strong characters and I wish they could have been included in the movie, but instead of being disappointed, I was entertained by almost a completely new story with a different ending.

Warning, spoiler information may follow. Reference to Peekay is the character in the book. PK is the movie character.

In the book, Peekay’s mother stays present through out providing a strong foundation to plot forming aspects of his character. In the movie, PK’s mom dies and he is left as an orphan. In the book, the ignition to Peekay’s obsession for boxing comes from Hoppie, a train conductor he meets when he leaves school. In the movie, there is no mention of the train nor Hoppie and PK is introduced to boxing from Geel Piet. Yes Geel Piet is part of both stories and a strong part at that. Often the problem with watching the movie first then reading the book, the reader often pictures the actors as the characters and not form them solely in their minds. Bryce Courtenay does such a wonderful job in describing the characters and they are different enough from the movie actors, you quickly will use your own imagination and see the characters as they are in the book. Doc resides in both movie and book however there are many other interactions with adults and kids alike which are not included in the movie. There is one exception however, which is a love interest for a teen-aged PK in the movie. She does not exist in the book at all.

In both the movie and the book, there are dramatic scenes which take your breath away and others that make you weep. I think I teared up more in the book, but I definitely felt the loneliness birds laying stone eggs for young PK in the book. The scene where the prisoners sing, a must for the movie. The complex dynamics of the characters, a must from the book. Even as I review this book, I can’t mention all the key players. There is no surprise they couldn’t be mentioned in the movie. It would have been 3x longer!

The ending of the movie is less dramatic than the book but with a greater sense of meaning. PK’s place in the apartheid Africa is of greater significance in the movie. Peekay discovering who he is, is core to the book. I was so caught up by the final moments of the book, I had to reread the paragraphs again to fully comphrehend what had all taken place.

What I am saying is see and read both of these works of art, but watch the movie first. You will be disappointed otherwise unless you fully understand they are two different stories with common characters and storyline. Great stories. Awesome characters.