Christmas message

Very good advice Bryce.I find it hard not to say the wrong thing at family functions.We also found another way to avoid arguements is to listen to the Susan Boyle CD.Seems she sings Amazing grace so well even my father who believes(he was quite a good singer in his time)that her version is just excellent.He has several copies of your books but I have difficulty stopping him storytelling and socialising long enough for him to read them.Any suggestions(you know i don't know if i's hereditary or not but i do seem to suffer from the same problems especially telephone and internet itis.Its getting so bad now the telephone handset is red and the keys are hot!Ha!Ha!Growing things is more difficult in near the victorian border versus the central coast as it seems just roses,lavender and all these different plants to the coast do well here

Only read your message now,as I was away visiting the Bloved Country.Have a good 2010 year ,and always remember your roots,the Beloved Country South Africa

Mr. Courtenay,
I just finished The Power of One and thought it a wonderful book. I look forward to reading all your books. Thank you for a compelling book with believable characters and rich decriptions.

Bryce,
I loved what you wrote. I thought it was going to be just another Christmas greeting, but it made me laugh, as you always do. I believe this is the year that will be the big one for me. I am releasing 2 singles this year called 'The Blood' and 'Your Eye'. My husband and I started on them yesterday and yesterday we sent in my cd 'Eccentric Mess' to cd baby. I just thought, 'stuff it, it's the beginning of a new time, I'm just gunna go for it". God Bless you this year, and all the wonderful writing you do. He has a special place in His heart for you.
Love TC Coombes

Hello,

I saw the movie Power of One first and loved it, the music, the mysticism, the little English boy. (My mother is English and I was brought up to be nostalgic for a country and culture i would never fully know).

Then one day I saw the book in the library, and it took me on an adventure. To everyone I met, I asked, "Have you read The Power of ONe"? And they would say: "I don't read self-help books."

I read the book again with my children, ad it gave my daughter an interest in pathological cruelty and genocidal behavior, a rather morbid interest that I encouraged.

I am now reading it again with my Freshman English class. A first time teaching it. They seem to like it so far, but say they have never read a book that takes them into such a far-distant world, and so of course, limited as they are, they are all a bit on edge. The reference to a "hatless snake" makes them feel awkward. And sometimes, Americans that they are, the do not understand your irony. So this is all good.

Any wise words for me as i teach your text? i am focussing on the coming of age aspects, the classic hero, and the lessons learned.

We all love you in our family. You wrote our favorite book, and that is saying a lot.

Dion

Happy New Year - Just finished Danny Dunn - I actually married a Balmain boy and you are so spot on with the attitude of these men! Dont know about now though, too yuppy for me! lol Of course it wouldnt surprise anyone that I cried (again), on the train (again) towards the end of the book. ISo, when is the next one due? ps Thoroughly enjoyed Danny Dunn! Thank you.

I am really enjoying reading Solomon's Song, which was a Christmas present. I have also read Tommo & Hawk and the Potato Factory - in fact I found them hard to put down. The first book I read was the Power of One, which was fascinating as I was brought up in Uganda. I loved reading Brother Fish. I hope you go on writing more and more books, so I never run out of your books to read.

Love your work

Hi Bryce
for the last 12 years I have always purchased your books for Mum on Christmas and this year as always will give us great pleasure in reading your books. As Mum finishes the book it gets passed onto the neighbour and then to me so as you can see you have given us many many years of wonderful reading. Thank you for being a wonderful story teller . I wish you a wonderful 2010 and look forward to next Christmas as will my mum
Kind regards Julie Koedam

Thank you for your christmas message, i am a huge fan. things whre a little better this year for my family as we had a sad time last year with the passing of my youngest brother, he was only 37. He had found an autographed copy of one of your books in the local st vincent de paul stores, it is now in my collection.

cheers a real fan sandie

Dear Bryce,

I am the daughter of Geoffrey Doyle, which you once worked with in the retail field. (I think SONY or TOSHIBA?)
I am a huge supporter of your literature and hence your movies.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
You are an inspiring figurhead to Australians!
From Jennifer Doyle.

I have written a comment already in your Facebook

Dear Bryce I would like to wish you and your family the very best of seasons greetings and a happy and safe new year. I have just finished reading Danny Dunn and as usual I loved it your style of writing just caputres the essence of the people you portray so wonderfully. I have all your books and have read them all many times over, my highlight each year is to recieve your latest offering and I don't surface until It is read. The only compalint I have is now I have to wait another year or so for the nesxt one. yours very truly Kerri x

Have a wonderful Christmas. I look forward to reading your next work in the new year.

Thank you for the good wishes Bryce, my husband and I look forward to many years of pleasure ahead while reading your wonderful stories.
Merry Christmas to you and yours and a fantastic 2010.

cheers

Glenda Byrne xx

Very true, my 2 sons had a fight on Xmas Day and haven't talked since then, 3 years ago

Good advice! ANYTIME is the right time to slip away to read though...holiday or not! (smile)
Thank you for giving me something worthy to slip away with...Merry Christmas!

A quiet gathering, preferably not the whole family all at once, is preferred by me, with some quiet one-on-one chats; everyone contributing something in the food/drink line so whoever is hosting doesn't hve to be frazzled by doing the lot! A good time to curl up with fav. books and I have most of yours :) May you and yours have a happy Christmas and a healthy, happy, prosperous 2010. Thanks for the joy you have given us with your books.

Thank you for your christmas wish, as for the book - I will be reading all about Danny Dunn - I am half way through and love the characters.
As for the lunch experience, all my drunken irish relatives have all passed on now and our christmases are reasonably quiet - I miss them so - the stresses felt when they all arrived always proved, eventually, (after a very stern talking to from me) that above all our differences, we all loved the new generation (mine and my sister's children) and they would control themselves to a tolerable degree.
If ever I had trouble "settling" them down, I would convince the children into a little pantomime of carols or the christmas story with a battered teddy in the empty beer box (Jesus in the manger) that worked every time - above and beyond fierce contradictions - came the oohs and aaahs of the joy they felt being a part of their extended family.
I am now the grandmother and even though our christmas is much quieter, those old fighting irishmen (and women) of mine are dearly missed and spoken of all during the day.
I wish you and yours all the joy of this season.
Kind regards
Trish Harvey

Thankyou for a wonderful year with facebook and your wonderful writing, keep up the great work.
To you and your family have a safe and peaceful Christmas.
I hope you enjoy your read in the quiet part of the garden on Christmas Day.
Best Wishes
Gloria

To Bryce Courtenay and family have a merry christmas and happy new year

Thank you for the good advice Bryce, maybe we have been a lucky familly but that has never happened. Have a great Christmas and fabulous 2010. I never make resolutions they are a waste of time, however to you and yours and all may peace joy and love weave a magic thread throujgh whatever way Christmas is celebrated. To the children who bring such hope, love and innocence to the whole world may their beliefs give them a glimmer of hope for a better life, to those who need help may it arrive spontaneously without any conditions attached and if each family reaches out to give love, which is the greatest gift we can give anyone it will be returned to us in ways we would never have imagined. Thanks for sharing the great day in Sydney, it is in my memory bank and I have Danny Dunn sitting on my coffee table winking at me. I have not had a chance to finish it because of my husband's health., I absolutely love it and love the way that you are able to take us out of our daily routine to another place and live the tale that makes us sad, happy and only as the reader can we reach this wonderfulplace that is created into another place and time and take on the identify of the characters, who become real and jump of the page into our hearts. Chees Margie R.

It's reassuring to know that Christmas is the same in a lot of families. Very wise advise thank you Bryce. I do hope I will be curling up in my quiet spot with your new book (hint, hint Santa!).

Merry Christmas Bryce.Thank you for the many hours
of happy reading I always look forward to your next one.

I plan on taking your advice and slipping away with a good book from the best author - The Story of Danny Dunn!! Can't wait to get into it. I have every one of your fantastic reads - please continue writing ( whilst you still enjoy it of course) You are the greatest author of the century to me. Is there any chance you will come to Adelaide at some stage? I would love to meet you and get at least of my works of art autographed. Have a wonderful Christmas Bryce. Thank you for sharing your creative genius with us all.

I truly look forward to reading Danny Dunn, but I have to wait until the kids give it to me christmas day! Thank you for all the wonderful hours of reading, your books are all well read in my house, and all re-readable (over and over!). The stories are inspiring and every book has a charactor we can all relate to!!
May you and your family have a wonderful, happy and peaceful christmas and a safe new year.
Thank you again
Hanna Persello

Merry Christmas Bryce. Thanks for all the joy you bring to our lives :)

A Merry Christmas to you too Bryce, thank you for all the hours of enjoyment i get from reading your superb books. I am so looking forward to receiving your new book for christmas!! May you and yours prosper in the New Year :)

Thank you for taking me home to a place where I can no longer go; Duiwelskloof, Tzaneen, Magoebaskloof, Heinertsburg, Politsi. To a time in my life when fortunes changed from tragedy and misery to a life filled with promise; from poverty to abundance, from helplessness to hope. It was a time that can never be taken away from me and your stories remind me that it was real and that I was there.
No-one can steal my memories.

I wish you and yours blessings and good health.

Jenny