April Fool's Day

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 19 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

This is Bryce Courtenay's moving tribute to his son, Damon, a hemophiliac who died from medically acquired AIDS on April 1, 1991, at the age of 24.

April Fool's Day is controversial, painful and heartbreaking, yet has a gentle humor. It is also life-affirming and, above all, a testimony to the incredible regenerative strength of love: how when we confront our worst, we can become our best. This tragic yet uplifting story will change the way you think. From the author of The Power of One.

©2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"April Fool's Day is one of those rare, wholly beautiful books that lets life speak for itself." (The Australian)

This is A Love Story

The love between a father and his son is dominate. We are also treated to the private Bryce Courtenay, that shows him to very real with all the emotions. I enjoyed being in on their raising 3 boys. There were quite a few moments of levity thru out most of this narrative.
I do hope that you will not pass on this true story.

Excellent Read

Very heart wrenching personal experience by this wonderful author. I highly recommend this book.

Joy within sorrow

What did you love best about April Fool's Day?

A dad's love and care for his son.

What other book might you compare April Fool's Day to and why?

Still Alice, you get to be in the shoes of the people going through their tribulation.

What does Humphrey Bower bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emotion at the right moments.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES

Any additional comments?

Writing about pain you experiencing with your children put life into perspective.

Mandatory reading for healthcare professionals

A wonderfully touching story of the love and painful loss of a precious young man suffering incredible illnesses associated with hemophilia and AIDS. The contrast between caring doctors and nurses and those who “simply did their job” was stark and profound. The rigidity of the healthcare community at large bears great scrutiny. This indictment is written by me, a nurse who has practiced nearly five decades. We must care with our hearts as much as with our head.

Amazing -- a must read

Would you consider the audio edition of April Fool's Day to be better than the print version?

I have not seen the print version

What did you like best about this story?

It is an amazing depiction of his family's struggle to care for their son who developed AIDS from a transfusion. Moving, tear jerking and real

Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favorite?

All were great

What did you learn from April Fool's Day that you would use in your daily life?

Love is everything

A candid telling of a beloved son's short life

A touching recount of a much loved child's optimistic life despite his hemophilia and subsequent illness from AIDS, contracted through blood transfusions.

April Fool's Day

My heart goes out to Bryce with this story. Anyone who has to deal with the medical community anywhere should read/listen to this. You have to be your own advocate. You have to be educated about what health care can and can not do. Thanks so much to Bryce for sharing what must have been the hardest story of all to share. There is not enough thanks in the world for you and your family for this story.

The Power of None

I understand why this book was written. I just don't understand why it HAD to be written. It's a very personal journey for a courageous family faced with the horrible health crisis of their beloved son. As an HIV positive person, I object to the outdated medical "facts". Thankfully, the agony Damon faced is most often not the fate of those presently dealing with AIDS. That's objectional to me, but the most painful aspect of April Fool's Day is that it so personal, so unique, so agonizingly real that it doesn't say as much as it should to the rest of us. Catharsis alone doesn't make for great literature.

Unfinitely Sad!

This was a very good book but definitely not for the weak hearted, especially if you're a Courtenay fan and feel close to him through his many brilliant books.

Fabulous read about a family's love

Any additional comments?

A very moving story of a family whos love sees them through the worst of times, watching and then saying goodbye to your own child. This is a story of a very strong family and its a credit to them to have shared this time in there lives. Tears and laughs and understanding of an illness we still find hard to understand.