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)

Informative

What did you like best about April Fool's Day? What did you like least?

Very informative. Need to know informative about AIDS told in a compationate way.
Drawn out. Could have been condensed in many ways. I felt it came straight from the heart. I would have preferred Bryce to have taken more time to write this book. Even so I really enjoyed it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Celest. Her patience and love for her man.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

A story that needed to be told.

What else would you have wanted to know about Bryce Courtenay’s life?

He was obviously stretched to the limit mentally at the time of the writing of 'April Fool's day'. I would have prefered him to have taken more time.

Any additional comments?

A great story that need telling.

Been there. Not HIV or Hemophilia but lost a son

I started this book near my firstborn's birthday. 1980. He was finally diagnosed with rare (42nd case in Literature) of an Autoimmune disease. And NOTHING was known about autoimmunity then. I lost him at 10.5 months. I have picked the sore spot left by loss for decades, looking for answers. I have discovered that myself, my brother, both parents and all 4 grandparents (apparently) suffer from either Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance. Easy to treat... but IGNORANCE of the medical community kept me from figuring this out until I was 58 years old. Your description of the medical community is point on, even in Rural Alabama, USA. I almost stopped listening twice, but pressed thru until the end, and cried for your family as well as my own. It will make me listen to all your books DIFFENTLY now. I have already listened to 8 or 10, But not Tandia. God wanted me to hear this first.

I’ve listened to audiobook 3 times over the years. It’s a MUST LISTEN, although very heavy going at times due to the subject

The story of a fathers (and mothers and Celeste(girlfriend and live in carer/partner) of the Mighty Damon. Bryce and Benita’s son. Born a haemophilic and acquired HIV and eventually AIDS through a blood transfusion. It’s utterly heartbreaking what this family went through. Of the main characters, being Bryce, Benita, Damon and Celeste, only Celeste is still alive today. At the time this was written, the Medical Profession (and society in general) still had a LOT to learn about AIDS and peoples attitudes toward the disease -especially the disease when there are Mental health issues or other medical issues at the same time. I’d like to think we have advanced as a world, but I’m not so sure sometimes. I just hope that one day, there will be a CURE for AIDS -and a CURE for cancer. Sadly, Sometimes the treatment described in this book (AZT) seemed to be worse than the disease it was attempting to treat. What Damon, and those that loved him went through is a huge testament to the love they all had/have for him. His brother Adam is an author now, like his Dad before him, Look up Adam Courtenay. The narrator of this book was fantastic. Perfectly Australian.

A very Personal Work

People with current experience in the treatment of HIV/AIDS or Hemophilia may find this book very frustrating. It represents a personal journey through what was at the time a very uncharted territory! Courtenay does not try to paint a rosy picture - it is a story of his son's journey from birth to death with a lot of "glitches" along the way because of everyone's unfamiliarity with the nature of the AIDS virus.

It is, nevertheless, an amazing story of life and love. If you can grit your teeth through the bureaucratic nightmare, you will recognize the journey of a very remarkable young man and the people who loved and supported him.

Valuable information

What made the experience of listening to April Fool's Day the most enjoyable?

The honesty of the story and compassionate delivery.

What was one of the most memorable moments of April Fool's Day?

Damon's first major bleed as a toddler; the showdown with the Emergency Department just before Damon's death.

Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Humphrey Bower is AMAZINGLY talented! He is so adept at adapting his accents to each character, regardless of ethnic/national origin, he makes the story come totally alive. I have listened to most of Bryce Courtenay's books in part because of Bower's delivery. He is a wonder!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

..?

Any additional comments?

Bryce Courtenay's books have taught me so much of the various countries, areas and historical events and, now, about the experiences of a hemophiliac and his family. I had no idea - and I have worked in healthcare all my life!

Great story.

A very sad story of Damon but also a story about strength and courage. Damon went through so much but enjoyed life.

only read out of respect for Bryce

not the best work from my favorite author but even this is twenty times better than all the light we cannot see!!

The optimism of the young

Any additional comments?

A very personal story, very sad to see the unending optimism of the young son of Bryce finnaly defeated by aids , I won't listen to this again , Mr Bower as always does a fantastic narration

A journey through another’s devastating illness

What made the experience of listening to April Fool's Day the most enjoyable?

Bryce Courtney took a subject very close to his heart and brought to the reader not only the horrors of facing so many struggles with hemophilia and full blown AIDS but also he related hope and joy with the stories of people involved along the way with his son’s illness.

What did you like best about this story?

Celeste and Damion’s relationship.

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

Humphrey Bower is the best reader of the dozens of books I have listened to. He brings the characters alive, and I cherish every word he speaks. I cannot miss a single word he speaks.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from April Fool's Day?

I have much more empathy for those who have suffered and still suffer from diseases that are looked upon with such ignorance. The book also taught me to question and do research on any illness I might get, to not just trust those “in authority.” I loved Dr. Cole.

Any additional comments?

The two best books I have listened to are The Power of One and April Fools Day, both written by Bryce Courtney and read by Humphrey Bower.

A sad book that has lessons

This is not a book for everyone. This is a book that tells of a dying son and the father's journey through the death and dying. It is a true story of Bryce Courtenay's sons haemophilia and eventual death from AIDS.

Story: The story is well written and tries to tell the story from a number of people's points of view. This is successful in some ways but mostly it is Mr. Courtenay's story about his anger and fight on his sons behalf. I became a little angry at times having lived through a similar thing and also being a part of the medical establishment that Mr. Courtenay rails against. Some of the things that he says are simply wrong and others are interpreted by a grieving and angry father. The story should be read by every medical student in an attempt to prevent the "God Complex" that is such a problem with this profession.

Narrator: As usual Mr Bower does a superlative job. Does this man ever read a story in a bad way????