Brother Fish

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 31 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of The Power of One comes an inspiring human drama and war story of three lives brought together and changed forever by the extraordinary events of recent history. Inspired by real events, Bryce Courtenay's new novel tells the story of three people from vastly differing backgrounds. All they have in common is a tough beginning in life. Jack McKenzie is a harmonica player, soldier, dreamer, and small-time professional fisherman from a tiny island in Bass Strait. Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan is a strong-willed woman hiding from an ambiguous past in Shanghai. Larger than life, Private Jimmy Oldcorn was once a street kid and leader of a New York gang. Together, they reap a vast and not always legitimate fortune from the sea. Narrated by celebrated, award-winning actor Humphrey Bower.

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

Critic reviews

• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Literary Fiction

Fantastic story

Loved it. Story has depth and feeling aplenty. Reader to be congratulated for a fine performance.

Blimey Great book mate

Like I said this is a really good book. I loved it all the way through. His description of the Korean war was detailed and seemed plausible. It is "the forgotten conflict" as we stereotypically call it these days. I am glad that Bryce Courtanay commemorated it with this good, good story. Also the inner story about Nicole Jordan's tribulations as a White Russian inside of Shanghai after the Bolshevik revolution would have made a good novel on its own. As far as the narrator is concerned; where did they find that bloke? He is really great. He had me thinking in an Australian accent for days, while I was consumed by this story. I also loved his 6'9" African American accent also. The narrator did a really good job. Outstanding literature!

not up to expectation

While Humphrey Bower has done a wonderful job reading the book, as usual, Courtenay has not lived upto the mark -- especially when you compare this work with Power of One and Tandia. Those two books were simply awesome and left me with a great feeling after reading them.

Bryce once again shows his strong feelings against racism as in his first 2 books, which is appreciable. But the quality of the oveall story is no match to his first 2 books.

I dont think I will listen to this book again unless I am bored to death!

Awsome Yarn

This book was reccomended to me and I didn't know it took place largely during the Korean war, if I'd known that I might not have got it since I've never really been intersted in war stories. I'm so glad I did! The author has captured perfectly depth of charater, adventure, pain, happiness, and the many lessons of life we all experience. The story plays effortlessly through the stage of childhood, and on. Please do yourself a favor and get this book. Also, some of the best narration I've ever heard.

Compelling

In listening to novels, I require three things. 1. At least one Character I care about, 2. a story line that is believable for the characters and 3. I can get "lost" in the novel to the degree I feel a sense of loss when I finish it. That was certainly true here. In fact all 3 requirements were exceeded.

I must admit I am an enthusiastic Bryce Courtenay/Humphrey Bower fan. Courtenay tells individual stories and then weaves them into a fascinating tapestries. Sometimes, he pulls a thread from a tapestry and weaves a story around it. Humphrey Bower gives each character his/her own voice complete with appropriate accents which I recognize instantly.

I would label this "the best!"

AWESOME

I loved this book. This is my 4th Bryce Courtenay book. As so many others have said, the Bryce Courtenay/Humphrey Bower combination is superb. I am not too interested in war stories and found the beginning a little tedious with the battle details. However, it quickly picked up and I could barely stop listening. I think Bryce is a magnificent writer and I enjoy the dialog he creates between his characters. I love the rich character development and all the fascinating cultural details. I love the way he provides all the details of his characters from start to finish, never leaving me with the feeling that something is missing. Like his other books that I listened to, this one drew me in emotionally and made me feel like I was a part of the characters lives.

Magical performance

I swear Humphrey Bower could make the telephone book riviting listen listening and, as always, he brings Courtney to full value

Long Time Fans

My husband and I are listening to Brother Fish, downloaded because we have been Bryce Courtney fans for years! Listening to this book with a narrator like Humphrey Bower is one of the best experiences I have had as a long time Audible subscriber. Listening to this is an investment in history, in character development and, as usual for Courtney, a wonderful story.

Only OK

I enjoyed the listen for the most part. I especially listened intently to the beginning, which described the Korean War which i did not know much about. I could do without hearing "Miss Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan" full name said over and over again. I get it already, her name is long and she is a wonderful lady. Just shorten it to "Nicole." The ending would have been far better if it was more realistic and less happy happy.

Not BC's best... but good book

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes... the book meanders on, in a similar vain to Four Fires, but with less cohesiveness. It is more of a chronicle than a story with plot twists... In some ways this works, in others it doesn't.

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

Humphry Bower is in top form on this one. He is always a good narrator, even (I suspect) on a bad day... but he outshone himself here. Accents of Chinese and Korean soldiers, gangsters, Americans, Russians... he is truly gifted!

Any additional comments?

As stated above, this book meandered some. The depictions of POW life in Korea were riveting and tragic, and the story of Nicole's early years was captivating... but this is by no means Bryce Courtenay's greatest work. Worth the read if you are into small-island Australian life, the Korean war, and the racial attitudes during the 1940s and 1950s...

If another narrator had read this, I might have given up, but Humphry is so talented that he kept me going.

If you are interested in a better BC read, go for Four Fires or Matthew Flinders' Cat. I have recently started the Potato Factory and am enjoying it too.