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

What a journey!

20 years after reading The Power of One I discover this gem. Rarely will you enjoy 30 hours more! What a brilliant story! Well done all!

For the love of friendship

This is a great book about friendship over a lifetime. Bryce always brings out the best and the worst in our human natures. He has always written to enlighten us about prejudice, war, poverty and human relationships. This book was a gift to read/listen to about two most unlikely people to meet and form a lifetime friendship. It is a story of courage, sadness, disappointment and mostly love. I will miss Bryce's writing, may his books remain alive for many more decades.

excellent narration

the story took a little time to become interesting but once it did, I was hooked. the narration was maybe the best ever. there were a few places where a song was part of the story. these were some of my favorite parts. Humphrey Bower had a wonderful voice. he clearly carried a variety of accents and dialogues.

What a performance!

It is always intriguing when a novel boasts a large portion based on real events. This novel does not disappoint.

From the horrors of the Korean War and the subsequent internment of the two main characters comes an unexpected and unlikely friendship. While overcoming what seems like insurmountable odds we are treated to flashbacks of their formative years. We are then introduced to the third protagonist, an older woman with a mysterious past. What fun when she begins to open up to her two unlikely friends.

While switching seamlessly from Australian to American accents, and many others as well, the narration is nothing less than superb! I will certainly seek out this narrator again.

All in all a most satisfying ending with a definite tug at the heartstrings.

Highly recommended regardless of the length of the novel.

Excellent narration and a gripping tale.

A fascinating tale of a time period and parts of the world you don't often hear about. Graphic without being gory when it came to the war and POW scenes. A positive story about the depths of friendships.

Beautifully read!

great story and beautifully read. How is it that I have never heard of this book until now?

The best book I have listened to this year!

Would you listen to Brother Fish again? Why?

I am planning on listening to it again. I just want to give it a small rest. The story is powerful, the characters are interesting, and I loved listening to it. It made me wish I had as good a friend.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jimmy, because he is the kind of man I want to be.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene talking about meeting in the bar to remember the men who didn't make it every year for 30 years.

Who was the most memorable character of Brother Fish and why?

The countess because of her transformation from intimidating matron, through friend to young refuge girl in China.

Any additional comments?

If you have a credit to spend, you can't go wrong with this book.

Wonderfully rambling

A pleasure to listen to; every minute. The narrator never failed to make me believe.

Absorbing and Informative story - brilliantly read

This book - about parts of the world (Korea and China) that are relatively new to us, and events (the Korean War) about which we knew nothing, kept my wife and I totally absorbed for many many interesting hours! The book is brilliantly performed by Humphrey Bouwer, who makes each character come alive! All in all a most enjoyable book- highly recommended!

Wonderful story

I discovered Bryce Courtnay through Audible and have now listed both to The Persimmon Tree and Brother Fish. Both are excellent stories with memorable characters. In Brother Fish I learned more about the Korean War than I had known previously.