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Fortune Cookie  By  cover art

Fortune Cookie

By: Bryce Courtenay
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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Publisher's summary

It's the 1960s and the world of advertising is coming alive - and it's an exciting world to be part of. Simon Wong, a Chinese-Australian and a promising young advertising executive, is sent to Singapore to establish an office. He finds himself thrust into an environment that is at once strangely familiar and profoundly different, one where the rules that govern behaviour - both in business and in personal life - differ wildly from what he is used to. And where all is not what it appears to be.

Under the veneer of the commercial world lie some shocking truths - of people smuggling, drug trafficking, and murder. And Mercy B. Lord, the woman Simon falls for, is caught up in it. From wartime Asian comfort houses to CIA spy rings, Bryce Courtenay takes us on a thrilling journey with a great love story at its heart.

©2013 Christine Courtenay; 2010 Bryce Courtenay (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

What listeners say about Fortune Cookie

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    342
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story Telling

This was the first Bryce Courtenay book I have listened to, but it won't be the last.Courtenay really knows how to tell a story. Humphrey Bower's narration makes the book. Also as a personal preference I really like a longer book, more time to get to know the characters and feel lost in another world.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Second Courtenay Disapointment

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I'm no writer so I can't say. Too many long stretches of boredom!

What do you think your next listen will be?

Paris, A Novel

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

Humphrey Bower is the only reason this book gets a three star rating. He is consistently excellent and I will try a book he reads even if I am not familiar with the author.

Was Fortune Cookie worth the listening time?

No, Unlike other Courtnay books, except Fishing for Stars, I went through several chapters at time and a half speed or skipping whole chapters. I have about two hours to complete and am hoping for some saving grace.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

interesting but a repeat of previous books

If you could sum up Fortune Cookie in three words, what would they be?

a repeat of the story where one character (male or female) with lots of money , gets together with another character (opposite sex to the first) with no money but very intelligent, mixed with a romance where the male character stands for a lot of bad treatment from the female

humprey bower's performance saves the book even if it is a repeat

Would you recommend Fortune Cookie to your friends? Why or why not?

if you have the persimon tree don't buy this, the persimon tree is better maybe because I heard it first

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Bryce Courtenay winner

he expertly weaves well researched history and creates believable characters infused with what I suspect is personal experience of the ad industry in the 60s .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

great read!

I love this author as well as this narrator! The only thing about this book was that I felt it ended a little to abrupt.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My favorite Author/ Reader!

If you could sum up Fortune Cookie in three words, what would they be?

Exciting storyline, well read

What other book might you compare Fortune Cookie to and why?

You can pick up any of Courtney's book series, like Persimmon Tree or Potato factory and you will be enthralled. He is my favorite story teller taking me to Australia, China or Japan, with vivid characters.

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

Humphry reads all of Courtney's books, he has the perfect ability to produce the accents for each character...you won't believe how great he is!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Bought and read the second book in this series right away!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

3 of 5 stars for this one of Courtenay

Not one of his most riveting of stories - if you can get through the boggy and sometimes sappy beginning, then you will make it to the end. There just wasn't enough "oomph" for me in this one.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Always enjoy Humphrey Bower as Narrator

Bryce Courtenay is a great story teller - but Mr. Bower brings his books to life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Always a good story

Any additional comments?

Bryce Courtenay is my favorite author; I am so sad that he will be writing no more books. Fortune Cookie is another great listen. Characters are interesting and situations they get into are unpredictable. I am always sad when Courtenay books end - it like the listener becomes part of the family.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Historical Fiction

I loved the story. Bryce Courtney really knows how to weave a story and pull you in, he's one of my favorite story tellers!!

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