Fortune Cookie

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 21 hrs and 41 mins

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

Winner!

First let me say that no one compares to Humphrey Bower! He is a brilliant, amazing narrator. I think I have read (listened) to quite a few of Bryce Courtenay's books and have really enjoyed them. This wasn't my favorite BC book but was pretty darn close. Please listen to the Power of One. That book was my introduction to BC. Narrated of course by the fabulous HB!

Good Book, Good Plot and Good Narration

I love Bryce Courtenay's writing and this book did not disappoint. The story was different and kept moving. I found myself listening to the book whenever I could. The history elements about China and Singapore were quite interesting. The ending was a bit unbelievable, but wrapped up the story quite nicely. Great narration. I would recommend this book.

As consistent as sunup.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'd recommend anything he's ever penned because he never fails to capture my attention for every detail of the main characters life and life story.

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

Many of his other works are similar, but consistently great.

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

Bower is without a doubt the best reader that I've enjoyed. The second place goes to Jim Dale (Harry Potter) and that's a tough second place.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

At the party when she appeared without Coo knowing that she'd be there.

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.

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.

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

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 .

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.

Reading is stunning!

Henry Bower’s ability to read in so many accents makes this complex and detailed story come alive!

You need a refresh Mr Bower and Mr Courtenay

I am a big fan of Humphrey Bower and have downloaded and listened to books I would not normally consider due to Humphrey being the narrator.

However I think I must have heard to many because Humphrey does not have the range of voices and accents to differentiate characters across books, especially in the Bryce Courtenay books, the Chinese characters in this book sound exactly the same as the Japanese characters in Persimmon Tree, the ladies are always the same plummy English accent across all the books, and the Australians are so stereotypical it is a little annoying, even for me as an Englishman abroad.

Having said this I will still actively search out books narrated by Humphrey and only hope he can develop some additional character voices in the future.

In the same way, Bryce Courtenay needs to refresh his approach to his novels, again I would suggest he tries to expand beyond the narrow view he has of what he wanted to be and trying to realise this through his writings, we all know of his amazing life story which we all wish we had, but some may consider it is just that a story developed in an active mind that is able to translate this to paper. I think the line between Mr Courtenays real life and written life through his novels have blurred into each other to the point where one cannot be sure of the sincerity in either. Yes his books are fantastically descriptive and I cannot help myself but download any offering by the Courtenay/Bower partnership, but I do become more cynical with each tome.

So in Summary, a great book well narrated but maybe just a bit to much like all the rest for the avid, long term listener, if this is you first book by the dynamic duo then you will get great pleasure by spending the next 20 plus hours immersing yourself in the wonderful characters. If, however this is your sixth or seventh by the Courtenay/Bower team be prepared to have heard it all before (I bet like me you still get it though)