Jack of Diamonds

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 26 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Born and raised in a poor, working-class family in Toronto, Jack Spayd is the son of an unhappy marriage. After being taken under the wing of "Miss Frostbite", the owner of a local jazz club, Jack becomes a gifted musician, playing piano and harmonica. Fame and the allure of gambling takes him to Vegas, and prospects of fortune take him to the Belgian Congo, where he's heard it's possible to earn big money working in the most dangerous parts of the local copper mines.

Jack of Diamonds is the story of a young, talented man, fighting to achieve his ambitions, and having to use his considerable talents to find his way in a perilous world.

©2012 Bryce Courtenay; 2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Jack of Diamonds

This is Bryce Courtney's last work. It is typical Courtney and is an inspirational story. The reader is exceptional.

A great story

I’m using my iPhone and meant to give all five stars. I had previously read the reviews, and as people said, this was not the best book he wrote. There were so many others that I thought were much more intense and moving. Yet, because I knew this was his last book prior to his death, I just sat back and enjoyed it to be the really good story that it was. Very well researched about different places. Actually, the first part of the book taking place in Canada was good, but not as intense as the leader parts. I would recommend this as a really good story.

Jack of Diamonds

Does not sound like BC, too drawn out and boring. BC was an amazing story teller and it can’t be said for this book.

Fantastic Read/Listen

This is the most enjoyable story I have listened too since starting Audible many years ago!

Absolutely incredible

This story is so well done, I finished it in a single day (3x playback)!

A StoryMaster's Finale

If you haven't read/listened to Courtenay and Bower and you crave a good story, start now, but perhaps don't start with this book. Courtenay is an absolute gem and master, and this novel, though strong in concept, seemed so "sketched" and rushed to me-- especially in the last half. Well, being an American and not recipient of the latest news in the Australian arts community, I didn't realize that this was Courtenay's last novel, and that he died last year. That explained all.

The book is flawed but still saturated with signature Courtenay -- a rags to riches story, messaging around literacy that was a little less subtle in this book but never gets old for those of us who love WORD, a commitment to creating excellent female characters and a true storyteller's understanding of the arc of story and how to deliver upon it.

So any Courtenay lover should read/listen to this, and his personal after-word will make you cry, but if you do not know Courtenay start earlier in his canon and enjoy a true story telling master at his peak!

So, so sorry that we shall no have another work from Courtenay, and thank to Humphrey Bower for delivering an exceptional reading once again.

RIP Bryce - your last book - another good one!

Glad to hear a story that began in Canada.
I spent some years in Toronto as a young adult, when there still were taverns and such that were great places for an evening of entertainment - all kinds of music, but lots of jazz.
We knew people who had lived in Cabbagetown as kids, and had grown to be wonderful adults. A couple of them were war veterans as well.
I loved, as well, the way the story moved smoothly to other venues.
Well done Bryce, I will miss getting new stories from you!

What a store teller ..... Bryce does it again!

As with all of his novels, I have been thoroughly entertained by Bryce Courtenay listening to Jack of Diamonds. I am sorry that have only a couple of his novels left to read/listen to. This novel was in a different setting mostly in Canada and Las Vegas, and a little towards the end in a mining setting in Africa. It was set among the jazz world, high roller gamblers and Mafia connections with an interesting thread about the culture and times of pre and post world war 2. I love Courtenay's novels .... he has been a wonderful story teller and will be greatly missed.

Should be required reading

Bryce Courtenay combines history with heart in all his storytelling. Students would not only learn historical content but can learn it is not enough to just have a passion for something. Although Jack was obviously smart and talented, he was not without his hardships. This story showed that dedication and hard work are required. Additionally, it showed that one cannot always go by preconceived notions and everyone benefits from inclusion and isolationism does not historically or today make anything great. This is a theme in all his works. Even at my age it is pretty inspiring. Thank you Bryce for sharing your gift for storytelling.

Canada, Las Vegas, Congo traveling story

Would you listen to Jack of Diamonds again? Why?

I will keep this book and read again because I like the character. The story talks of a period of time and changes in the countries during the mid 1900's. This will also be one of the last books that one of my favorite authors.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked all the female characters. Jack, main character is stable boy to man who lives through some difficult plans without feeling sorry for himself but he does get incredible support from loved ones.