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

Terrific Historical novel!

Great opportunity to get a feel for the birth of Las Vegas and the horrors of bigotry. It's a book with many layers and as it unfolds your interest never wanes.

Pleasantly Surprised

I started this book, loving that it had many hours of listening time and at first I didn't really care for the performance. As the story progressed, and the sound of his voice continued, I fell in love with his way of talking. Just when I thought I wasn't going to be impressed, the story grabbed me and it was taking me down different avenues of Jack's life. To come from such a hard background and through hard work to become what he had dreamed, a jazz pianist, to have his dreams slashed and his love lost, he moves on and makes dramatic changes always being true to himself. I was also impressed at how his life experiences went on to enhance his future endeavours.

As the book ended, I realized this is the author who wrote the "Power Of One", and so loved this book, I became an instant fan of this author. I have never been good at remembering names of authors, so it did not click who this author was, but now I have all the books he has wrote on my wish list.

My hat is off to Bryce Courtney who has such a great knack for story telling, and how he portrays his characters, it was like walking beside the main character in his trials and blunders, feeling his pain, rejoicing in his success, and carrying his self respect & beliefs with him throughout his life. I can hardly wait to read the next of his books on my list.

ACE NOVELIST

Leading characters are invariably beautiful Christmas cards and his villains as nasty as parking tickets. His stories contain lectures on factual subjects which slow them down a bit but I still wanted to plough through to the end...where poetic justice is generously given out.
I am missing B.C already.The reading is impeccable.

a great book to listen to.

I really enjoyed this audio book. It is the first Bryce Courtney book I have read since The Power Of One.

Didn't want it to end!

I loved this book. One of the best I've listened to in a long while. The narrator was fabulous, the story was interesting, entertaining, and simply wonderful. Throughout this book I never got bored or wanted to turn it off. The story of Jack as a child and as an adult was delightful, full of twists and turns, sadness and delights. All starting with a harmonica his dad gave him as a belated birthday gift. I don't want to say more because I'm not only not a good reviewer but I really, really don't want you to miss reading this book. I really, really did not want it to end. EXCELLENT! I highly recommend!

Excellent in every way

Highly creative story teller, Bryce keep me enthralled throughout the entire book. Narrator was superb

The Final Book From Bryce

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

A Great read, an amazing roller-coaster of a story, it will bring tears and laughter.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jack of Diamonds?

I found that Jack placing himself in harms way to prevent the beating of a cook the most memorable part of the story. It really resounded with me.

Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favorite?

Joe, my absolute favourite

If you could take any character from Jack of Diamonds out to dinner, who would it be and why?

It would be Joe, and very wise man indeed.

Any additional comments?

Bryce was an amazing writer, we will miss you and your amazing fabrications.

Great story!!

This was my first listening of a Bryce Courtenay book. It was hard for me to NOT listen to it even in to the late night. As the third volumn was drawning to a close --- I hoped for a sequel. However a person in their eighties (my age is79) learns that "gowing old is NOT for sissies!" And one runs into health problems that only supporting a team of doctors can help a person with...! Mr Bryce is in his 80's....

Jack of Diamonds

Well played Bryce Courtenay and Humphrey Bower! I am sorry to hear of Bryce Courtenay's loss and will miss his writing.

Another Out of the park homerun!

What made the experience of listening to Jack of Diamonds the most enjoyable?

It is very well written and brilliantly performed,

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jack is a small town boy like me.

Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favorite?

Joe

If you could rename Jack of Diamonds, what would you call it?

High Notes and Low.