Jack of Diamonds

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

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. Copyright Christine Courtenay 2013. (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing

I Am Devastated.

Mr. Courtenay usually writes about South Africa or Australia and we have gotten some real history lessons about these regions as well as entertaining stories. I have learned more history from great stories than I ever did in school. I really enjoyed Jack Diamonds. To absorb the life of someone "just across the road" from the United States in Canada during the turbulent "pre and post" World War II era was great fun. I quite simply love a good story (Bryce) read by a great reader (Humphrey).

I want to say here that Mr. Courtenay brought me to tears with his afterward. As I listened I could only hope (I realize quite selfishly hoped) that he had time for another story or two. I greatly appreciate his thoughtful goodbye - to me it was extremely personal because I always thought of Bryce Courtenay as one of my personal writers. I was absolutely devastated to learn that he passed away.

As a young person, I lived all over the world and the United States. I never got to Australia or Africa. Thanks to you and Humphrey Bower for the extraordinary journeys. I have always finished one story by looking for and anticipating the next one and have read each of Mr. Courtenay's books at least twice and some of them four or five times. Although I have not said much about this particular novel, I am sure that I will read and re-read and re-read Jack of Diamonds.

I am going to miss you. May God bless you and your family.

An overlong series of separate incredible episodes

Would you try another book from Bryce Courtenay and/or Humphrey Bower?

The reader was excellent. As for the book, I'm reluctant to be critical of a well-liked author who knew he dying of cancer, but I always felt that he didn't know where the story was going--so he just kept on going and going. First we have the "Jack learns to play the piano and escape blue collar Toronto story." Then we have the "Jack goes out west, becomes a poker player, and loses his virginity to a sweet hooker story before escaping from gangsters story." Then there is the "escaping from WWII by getting an early minor wound" story. Then the escaping gangsters in Las Vegas story. Then the escaping thugs in Africa story. Then the escaping his daughter's creditors in London story, which also results in saving Jack's talking parrot. One melodrama after the next. It all comes across like something written to be published in monthly installments in an old-fashioned magazine serial.

Wonderful

Only my second read from B Courtenay and I'm hopelessly addicted. Well done Mr. Courtenay!! You have another faithful fan.

I will miss his story telling!

He paints a very vivid and memorable picture that will stay with you a lifetime.

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.

Absolutely incredible

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

Bryce Courtenay Fan

I love Bryce Courtenay books and shall miss him! However, this was not my favourite book. A bit repetitive material from his other books.

For Bryce Courtenay fans

His last book and so a truncated conclusion as you may expect given the rapidity of his decline. Have had many enjoyable hours of listening to Bryce's work over the years. Power of One was his first and best in my humble opinion. Vale.