April Fools Day [Hardcover]

Bryce Courtenay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1997

The internationally acclaimed author of The Power of One tells his most powerful and passionate story yet--the true story of his son's life and death from AIDS at the age of 25. "Bryce Courtenay has left a lasting memoir to his son, one which thousands have already embraced."--Vancouver Sun.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bryce Courtenay, bestselling Australian author, wrote his first book, The Power of One, at the age of fifty-five. This became the largest-selling book by a living Australian author within Australia, with over half a million copies sold locally. Having lived in Sydney for forty years, Bryce is a patriotic Australian, who is passionate about Australia becoming a truly great nation in the 21st century. Committed to the cause of literacy and the importance of motivating young people to read, he is actively involved with literacy programs in primary schools Australia-wide. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

Bestselling Australian novelist Bryce Courtenay pairs with his usual narrator, the great Humphrey Bower, in this powerful memoir about his son, Damon's, life and death. Don't be deterred by the potentially sad topic, for the story of Damon's life (with hemophilia and AIDS) and his death is as uplifting as it is tear-jerking. Bower reads clearly with his usual exemplary pacing, using different voices only to make a point, such as the officiousness of the Australian doctors. While the subject is, at times, overwhelmingly poignant, Bower never uses an overtly emotive voice; instead he lets the words speak for themselves to fine effect. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 674 pages
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0433397101
• ISBN-13: 978-0433397106
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,114,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One book you will never forget...keep a kleenex handy!, May 24, 2002

By 

Michael J Harrington (Phoenix, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: April Fools Day (Hardcover)

This is BC's non-fiction novel that tells the story of his son Damon - in heart-wrenching detail - about his plight with AIDS. Oh, and lest I forget, AIDS that was injected into him by the Australian medical community, thanks to their lax policies on blood donorship.

For those not up on BC, a short history - BC was under a deadline to produce TANDIA (the "Power of One" sequel), and many fans were lukewarm about Tandia - well, it was because everything you read in 'April Fools day' was going on while he had to finish it!

Back to this novel - it is a must-read for anyone with a curiosity about what a family goes through in the face of tragedy, and one that doesn't mind LIVING through the REAL life drama and frustration of a father and mother doing EVERYTHING they can to save their son dying of a disease. It got this grown man some major lumps in my throat, fists on the table, and some tears here and there - I cannot say that about anything I have ever read before in my life. Bryce really puts all his heart and soul to make you, the reader, feel his anger, pain, helplessness and sorrow about someone you will never know. This is a major literary achievement for one of the most brilliant authors of our time.

As I have said in some of my other BC reviews - it is a shame that he does not get more 'exposure' in the US. My wife and I have read everything he has ever done, and not 1 page is a dud amongst the thousands he has written - and we can name thousands of duds out there right now on your supermarket shelves...

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving and inspirational. A must read!, December 21, 1999

By 

Kristen - See all my reviews

This review is from: April Fools Day (Hardcover)

Since purchasing this book when it was first released I have read and reread it yet it still has not lost the power that gripped me originally nor the need for tissues. Bryce Courtenay tells a personal, emotive story with a great deal of feeling. His descriptions of the life of a person with aids are thought provoking and compassionate. I feel as if I know Damon and Celeste just through what is written. April Fools Day is a must read for all people. It will keep your attention right through to the end.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Masterpiece, September 5, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: April Fools Day (Hardcover)

April Fool's Day is the most moving book I've read this year. I find it really important that Courtenay decided to share such a personal thing to share with us. Although Damon died when he was only 24, I believe he was very lucky to have known really love (I wish every man had a loyal and wonderful girlfriend like Celeste) and have had constant support from his parents and brothers. Despite the acute and neverending pain he was in all the time, I believe, Damon was very strong, stronger than most of the people I've met or heard of, because he didn't want anyone to pity him for his illness. He tried everything he could to lead a normal life and has made me aware that nothing in this world is more important than health. Thus we should treasure every single minute in our lives. Bryce Courtenay is one of the best authors, and if there are better authors than him I'm afraid I haven't read them yet. Thank you.