April Fool's Day

April Fool’s Day was a book I wasn’t sure that I wanted to read initially for several reasons – I don’t read as much non-fiction as fiction, surely Bryce Courtenay’s talent lay in fiction and it was probably out of print. Enter a Popular Penguin edition and an edict from my mother that I must read this book and she knew I would enjoy it immensely. I started reading this on my daily commute but soon I was hooked. Such a powerful story – all completely true, you can’t make up this sort of thing and an incredibly emotional, harrowing journey for the Courtenay family.

I always respected Courtenay as a writer before this, but after reading this book, I have the utmost respect for him overall. The story of his son Damon, born a show more haemophiliac who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion and later died of AIDS related complications is compelling for so many reasons. Damon was a brave battler and his strength while living through chronic pain, bleeding and countless infections is to be commended. The rallying of the Courtenay family and Damon’s partner Celeste around him is a testimony to the strength of the loving family (from going along with Damon’s delusions to taking him to the hospital on many occasions). This book is a celebration of life and love – the good, the bad and the ugly.

From a medical point of view, this book is also exceptionally interesting for several reasons. One, to read about diseases, hospitals, doctors and treatments from the patient and family point of view was an eye opener. The way Damon was treated on occasions by medical ‘professionals’ was awful. Secondly, to read about the medication side effects from the actual effect on the patient – also interesting. What may be classed as minor to those not taking the drug can have a huge effect on the quality of life on the person (such as Damon and diarrhoea with AZT). Finally, it was amazing to see the comparison between HIV and AIDS treatment today and in the late 80s / early 90s when Damon was being treated. So much progress has been made and I felt so sad that if this had happened 20 years later, it may be Damon telling his whole story, rather than his father.

It was also interesting to see how attitudes to the gay community have changed and how more widely educated the public is about HIV and AIDS. (Damon was mistreated by nurses who mistakenly thought that AIDS equals gay. Thank goodness we have moved on from that.)

Bryce Courtenay is brutally honest in this retrospective of his son’s life. He laments of the lack of time spent with his kids in the early years (due to a job in advertising that really does sound a little Mad Men-esque) and losing his temper when perhaps he shouldn’t. These made me as the reader warm to him more – it’s not a rose coloured view. I hope it was cathartic for him to write this.

The ending was a tear jerker. Despite you knew it was coming, it didn’t make it any easier. It was lovely to read the postscript from Celeste and her life post-Damon.

In short, April Fool’s Day has it all – the happy times, the funny times, the awful times and the sad times. What a lovely thing for a father to create for his son.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com show less

Wow. That’s about what I have to say about this book. And I know I don’t normally wow and have wowed on three books in the last month, but this is a well-deserved wow.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s in the US, we knew the story of Ryan White, a hemophiliac (sorry, American spelling habits die hard) who also eventually contracted AIDS. His story put a human face on what was then called medically acquired AIDS/HIV and I remember my teacher talking about it when he died. And now Damon Courtenay, through his father Bryce, has added another human face to it, albeit this one with an Aussie accent.

I really liked the human aspects of this book, the sides that showed their normal life. Despite Damon’s hemophilia and later HIV/AIDS, Bryce show more made sure to still show that he was often a normal kid. He wanted the money, the car and the girl. And though he didn’t get the first two, his girlfriend Celeste was a wonderful person who you couldn’t help but love.

In addition to the human side, you saw the medical side, which wasn’t always pleasant. Hospital wards refusing to treat him and doctors who thought they knew everything. But you also saw the wonderful doctors and nurses who, though admitting they didn’t know much about this new disease, were willing to help Damon, Celeste, Bryce and Benita.

And of course the traveller in me loved that Damon got his trip to Europe before he died. Really makes me think of Tim McGraw's "Live Like you were Dying"
I went sky diving/I went Rocky Mountain climbing/I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu/and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter/and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying/and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying./Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about/what'd you do with it what did you do with it

Wonderful book, excellently written, but oh so sad. show less

A most astonishing book recounting the story of the Author's Son and his struggles with HIV. This book is wonderfully written and provokes such strong emotions - from laughter out loud to sobbing at some of the more harrowing moments.

A book that should be read by anyone wanting to see the heights and depths of the human spirit.

Wow! I know my eyes are still red from crying as I finished this book this morning before heading to work. Obviously that was not a good choice but what do you do? This is a book so full of courage and love that my words won't do it justice. Bryce Courtenay writes his son's story of growing up as a haemophiliac who acquires AIDS from a blood transfusion during the time when AIDS was just hitting the news in the states. Damon grew up in Australia so no one really new what it was all about until it was too late and it was already in the blood banks. Damon's attitude thoughout his 24 years of living with thousands of blood transfusions and an endless amount of sickness of one form or another is amazing! When he is in his late teens he show more meets Celeste, another teenager and the love that grows between them is one you just don't hear about. She becomes his world and he becomes hers. This book took me through many emotions, including sadness, but it was also an inspiration in so many ways. I highly recommend it.Bryce is one of my favorite authors and even though this was a true story (non-fiction is just not my favorite)he always weaves a tale that sweeps you up and draws you inside. show less

Bryce Courtney has a number of books in the Whitcoulls Top 100, but this is his only non-fiction book. To summarise, his youngest child, Damon was born a haemophiliac and subsequently contracted HIV. He died of AIDS, aged 24 on 1 April, 1991. Damon’s story is one of the tragedies of haemophiliacs, many of whom contracted HIV through the early years of the AIDS epidemic. Doctors and politicians could and probably should have prevented a known high risk group, homosexuals, from donating blood, but feared the backlash from a vociferous and politically savvy lobby group. The blood, or Factor VIII, which kept Damon alive through the numerous transfusions he required on an almost daily basis, ultimately killed him. But Courtney knows how to show more tell a story, and while the descent into the hell that is AIDS is harrowing to read, the overall story of Damon Courtney's life is one of a young man of much courage, love and promise. I learned a lot about living with a chronic disease, dying of an incurable disease and the callous nature of some in the medical profession. This is a good, but hard to read book. show less

I work in a medical field and recall how, in the days soon after HIV was identified, the general public were hysterical and extremely judgemental of HIV victims. All of them were supposedly drug addicts or homosexuals and therefore deserved to die. Courtenay's story of his son Damon's struggle with HIV points out how very wrong such prejudice and ignorance is. He also highlighted the adversities of living with a little known disease - haemophilia - which were commonplace in that era. It's a beautiful tribute to his son that will move all who read it.

Bryce Courtenay is a talented, acclaimed writer. To see him write truthfully and so personally, as a father and on behalf of his son Damon in this book, is an experience you will never forget. It is not an easy book to read. You might shed tears but you will also be touched by its strength and courage, steadfast love and care. This brave book gives a moving voice to fortitude.