Jack of Diamonds

Posted on by

jack-of-diamonds

Jack of Diamonds – Bryce Courtenay

Abstract

Born and raised in a poor, working-class family in Toronto, Jack Spayd is the son of an unhappy marriage. But when he is given a harmonica as a young boy, he discovers a talent for music that will change his life forever. 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. After the death of his mother, he travels to Las Vegas and finds work in the clubs there, but is increasingly drawn to gambling. He earns a reputation as a good player, which brings him to the attention of the mafia. Jack wants to join the professional circuit, and to do that he needs serious money behind him.

Group Comments

Book could have been condensed. The book started of very interesting and you didn’t want to put it down.
Some thought provoking sentences, a bit too much violence. Much laughter re the parrot – called ‘Jack of Diamonds’. All were happy he wasn’t killed.
Large volume – was difficult to hold, but typical Bryce Courtenay; would make a great television drama.
Some American slang language was difficult. Very graphic sexual descriptions.
Jack is somewhat a coming of age story!
Overall everyone read it but there have been better ones.

Read by

The Last Thursday Book Group

Want to try an eBook?

Aside

Ebooks

Did you know the Library has over 9,000 ebooks available for Library members to borrow? They cover all ages and interests from picturebooks for little ones to fiction and non fiction for adults and everyone in between. All our ebooks can be found in the Library Catalogue or by visiting our eBook site.

Never borrowed an eBook before? Follow our easy instruction guide to begin your eBook reading journey.

Time and Time Again

Posted on by

9780593073575Time and Time Again
Ben Elton

Abstract
It’s the 1st of June 1914 and Hugh Stanton, ex-soldier and celebrated adventurer is quite literally the loneliest man on earth. No one he has ever known or loved has been born yet. Perhaps now they never will be.
Stanton knows that a great and terrible war is coming. A collective suicidal madness that will destroy European civilization and bring misery to millions in the century to come. He knows this because, for him, that century is already history.
Somehow he must change that history. He must prevent the war. A war that will begin with a single bullet. But can a single bullet truly corrupt an entire century? And, if so, could another single bullet save it? Continue reading →