Brutal, sad and life changing. This book is a roller-coaster and I went from laughing to crying and I'm ok with that. There are times when it wasn't written by Bryce where it was, at times, not the greatest. But regardless, this book was a book that I don't think I'll ever forget and may reread in the future. Do yourself a favour and read it.

It made me cry, it made me laugh, but mainly it made me appreciate family!! LOVED it and highly recommend it!!!

I had always loved listening to Bryce Courtenay tell a story. He was a born storyteller, one of the best. This is though the only one of his books that I have read. What a tale. I felt as if I knew all of his family as if they were my friends. Though the end is known, it was such a sad story about an amazing young man. Full of life, with such a positive attitude; and towards the end of his love for Celeste. I cried and my heart ached for his family and most of all for Damon.

After having an allergy misdiagnosed as Asthma when I was a child, I avoided doctors as much as I could. I had been prodded with various needles for 4 years and was sick of being sick. The idea of donating blood after all that was not something I felt like volunteering for... Until I read this book. Mr Courtenay didn't pull any punches when it came to describing his own part in the story, which made it all the more powerful. I've been donating blood for the past couple of years now, and will continue as long as I am able.

I read this years ago. I just remember crying a lot.

Internationally acclaimed author Bryce Courtenay impressed readers for years with his intricate stories and multi-faceted characters. Before he became an author, Courtenay’s life was quite different, both in his profession and with his family. This is the story of his family, particularly the struggles he faced with his third son, Damon. In a gripping piece of non-fiction, Bryce Courtenay pulls back the curtain on the struggles the family faced and how they overcame it all to find peace.

When Bryce and Bonita Courtenay welcomed their third son, Damon, into the world, they had high hopes. However, things took a turn from the very beginning, when Damon began exhibiting bruising and severe bleeding. He was soon discovered to be a hemophiliac and thus began the life-long struggles with his condition and trying to stay safe.

As Damon aged, his family discovered just how complex hemophilia could be, from the ever-present bleeds to the need for medical attention to inject coagulants to save his life. As Damon aged, he chose to hide away from others and perform his own injections, which was still against Australian law. Bryce struggled to help his son find a degree of normalcy while fighting with the politics of the medical profession and against arcane laws surrounding hypodermic needle use.

When, in early adulthood, Damon met the woman who would love him for years to come, his views on things changed. Celeste would be an integral part of Damon’s life and a key connection between the Courtenays for years to come. As Celeste tried to tame the ever-irascible Damon, she encouraged him to keep his hemophilia under control. After he began to exhibit new aspects to his condition, it was soon discovered that hemophilia would be the least of his concerns. A blood transfusion brought HIV and things changed drastically. This was an age when HIV was still new and seen as ‘the gay man’s plight’, which was an issue the Courtenay family had to fight from the outset. However, it was still early stages and cures were being promised.

The latter portion of the book handles the progression of Damon’s situation, which became full-blown AIDS after an infection from a risky wisdom tooth extraction. Faced with the stigma, other factors clouded Damon’s life and he soon slipped into a deep psychosis, likely a mix of an addled brain and the pressures of all he had to face. While the Courtenays tried to handle this, they saw Damon slip into an abyss and new troubles.

As time began slipping away, Bryce, Bonita, and the rest of the family stood alongside Celeste as they all waited for the end. This struggle had an end, though it would be some of the most painful months for everyone. A heart wrenching story of loss, new life, and how to overcome struggles like no other.

I have read every one of Bryce Courtenay’s novels over the years and mourned his loss a decade ago. They are some of the most powerful novels I have ever read and proved to be extremely impactful. However, this book is in a world all its own, as it pulls on personal heartstrings and exemplifies just how varied the author’s life was, even before he published his first novel. Detailed and highly alluring, the book explores the life of Damon Courtenay from many perspectives, while also keeping much in a haze, as it is only Damon’s personal struggles that could not be fully documented that tell the true tale of how things went down. Chapters are full of great information and help the story to move along effectively which is supported by a strong (and not surprising) narrative. Anything but saccharine and preachy, Bryce Courtenay’s personal struggles emerge from evert page of this book and leave the reader wanting more!

Kudos, Mr. Courtenay, for a formidable piece of writing that has me so pleased that I have discovered the full and varied collection of your books!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

OK I admit, the first and only time I ever cried reading a book. What more can I say, the raw emotions and the tender love is beautifully portrayed in a book that must have been very hard to write.

This book taught me a whole lot about haemophilia that I wasn't aware of. It is a poignant account about a young boy who bravely endured so much pain and hardship during his short life. It is also an endearing love story of two young people who loved each other unconditionally. Celeste, who loved Damon dearly, stuck by Damon's side throughout the best and worst of times,. He was the hero and she the heroine of this book.
This account of Damon's short life also shows us the ends to which loving parents will go, to help an ailing child. They too, suffered tremendously, due to a genetic disorder they had no control over and some uncaring doctors.

This is so moving and sensitively told it is on the very top of books that have changed my thinking. Fantastic book

Damon was dead. The book starts with his death, so there is no surprise at the outcome. This is the story of Damon Courtney, a hemopheliac who contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion and died at age 24. It is beautifully and sensitively told by his father, one of Australia's best known writers, his girlfriend Crystal, and his mother. I learned more about hemophelia and AIDS than I ever knew and at the end I was sobbing at Damon's death.

This isn't a book you actually "enjoy" but it is an important book. It is the book Damon asked his father to write, to instruct people about AIDS and, he hoped, reduce some of the stigma attached to AIDS victims. (Damon died in a time when you were expected to wear gowns, gloves and masks when entering the room of someone with AIDS) You will laugh, you will cry and you will scream at too many in the medical community who made things terrible for Damon at various points in his life, from babyhood all the way up to his death.

Damon died in 1991. My friend Steve nearly died in 1996, but then new drugs came along and now Steve and countless others are living with AIDS rather than dying from it. It is no longer the automatic death sentence it once was. Which makes me sad that The Mighty Damon died too soon.

I cried all the way through this book. Bryce Courtney writes with such raw honesty and emotion, it's hard not to feel so much empathy for this family. Truly, a heartbreaking story, about Courtney's son, Damon, and his lifelong struggle with disease and the medical profession. Unbelievable accounts of incompetent and cold-hearted 'specialists' leave the reader frustrated and shaking the head in disbelief. Bearing in mind, this all happens in an era where social stigma and prejudice are rife, its hard to imagine how any theme of love would shine through. However, it does and Damon's last wish of having a book written has come true. A must read.

April fool's day - Bryce courtenay

ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಪುಸ್ತಕ ನಾನಾಗೇ ಆಯ್ದುಕೊಂಡು ಓದುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಬೇರೆಯವರು ಗಿಫ್ಟ್ ಅಂತ ಅವರ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಕೊಡುವುದು ನನಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವೇ ಆಗದ ಸಂಗತಿ. ನಿಮಗೆ ಹಾಗನಿಸಿದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಬಳಿ ಕೇಳಿ ಇಷ್ಟವಾದ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ತಿಳಿಸುವೆ ಅದೇ ಕೊಡಿ ಎನ್ನುವವ‌‌.‌ಮದುವೆಯ ಮೊದಲು ಮಡದಿಯಾಗುವವಳು ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬಕ್ಕೆ ಅಂತ ಒಂದು ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಉಡುಗೊರೆಯಾಗಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟಾಗ ಸಿಟ್ಟಾಗಿ ಜಗಳವಾಡಿದ್ದೆ. ಅದಾದ ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾವತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ ಹಣ ಹಾಕ್ತೇನೆ ಬೇಕಾದ್ದು ತಗೊಳಿ ಎನ್ನುವುದಷ್ಟೇ ಅವಳು ಮಾಡಿದ ಕೆಲಸ.
ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಯಾವುದೋ ರಾಶಿ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ತಗೊಂಡಾಗ ಬ್ಲೈಂಡ್ ಡೇಟ್ ವಿತ್ ಬುಕ್ ಅಂತ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ದು. ಹಿನ್ನುಡಿ ಓದಿ ಕುತೂಹಲಗೊಂಡರೂ ನಾನಾಗಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಮಾಡದ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಎಂದು ಆರೇಳು ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಮೂಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೆ. ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದಕ್ಕೂ ಅದರದೇ ಕಾಲ ಇದೆ. ಈಗ ಕಾಲ ಕೂಡಿ ಬಂತು.
ಈಗಿನ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂತಹದೊಂದು ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಓದಿದೆನಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬ ಖುಷಿ ,ಇಂತಹ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಓದದೆ ಇಟ್ಟೆನಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬ ವಿಷಾದ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಮುಗಿಸಿದಾಗ ಆಯಿತು.
ಇದು ಅನುಭವ ಕಥನ.


ಅವರದು ಸುಂದರ ಸಂಸಾರ. ಗಂಡ ಹೆಂಡತಿ ಇಬ್ಬರು ಮಕ್ಕಳು. ಮೂರನೆಯ ಮಗುವಿನ ಆಗಮನವಾಗಿದೆ. ಮೂವರೂ ಗಂಡುಮಕ್ಕಳು. ಸಣ್ಣ ಪ್ರಾಯದಲ್ಲೇ ತಮ್ಮ ಮೂರನೇ ಮಗನಿಗೆ ರಕ್ತಸ್ರಾವ ಆದರೆ ನಿಲ್ಲುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬ ಆಘಾತಕಾರಿ ಸತ್ಯ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅವನು ಹೀಮೋಫಿಲಿಯಾ ರೋಗಪೀಡಿತ. ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಅವರ ಯುದ್ಧ ಶುರುವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಸಣ್ಣ ಏಟು ,ಗಾಯ ಒಳಗಿ ಸ್ರಾವ ಅವನಿಗೆ ರಕ್ತ ಪೂರಣ ಆಗಲೇ ಬೇಕು. ಸಣ್ಣವನಿರುವಾಗ ಆಟವಾಡುವಾಗ ಆದ ಒಂದು ಗಾಯ ಅವನ ಶಾಶ್ವತ ಅಂಗವೈಕಲ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಗುರಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ.
ಪದೇ ಪದೇ ರಕ್ತ ಪೂರೈಕೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾ ಹೇಗೋ ಬದುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಹುಡುಗನಿಗೆ ಅಕಸ್ಮಾತ್ ಆಗಿ ಒಂದು ದಿನ ಡಾಕ್ಟರ್ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ' ನಿನಗೆ ರಕ್ತ ಪೂರೈಕೆ ಮಾಡುವಾಗ ನಿನಗೆ ಎಚ್‌ಐವಿ ಸೋಂಕು ತಗುಲಿದೆ' ಆಗ ಹಾಗೆಂದರೆ ಯಾವುದೋ ಒಂದು ವೈರಸ್ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದ ಕಾಲ. ಅವರ್ಯಾರೂ ಎದೆಗುಂದುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವನಿಗೊಬ್ಬಳು ಗೆಳತಿಯೂ ಸಿಗುತ್ತಾಳೆ.
ಆದರೆ ಕಾಲ ಕಳೆದಂತೆ ಇದು ಸಾವಿನ ಕದ ತಟ್ಟುವ ರಣ ಭೀಕರ ಖಾಯಿಲೆ ಎಂದು ಮನವರಿಕೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
ಶೂಶ್ರೂಷೆ, ಭರವಸೆ, ಚೇತರಿಕೆ,ಮತ್ತೆ ಖಾಯಿಲೆ ಅಪ್ಪ ಅಮ್ಮ ಗೆಳತಿ ಕುಟುಂಬ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಹೋರಾಟಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಥ್ ಕೊಡುತ್ತದೆ ಆದರೆ ಅಂತಕನ ದೂತರಿಗೆ ಕಿಂಚಿತ್ತೂ ದಯವಿಲ್ಲ.
ಹತಾಶೆಯ ಮಡುವಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದ ಯುವಕ ಖಿನ್ನತೆಗೆ ಬೀಳುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಅದರಿಂದ ಪಾರಾಗಲು ಕಾನೂನುಬದ್ಧವಲ್ಲದ ಡ್ರಗ್ ಸೇವಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಅದನ್ನು ಮರೆಯಲು ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯಿಂದಓಡಿ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.
ಜಗಳವಾಡುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಅವರಿಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತು ಇದು ಅವನಲ್ಲ ಅವನ ಖಾಯಿಲೆಯ ಆಟ ಎಂದು. ಏನು ಮಾಡುವುದು? ಜಗತ್ತಿಗೆ ಆ ಕರಾಳ ರೋಗದ ಮುಖ ಕಾಣುವಾಗ ಅವನಿಗಾಗಲೇ ಎಚ್‌ಐವಿ ತಿರುಗಿ ಏಡ್ಸ್‌ಗೆ ಬದಲಾಗಿ ಆಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ.
ಜಗತ್ತು ಆಗ ಏಡ್ಸ್ ಎಂದರೆ ಸಲಿಂಗಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಬರುವ ಖಾಯಿಲೆ ಎಂದು ನಂಬಿದ ಕಾಲ. ಯಾರಿಗೆ ಹೇಗೆ ಉತ್ತರ ಹೇಳುವುದು? ಹೋರಾಟ ಮುಂದುವರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ ಆದರೆ ಇದು ಸೋಲೇ ಕಾದಿರುವ ಹೋರಾಟ.
ಅವರು ಸೋಲುತ್ತಾರೆ.
ಅವನು ಇಲ್ಲವಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.

ಇದು ಸಂಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತವಾಗಿ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಹೂರಣ. ಬರೆದವನು ತೀರಿಕೊಂಡವನ ಅಪ್ಪ. ಅವನು ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯಾದ ಲೇಖಕ. ಪವರ್ ಆಫ್ ವನ್ ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಖ್ಯಾತ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಬರೆದವ. ಮಗನ ಹುಟ್ಟಿನಿಂದ ಹಿಡಿದು ಅವನ ಸಾವಿನವರೆಗಿನ ಪ್ರತೀ ಕ್ಷಣದ ಚಿತ್ರಣ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗುತ್ತದೆ‌
ಹಾಗಂತ ಇದು ಗೋಳಲ್ಲ.
ಅಸಲಿಗೆ ಇದನ್ನು ಓದುವಾಗ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಓದುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ ಎಂದೇ ಅನಿಸದಷ್ಟು ಸರಳ ಭಾಷೆ.
ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷ್ ಎಂಬುದು ಪರಕೀಯವಾದ ನನಗೆ ಎರಡು ದಿನದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಗಿಸದೆ ಏಳಬೇಡ ಎಂದು ಹಿಡಿದಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡ ಪುಸ್ತಕ.
ಯಾಕೆಂದರೆ ಇದು ರೋಚಕ ಫಿಕ್ಷನ್ ಅಲ್ಲ.
ಇದು ದಾರುಣ ಬದುಕಿನ ಪುಸ್ತಕ.
ಒಂದು ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಆಸೆಯೆಲ್ಲ ಕೈಸಂದಿಯಿಂದ ಮರಳು ಜಾರಿ ಹೋದ ಹಾಗೆ ಹೋದ ಕಥೆ.

ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಇದನ್ನು ಓದಬೇಕು. ನೋವ ನುಂಗಿ ಬದುಕಿದ ಹೋರಾಡಿದ ಒಬ್ಬ ಅಪ್ಪನ,ಅಮ್ಮನ, ಗೆಳತಿಯ ಕಥೆ ಇದು‌.

' ಬದುಕಿದ್ದರೆ ಅವನಿಗೆ ಈಗ ಇಷ್ಟು ವರ್ಷ' ಎಂದವನ ಅಮ್ಮ ಬರೆಯುವಾಗ ಬೇಡವೆಂದರೂ ಸಂದು ಹೋದ ಹತ್ತಿರದವರ ನೆನಪು ಕಾಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ಇಂತಹ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳ ಓದಲಾದರೂ ಈ ಹವ್ಯಾಸ ಕರುಣಿಸಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ದೇವರಿಗೆ ವಂದನೆ.