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Audiobook9 hours
Fortunate Son: A Novel
Written by Walter Mosley
Narrated by Lorraine Toussaint
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
Tommy's nickname is Lucky, but no one would think this crippled boy was blessed. Cursed with health problems and drawn into trouble more often than not, Tommy is the recipient of pity rather than admiration. He is nothing like his stepbrother Eric.
Eric, a Nordic Adonis, is graced by a seemingly endless supply of good fortune-he is charming, a star athlete, and a magnet for anyone in his sphere. Yet in spite of these differences, Eric and Tommy are as close as two humans can be.
After tragedy rips their makeshift family apart, the lives of these boys split. In a powerful story of modern-day resilience and redemption, Tommy and Eric forge their separate ways in the world, each confronting the challenges of his sphere. For Tommy this means dropping out of school, selling drugs, living on the streets, and somehow creating a family of his own. Motherless, African-American, and impoverished, Tommy has nothing but feels lucky every day of his life. For Eric, the golden youth, life means athletics, sexual attraction, excellent grades, prosperity, and the uncertainty that comes with prizes won too easily. Given everything, he trusts nothing.
Eric and Tommy's parallel lives are an astonishing story of self-determination and the true measure of fortune. The ties that bind this Adonis and his sickly counterpart, however, are thicker than blood, and when circumstances reunite Eric and Tommy after years apart, their distinct approaches to life may be the only thing that can save them from forces that threaten to destroy them for good.
Written with unique insight into the hidden currents and deeper realities of modern life, Fortunate Son is a tour de force by the author the Boston Globe calls "one of this nation's finest writers."
Eric, a Nordic Adonis, is graced by a seemingly endless supply of good fortune-he is charming, a star athlete, and a magnet for anyone in his sphere. Yet in spite of these differences, Eric and Tommy are as close as two humans can be.
After tragedy rips their makeshift family apart, the lives of these boys split. In a powerful story of modern-day resilience and redemption, Tommy and Eric forge their separate ways in the world, each confronting the challenges of his sphere. For Tommy this means dropping out of school, selling drugs, living on the streets, and somehow creating a family of his own. Motherless, African-American, and impoverished, Tommy has nothing but feels lucky every day of his life. For Eric, the golden youth, life means athletics, sexual attraction, excellent grades, prosperity, and the uncertainty that comes with prizes won too easily. Given everything, he trusts nothing.
Eric and Tommy's parallel lives are an astonishing story of self-determination and the true measure of fortune. The ties that bind this Adonis and his sickly counterpart, however, are thicker than blood, and when circumstances reunite Eric and Tommy after years apart, their distinct approaches to life may be the only thing that can save them from forces that threaten to destroy them for good.
Written with unique insight into the hidden currents and deeper realities of modern life, Fortunate Son is a tour de force by the author the Boston Globe calls "one of this nation's finest writers."
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Reviews for Fortunate Son
Rating: 3.813852820779221 out of 5 stars
4/5
231 ratings20 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Eric, white, and Thomas, black, are born at around the same time, Eric's mother dies in childbirth, Thomas' father left when he learned his wife was pregnant. Eric's father is a doctor at the hospital where they were born, he takes an interest Thomas' case, and it's not long before the two families are living together, and Thomas and Eric are 'brothers'.The two boys' differences go far beyond black and white. Eric is big, strong, fair and handsome, intelligent and wins friends easily, Thomas has by comparison little going for him, but as brothers they love and depend on each other. All goes well until a tragedy tears the family apart, and the boys do not see one another for ten years when circumstance reunite them, and their bond is confirmed.I so wanted to love this book, the basic premise is beautiful, two very different boys brought together in a friendship that is thicker than blood, Eric for all his popularity cares only for Thomas. The story of the two boys' could have offered so much.But I struggled with this book. A quote on the fly leaf describes Mosley as "one of this nation's (US) finest writers" - I find this hard to believe on the evidence of this book. I kept asking myself 'is this written for pre-teens' - but the sexual content gave me the answer there - I found the writing patronising and pedestrian. I have not read anything else by this author, but I can only assume that his other work is far better than this - I hope so.As for the development of the story, it is unconvincing, unbelievable. Too many improbable events occur, some crucial events are not fully explained - what was the cause? People behave out of their otherwise two-dimensional character or in a manner other than we should expect - the characterisation is poor, it's not just to two main protagonists that are black and white!Add to that an unsatisfactory, flat and uninspired conclusion, I was thoroughly disappointed with this novel. I would give this just one star, but as I rather skimmed through much of the second half of the book (I really could take little more of the unimaginative writing an unbelievable plot, but I did want to see how it ended) I begrudgingly give it two stars.I note that on Amazon.com there are a few other reviewers who feel the same way as I while others are impressed by this book, obviously it has its fans, but I feel the discerning reader will find little here.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not a bad book, but I wouldn't recommend it unless a reader is already familiar with some of Walter Mosley's other books, as he's got many much better better writings out there. Both the plot and characters were a bit too stereotyped and the novel focused way too much (to the point of being unbelievable) on race. Having enjoyed several other books by Mosley, I expected a lot more from him.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Fortunate Son is an allegorical story of two boys, one black and one white, who are raised as brothers. When they get separated at an early age, the white boy goes on to live a charmed life, and the black boy a cursed life. While this book was kind of an interesting look at race relations and white privilege, I felt like any true *plot* got lost under the Point Being Made. The entire thing just plods along - not helped by the prose, which is simple and sparse. Most of the story gets told instead of shown, and the characters are cardboard cut-outs of real people. This was really really disappointing; I like Walter Mosley a lot, but this book does not have a lot to recommend it.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This was the first Walter Mosley book I have read though we have almost every book he has written in our library. My husband has read his books for years and is a big fan of the Easy Rawlins mystery series. I was a little puzzled by this book, though I found it an enjoyable read. I have nothing to compare it to since I have not read any of his other books. I wondered initally if this book was perhaps intended for young adults as it seemed such an easy read, as if it were "dummied down" a bit. I couldn't find anything on the cover to indicate this. I agree with others that the book is in part fantasy and has a sort of feel good wrapping up that you expect more in young adult literature. Nevertheless, this is a very good story and while the characters may be unbelievable they are carefully developed and speak more I think of the human condition than real people. We might perhaps say this is a modern day fable and is likely very different from his earlier books. I would recommend it as a very readable and interesting story which is more than can be said for a lot of acclaimed modern novels.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A black boy and a white boy spend their early childhoods in the same household and consider themselves brothers. When tragedy separates them, the black boy goes from a foster home, to the streets, to jail, while the white boy is the archetypcal Golden Child, a good student, good athlete, a lady killer, beloved by all. Which one is the fortunate son? The parable is heavy-handed at times, but still affecting. And unlike many parables, the characters breathe.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5This book was terrible. It had bad grammar, and mistakes in punctuation, even on the second page. I felt dumber after reading it. The story was contrived, and characters had almost no exposition. The Amazon reviews of it were mostly glowing, and I don't know how those folks could overlook such bad writing.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautiful, heartbreaking and wonderfully narrated! My heart is still broken and rejoicing.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5what was the purpose? Was it to show that no matter how good you are, there will always be bad things that happen to you? I hated the ending. At several times, I almost quit reading thi book. I wish I had.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brilliant poignant and inspiring about love and fate! Amazing
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Complex interesting plot. I read it and immediately got another of his books
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good from the very beginning to the very end! I fell in love with Walter Mosley! He writes with such important details! I felt as though I’ve met each character before! So strange, I saw two guys at the YMCA yesterday! They reminded me of Eric and Tommy 50 years later still not knowing they were once brothers still hoping....
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5the storyline was good I even didn't mind the back and forth narration but the story went on for way to long almost as if the writer couldn't decide on an ending and threw them all in there.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5a good read, not the typical Mosley book. held my interest throughout.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Walter Mosley is mostly known as a black mystery writer. I like authors from all backgrounds and he's can spin a good tale. It's a bit of a mystery with a twist at the end about two very different boys - one white and wealthy/privileged, and one black, motherless and poor. A terrific contrast and nice launching pad for the story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Really liked this book. I thought it would be like his mystery novels but it's tender with the majority of the time focusing on the maturation of the sons and their different trajectory. I think it's definitely worth the listen or read.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The story is about two boys brought together by fate and torn apart by fate. Thomas is a young boy man born to a single mother who meets a white, widowed doctor with a young son of his own, Eric. Thomas and Eric become very close growing up in the wealthy doctor's home in California, but when Thomas's mother dies unexpectedly, Thomas's father comes to take him away from the only family he had ever known. From there Thomas's life is sad and lonely while he drops out of school at a young age and sells drugs on the street. Ironically, Eric's life is also sad and lonely in that he cannot seem to love anyone like he loved Thomas and his mother even though he excels in everything he does and attracts people he love him dearly. Eventually, Eric and Thomas brought together again in a shocking reunion.I admire the character, Thomas, for his love of life despite his terrible experiences, but this book is pretty depressing starting when Thomas is taken away from the doctor's home.The book tells us that luck is irrelevant. Thomas was lucky that he still believed in love even though his life negated that feeling, and ironically, Eric was lucky in his life status, but unlucky in love.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love it the lady who is reading is wonderful
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Now this was an absolutely GREAT book! ! ! ! It started a little slow but the two main characters, torn apart as children and led total opposite lives. The author did a wonderful job leading you from one event to another. And the narrarator was great. Im so glad I found this gem!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The story is impactful, tragic, reflective. Beautifully written. Needs audio-editing more noticeably in the second half, though I can't complain as the title was included with the subscription.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The story is about two boys brought together by fate and torn apart by fate. Thomas is a young boy man born to a single mother who meets a white, widowed doctor with a young son of his own, Eric. Thomas and Eric become very close growing up in the wealthy doctor's home in California, but when Thomas's mother dies unexpectedly, Thomas's father comes to take him away from the only family he had ever known. From there Thomas's life is sad and lonely while he drops out of school at a young age and sells drugs on the street. Ironically, Eric's life is also sad and lonely in that he cannot seem to love anyone like he loved Thomas and his mother even though he excels in everything he does and attracts people he love him dearly. Eventually, Eric and Thomas brought together again in a shocking reunion.I admire the character, Thomas, for his love of life despite his terrible experiences, but this book is pretty depressing starting when Thomas is taken away from the doctor's home.The book tells us that luck is irrelevant. Thomas was lucky that he still believed in love even though his life negated that feeling, and ironically, Eric was lucky in his life status, but unlucky in love.
1 person found this helpful