Fortunate Son Audiobook By Walter Mosley cover art

Fortunate Son

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Fortunate Son

By: Walter Mosley
Narrated by: Lorraine Toussaint
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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.

©2006 Walter Mosley (P)2006 Time Warner AudioBooks
Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Emotionally Gripping

Critic reviews

  • Audie Award Finalist, Solo Narration - Female, 2007

"Mosley shows how a certain kind of inarticulate, carnal, involuntary affection transcends just about anything. It's not love, it's fate, and it's breathtaking." (Publishers Weekly)

Masterful Storytelling • Excellent Character Development • Captivating Plot • Emotional Depth • Diverse Writing
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Wow, not the ending I was expecting. I know every story can't have a happy ending but my goodness! I was hoping for a glance of happiness. It was a fast read but if you're going through a hard or difficult patch in your life, AVOID this book for now. I'm a Walter Mosley fan. I enjoy the small details of his writing but this one has a dark & unhappy spirit.

Sad to the End

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I really did not know what to expect with this book. It took my emotions all over the place. It was so compelling, then I almost stopped listening to it. I almost could not handle it. But I had to come back each day to know what happens.

Beautifully sad!

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Love all of Walter Mosley’s books. He is a master storyteller. Looking forward to the next.

Exceptional Writing

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Great story but extremely sad. Don't understand if Thomas died at the end or if he lived. Confused on if the last page was he letting go or did he die!?!?!?

Extremely sad

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I was close to tears the entire way through this book. Tragedy and sorrow but also triumph and love! I will look for the book and read it again. Very well written and narrarated.

Soulful and sorrowful

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The Book was well written. It helped me realize that no matter what obstacles you face, you have to come out of it with more wisdom, knowledge, and a better attitude in order to live life more abundantly.

Life’s Stumbling Blocks

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I cried various times throughout the book for the character Tommy. The book had me breathlessly waiting for what would happen next!!!

exceptional

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What did you love best about Fortunate Son?

For me, a great narrator makes the experience of listening to a story more enjoyable. The narrator did an amazing job and the author does an awesome job with character development and plot. I've listened to this on cd in my car, but had to buy it so I could listen again!

Great story and narrator

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Very entertaining and lots of twists into human psyche. Love Walter Mosely books! This story is relevant to and for our times where we need to still believe that love can Trump evil...

another great Mosley story!

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This book discuses the challenges of privilege and and fortitude.
At times it is difficult to read/listen to the challenges faced by a child without human protection, but the author lets shine through the power of a higher protection for the protagonist. The lesson for the reader is how to be gracious under fire.

Some of the most beautiful flowers grow in mud

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