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Fortunate Son
- Narrated by: Lorraine Toussaint
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
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Publisher's Summary
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.
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)
What listeners say about Fortunate Son
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Performance
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- Debbie Crawford
- 07-05-15
exceptional
I cried various times throughout the book for the character Tommy. The book had me breathlessly waiting for what would happen next!!!
5 people found this helpful
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- L. Miller
- 05-14-12
Great story and narrator
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!
4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Myron
- 05-27-06
Very Disappointing
This story had the makings of quite a good work of fiction, importantly delineating the dichotomies in white and black Los Angeles. However, the characters became caricatures. It was difficult for me to tell if the author really meant for this to be a parable illuminating the polarities of society or if he wanted us to take these characters at face value. The entire retinue of characters were just too two dimensional to be real and the circumstances of the story line were just too contrived to be effective in the intent of demonstrating what true strength is in the face of socoietal prejudice.
5 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-15-21
Greatness
I have read mostly all Walter Mosley’s books. This is different. I found myself in tears a few times. The narrator is great and really does a good job helping you to really feel the pain in each of the characters.
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- I'm Happy
- 05-19-21
Heart-wrenching story.
Everybody responds to death differently. Thomas was a tragic hero, but a hero nonetheless. Please read this book. You will not regret it.
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- Shileta
- 03-15-21
Heartfelt
I must say I have read or listen to many of Walter Mosley books. Sometimes as an author it is hard to change your normal in step into a zone that is not yours or that has not been yours. I must say Walter wrote a lovely heartfelt story was expecting some of the things that I’ve read before in the past This book actually shows how diverse Walter is
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- Al M.
- 06-06-18
Beautifully sad!
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.
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- Monica
- 12-14-17
OK
interesting listen, but not one if my faves by him. it's short, but spans many years.
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- jill
- 07-22-17
Excellent
There was never a dull moment throughout this book. I found myself questioning morality/right and wrong more than I expected. The narrator did a great job distinguishing between the characters.
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- Farahg
- 06-01-17
another great Mosley story!
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...