Fortunate Son Author:Walter Mosley 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 ... more »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."« less
A different book by Walter Mosley about 2 boys from different ethnic backgrounds who are brought up together and find a bond that ties them together forever. A great read.
This book was the sort of Mosley novel that got me intrigued by him in the first place. I have not warmed up to the Easy Rawlins mysteries. The first book I read of his was "The Man in My Basement" and FOrtunate Son is more of that type. I think this guy is a great, creative writer who always rolls out interesting, well-developed characters. I would highly recommend this book.
I liked this book until the last 2 CDs. I felt like the author was going over the same stories and feelings that the characters were experiencing over and over again. Also, I felt that the author reflected his dismal attitude about relationships and life in general throughout the entire book. I couldn't wait for the story to end!