Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Walter Mosley's novel about two boys, one ensconced in a life of privilege and the other in a life of hardship, explores the true meaning of fortune.

In spite of remarkable differences, Eric and Tommy are as close as brothers. Eric, a Nordic Adonis, is graced by a seemingly endless supply of good fortune. Tommy is a lame black boy, cursed with health problems, yet he remains optimistic and strong.

After tragedy rips their makeshift family apart, the lives of these boys diverge astonishingly: Eric, the golden youth, is given everything but trusts nothing; Tommy, motherless and impoverished, has nothing, but feels lucky every day of his life. In a riveting story of modern-day resilience and redemption, the two confront separate challenges, and when circumstances reunite them years later, they draw on their extraordinary natures to confront a common enemy and, ultimately, save their lives.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #561708 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 313 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. White Los Angeles heart surgeon Minas Nolan, a very recent widower, meets African-American flower-shop employee Branwyn Beerman when her son Thomas is born prematurely with a hole in his lung, and without a father in his life. Minas has a son, Eric, a week younger than Tommy, and the four, along with enigmatic Vietnamese nanny Ahn, soon form a loving ménage. Following Branwyn's sudden death 50 pages later, Tommy, now six, is plunged into a hardscrabble life when his difficult father, Elton, claims him; he grows up without resentment, talking aloud to Branwyn when he's sad or confused (and sometimes to Elton's on-again, off-again partner, May), but ends up on the streets. Eric, meanwhile, sails through childhood and adolescence, but remains alienated, constantly missing "his brother," even having a child at 16 with Christine, who's a few years older. Knowingly drawing on the genre constraints that drive his Easy Rawlins mysteries, Mosley puts Thomas through trial after trial, and Eric through a kind of chronic heartlessness. Both continually refer to the time they lived together, and each thinks of the other as a real brother. After more than 10 years of separation, they're reunited, but that's not the point: with the lightest, slyest of touches, 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. (Apr. 10)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine
Walter Mosley, author of the Easy Rawlins mysteries series, tackles a new genre with almost every novel. Like some of his previous work, Fortunate Son explores America's racial divide, but it does so in a fairy tale or parable about race, fate, luck, love, and redemption. Critics generally agree that Mosley succeeds in this genre; darkness, concise writing, compassion, social criticism, and questions about which son is "fortunate" resound loudly. Only the New York Times faulted Mosley for his stereotypical characters, predictability, and lack of tension. In the end, Fortunate Son may or may not live up to Easy Rawlins, but it remains a strong tale about love transcending all boundaries.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* At a Los Angeles hospital, African American single mother Branwyn Beerman sits vigil at the side of her fragile infant son, Thomas, born with a hole in his heart. White heart surgeon Minas Nolan sees her and is instantly attracted to the dark-skinned beauty with the radiant smile. A recent widower, Dr. Nolan has a healthy son, Eric, a week younger than Thomas. The four are soon living together. Branwyn is the mother Eric desperately needs; Minas is a far better role model than Thomas' biological father, Elton, who abandoned Branwyn soon after learning she was pregnant. Though the boys love each other as brothers, they couldn't be more different. Sensitive Thomas finds joy in simple things, a blossoming flower, a bird in flight. Eric, blessed with good looks and good luck, takes his charmed life for granted. The makeshift family is wrenched apart when Branwyn dies, and Thomas is forced to move in with unpredictable Elton. The boys live out their separate lives (Eric fathers a child at age 16; Thomas survives a stint in jail and several years on the streets), until dramatic circumstances reunite them more than a decade later. Mosley, best known for his acclaimed Easy Rawlins mystery series, weaves the themes of race, destiny, and redemption into an astonishing tale of unlikely siblings and unconditional love. Allison Block
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Who's Fortunate?
"His heart was as disconnected as hers," expresses it all. "Fortunate Son," is a story of the disconnected. Brothers by fate, Thomas Beerman and Eric Nolan are two beings in contrast. For everything Eric is, Thomas is not. There stands Eric in all of his glory taking things in stride. While early on, Tommy's life takes a harsh turn, as he is ripped from the bosom of his loving adopted family and it seems that he is alone in a world bent on bringing about his demise.

With each page that I turned, my heart grew heavier with worry and sorrow. What was to become of Tommy? He was an innocent and life was so unfair. Was a break just beyond the next page? Faring better in the world, Eric does not realize how good he has it and through the years there is always something missing, a void, he is incomplete and reaches for Tommy, the brother from his past, only Tommy cannot be there.

Reading "Fortunate Son" is like studying the brush strokes that comprise a powerful painting. Each word is stated with purpose and takes on a message of power and deliverance. Based on his or her perception, experiences and mindset, each reader will take away something different. This is a sorrow-filled read of substance. Walking with Tommy through his trials and tribulations forces one to pause and appreciate what is within reach. We remember that each day we rise is a glorious one and with inner strength, we can overcome and make it to the next if we dare to press on.

Marian E.
APOOO BookClub

nurture & nature
Rebeccasreads highly recommends FORTUNATE SON: A NOVEL as a riveting, raw story of modern-day resilience & redemption. It will stretch your mind about racism, privilege, contentment, fate & loyalty.

Two boys, born within hours of each other from different families, are raised, for the first years of their lives, together. Eric is white, handsome, takes his privileged life for granted & is cursed with a vile attitude. Tommy is black, unwell, good natured & feels lucky for every day of his life.

When tragedy strikes their makeshift family, the boys must separate. Years later, they get back together & face down an enemy that will test their different natures.

Best by Mosley
A moving, emotional and captivating story about family. You know that saying blood is thicker than water, its not true. For a long time I've known that family is what you as an individual define it as, not who you are born to or how you are born. This story is about a family, truth, knowing who you are and that your future and how you live it is all up to you. This story about two brothers, who are not brothers, shares with us the true meaning of brotherhood and what it really means. I haven't been touched by a book in a very long as I've been moved by this, Mr. Mosley's finest piece of literature. Mr. Mosley has penned a narrative that says who ever in this life, you decide to call family, its a very good thing. Take it, keep it and be proud of it. Just read it and you'll understand.