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The Fortunate Ones

por Ed Tarkington

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848318,069 (3.88)2
"When young Charlie Boykin gains entry into the wealthy society of the most exclusive part of Nashville, he falls under its spell. But he soon learns what he'd have to give up in return in this novel that asks why we envy and worship a class of people that so often exhibits the worst excesses"--Provided by publisher.… (mais)
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Mostrando 1-5 de 8 (seguinte | mostrar todos)
I really do love a chunky family saga. This was almost that - but not quite. I was interested at first with the main characters but as they aged it became harder and harder to care about them. The story unfolds in a way that meanders but because I didn't care about the characters very much I found it increasingly difficult to pick the book up and finish it. I persevered but probably wont read more by the author. ( )
  alanna1122 | Oct 8, 2023 |
he Fortunate Ones
In Ed Tarkington's The Fortunate Ones, take a journey through the formative years and beyond from the perspective of Archer Creigh, from a privileged family, and Charlie Boykin, from an underprivileged one, and discover how their lives become intertwined and depend on each other. In this engaging thoughtful book, the reader explores the dynamics and interconnections between the wealthy and underprivileged families, who they depend upon, and for what and how they handle their differences and similarities.

Throughout the novel many questions are raised for the reader to ponder. One question not answered: yes, the reader the sees the fortunate ones, but what about the unfortunate ones who do not receive the advantages that Charlie and his mother Bonnie received? The author does provide a full array of life decisions made by the two main characters, including Charlie deciding he must escape from this life to head to Mexico and be with other friends and pursue his art career, but devotion to his mother causes him to come home and return to his former life and support Archer and his aspirations to seek political office because of the lifeline he gave to Charlie.

The Fortunate Ones will provide the reader much thought with a wide array of characters and how they interact with one another, and how their thought processes and consequent emotional reactions add to interactions with the other characters, all of whom have contributions and indiscretions but support how the plot evolves.

Despite not looking enough at the unfortunate ones, The Fortunate Ones is a recommended and thoughtful read, because the author's focus in The Fortunate Ones was to look those who were given the opportunity to be fortunate.


( )
  Carrieida | May 23, 2021 |
I liked this book a lot. I thought at the beginning the book was going to be a little soft around the edges (especially compared to his debut, 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart,' which I liked a lot), but the narrative only gained momentum as it went along. It's still a smooth ride, warmed by the personality of the narrator, but haunted throughout with sadness and regret. I dig the Nick Carraway vibes others have been comparing this book, too.
  achedglin | Mar 27, 2021 |
Ed Tarkington's novel The Fortunate Ones opens with Charlie Boykin fulfilling his duty as a casualty notifications officer at Fort Campbell, on his way to break the news to a family that their son had died in service to his country.

While there, he sees on the family television that popular Southern Republican Senator Arch Creigh had committed suicide. Charlie is stunned by this news, and the story moves to how a young Charlie, son to a single teenage mother living in the working class section of Nashville, ended up best friends with Arch, the golden boy of Nashville.

Young Charlie was routinely beaten up after school, being the smallest of the few white students at his school. His mom managed to get him a scholarship to the elite prep school, where all of the privileged scions are educated.

Charlie meets Arch Creigh, who takes Charlie under his wing and introduces him to his best friend Jamie Haltom and Jamie's twin sister Vanessa. Charlie is entranced by Vanessa, but she and Arch have a relationship. Charlie becomes involved in the lives of these three, spending all of his free time with them, and leaving his lifelong best friend Terrence behind back home.

Charlie becomes seduced and captivated by the lifestyle of his new friends and their parents. Arch's father died when Arch was young, so Jamie's dad became a surrogate father to him, a role he seemed willing to assume in Charlie's life as well. Jamie's mother drinks heavily.

When Charlie's mom is offered a position as Jamie's mother's personal assistant, he and his mom move into a guest house on the Halstom property. Things are going well for Charlie and his mom, they have moved up in the world.

Secrets and lies abound, and the moral of the story is told by Charlie on the day of his fateful interview at his new school-"If not for that day, I would have never have left East Nashville for Belle Meade, nor would I have understood how much the conditions of life in one world depends on the whims of those who live in another."

The Fortunate Ones is called "a Southern Gatsby", and that is an apt comparison. Much like Charlie is entranced by his new life, Ed Tarkington entrances the reader by bringing us into this world of wealth and privilege, filled with interesting and flawed people. I felt like I was dropped in this Nashville scene. Fans who are missing the writing of Pat Conroy have found a worthy successor. I recommend this one.

Thanks to Algonquin Books for putting me on Ed Tarkington's tour. ( )
  bookchickdi | Jan 8, 2021 |
The Fortunate Ones by Ed Tarkington has been called a contemporary The Great Gatsby, and I can definitely see the similarities. Charlie Boykin is definitely from the "have nots" and the wrong-side of town according to those in the know in Nashville society. His life changes, possibly for the better and then again maybe not, when he is provided a scholarship to an elite all-boys school and is befriended by Archer Creigh. Over the course of Charlie's high school career, he eventually moves away from the wrong-side of town when his mother is offered a job as a personal assistant to a wealthy society matron. That move changes Charlie's life forever. It isn't just the disparity between the haves and the have-nots that shakes Charlie up, it's the "affluenza" and, for lack of a better phrase, "white privilege" that he bears witness to that finally pushes him away from his family and friends permanently.

I'm going to go out a limb here and say that I didn't really like The Great Gatsby, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Fortunate Ones. I liked the way Mr. Tarkington told the story, in almost a flashback mode, by taking us from Charlie's present life to his past and then brought us back to the present. Although Charlie is the focal point of the story, the reader gets to know all of the secondary characters through Charlie's eyes. I enjoyed reading about his friendships in high school, his return to Nashville in his late 20s, and his final departure from the life he knew but grew to despise. There's a lot to take in with this story, including:, class, racism, closeted homosexuality, mental illness, suicide, marital infidelity, affluenza/white privilege, love, the psychological toll of trying to be something and someone you're not, loyalty, and more. Mr. Tarkington has crafted a coming-of-age story that pulled this reader in from the first chapter until the very end. For those of you that actually enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby and are interested in a modern retelling, then I highly recommend The Fortunate Ones. For those that are like me and didn't exactly care for The Great Gatsby or didn't read it, I still encourage you to grab a copy of The Fortunate Ones to read. This is my first #mustread recommendation for the year, folks. Now, go grab yourself a copy!

Happy Reading, y'all!

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. This review posted on 01/05/2021 at http://thebookdivasreads.com ( )
  BookDivasReads | Jan 5, 2021 |
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"When young Charlie Boykin gains entry into the wealthy society of the most exclusive part of Nashville, he falls under its spell. But he soon learns what he'd have to give up in return in this novel that asks why we envy and worship a class of people that so often exhibits the worst excesses"--Provided by publisher.

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