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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Charlie Boykin didn’t have an easy start in life: the son of an unwed teenage mother and a father who died in Vietnam before Charlie’s birth, Charlie grew up in a seedy Nashville neighborhood where his mother waited tables to make ends meet. Charlie’s fortunes change when he is admitted as a scholarship student to an elite private school, where a popular upperclassmen named Archer Creigh takes Charlie under his wing. It isn’t long before Charlie has fallen under the spell of his benefactors, drawn in by the wealth, the prestige, and the cavalier disregard for the rules. Though a perpetual outsider, Charlie gradually merges with his new peers, willingly overlooking the hypocrisy, pride, and deceit all around him in exchange for a life of ease. One fateful night, when Charlie is on the cusp of adulthood, he discovers that much of his new life was built on a lie. He knows he no longer desires a place among Nashville’s fortunate ones, but Charlie has changed too much to return to the life he once knew.
The story is told in retrospect, with a much older Charlie reflecting on his earliest experiences with the Nashville elite—who he knew them to be at the time, how he was shaped by his teen years among their set, and how he has evolved in the decades since Arch first captured his attention. The narration is an odd blend of pragmatic and wistful, with a stoic recounting of the story interrupted by profound insights gained over years of introspection.
I don’t know that I would have picked up on the Great Gatsby parallels if they weren’t referenced in the jacket copy; after being made aware of them, I could see connections to Gatsby, but more in the novel’s structure and themes than in the story itself. Like The Great Gatsby, this is a book about rich people acting badly, centering on the juxtaposition of frivolity and tragedy, the nuances and misperceptions involved in class and privilege, and the ways that these issues intersect with politics, art, family, psychology, and identity. The book’s tone is haunting, a hazy portrait of unsavory society life examined through the laser-sharp eyes of one almost-insider who somehow made his way out.
I can’t say that I enjoyed this book, but I was deeply impressed with it for both the writing stye and the poignant thematic elements. It’s an engaging read that goes down deceptively easily until one pauses to reflect on the novel’s undercurrents of power dynamics and woundedness (masquerading as pride) in the stories beneath the story. The characters are recognizable and relatable, if not always likable, and I wanted to root for them even when I couldn’t quite bring myself to do so.
I was most intrigued by the storyline dealing with a mayoral election and was fascinated and appalled by the fraternizing, scheming, and corruption involved—all elements of the political world I wish were not true, but believe they are; the book helped me understand how such political underhandedness is deemed permissible by some, and why issues of privilege, race, culture, and history play into the modern political landscape in ways that are inexcusable but largely unavoidable.
I wanted something different from the book’s pacing, and hated the decade leaps. The ending was satisfying, though very sad—which really is the only possible end for such a tragic story, though there were some redemptive elements. I would also give the book a 8-line edit if I could. Overall, I found this to be a compulsive read that left me with much to think about.
My Rating: 4 Stars.
The story is told in retrospect, with a much older Charlie reflecting on his earliest experiences with the Nashville elite—who he knew them to be at the time, how he was shaped by his teen years among their set, and how he has evolved in the decades since Arch first captured his attention. The narration is an odd blend of pragmatic and wistful, with a stoic recounting of the story interrupted by profound insights gained over years of introspection.
I don’t know that I would have picked up on the Great Gatsby parallels if they weren’t referenced in the jacket copy; after being made aware of them, I could see connections to Gatsby, but more in the novel’s structure and themes than in the story itself. Like The Great Gatsby, this is a book about rich people acting badly, centering on the juxtaposition of frivolity and tragedy, the nuances and misperceptions involved in class and privilege, and the ways that these issues intersect with politics, art, family, psychology, and identity. The book’s tone is haunting, a hazy portrait of unsavory society life examined through the laser-sharp eyes of one almost-insider who somehow made his way out.
I can’t say that I enjoyed this book, but I was deeply impressed with it for both the writing stye and the poignant thematic elements. It’s an engaging read that goes down deceptively easily until one pauses to reflect on the novel’s undercurrents of power dynamics and woundedness (masquerading as pride) in the stories beneath the story. The characters are recognizable and relatable, if not always likable, and I wanted to root for them even when I couldn’t quite bring myself to do so.
I was most intrigued by the storyline dealing with a mayoral election and was fascinated and appalled by the fraternizing, scheming, and corruption involved—all elements of the political world I wish were not true, but believe they are; the book helped me understand how such political underhandedness is deemed permissible by some, and why issues of privilege, race, culture, and history play into the modern political landscape in ways that are inexcusable but largely unavoidable.
I wanted something different from the book’s pacing, and hated the decade leaps. The ending was satisfying, though very sad—which really is the only possible end for such a tragic story, though there were some redemptive elements. I would also give the book a 8-line edit if I could. Overall, I found this to be a compulsive read that left me with much to think about.
My Rating: 4 Stars.
fast-paced
I received an unsolicited ARC of this book through Edelweiss.
First, I just have to say that the narrator is in the military in the opening to the book, then it goes back in time, and I kept waiting for him to join the military, and it's not really part of the book. So if you form that expectation, you should let it go. It will just frustrate you. "Is this when he gets sick of everyone's shit and joins the military?" was a constant refrain. I'm not actually certain why we have to learn that he is in the military and particularly good at notifying families since that just sets up him seeing the news of his old school friend's death on TV and serves no other purpose in the book that I can tell. It seems like a lot of set-up, but I've never written a book.
Anyway, I enjoyed this book of a boy from the wrong side of the tracks experiencing a change in fortune that allow him to go to prep school and becoming part of that world and his journey. It's personable but salacious.
First, I just have to say that the narrator is in the military in the opening to the book, then it goes back in time, and I kept waiting for him to join the military, and it's not really part of the book. So if you form that expectation, you should let it go. It will just frustrate you. "Is this when he gets sick of everyone's shit and joins the military?" was a constant refrain. I'm not actually certain why we have to learn that he is in the military and particularly good at notifying families since that just sets up him seeing the news of his old school friend's death on TV and serves no other purpose in the book that I can tell. It seems like a lot of set-up, but I've never written a book.
Anyway, I enjoyed this book of a boy from the wrong side of the tracks experiencing a change in fortune that allow him to go to prep school and becoming part of that world and his journey. It's personable but salacious.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed it. Would I compare it to The Great Gatsby or the writing of Pat Conroy? Only if I knew you’d never read either one and I wanted to sound smart.
But i was involved enough in the characters and compelled to find out the ‘why’ of it all (could been a number of things!) I’m a sucker for a novel set in the south or in a private school... gimme both and I’m predisposed to enjoy myself
But i was involved enough in the characters and compelled to find out the ‘why’ of it all (could been a number of things!) I’m a sucker for a novel set in the south or in a private school... gimme both and I’m predisposed to enjoy myself
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"No one, however exceptional, transcends the bitter fact of his humanity. Like the man says in that old book they made us read back in senior year: 'There's always something.' And no great temple was ever built without a few bodies buried beneath its foundation."
The Fortunate Ones is the story of Charlie Boykin, who was born to a teenage single mother and grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in Nashville. When he ends up at a prestigious prep school, his life becomes intertwined with his wealthy classmates', changing him forever. Arch is the charismatic popular kid who adopts Charlie as his little brother, Jamie is the fuck up who Charlie takes care of and Vanessa, Jamie's twin sister and Arch's girlfriend, is the one Charlie wishes was his. They are the titular "fortunate ones" but as they all come to learn, buried bodies always find a way to reveal themselves.
I could not put this book down. Like one of the classics from Fitzgerald or Hemingway, it's a story of wealth and privilege, of friendship and love, of the fall of heroes and the loss of innocence. Tarkington has created a brilliant cast of flawed and believable characters and his examination of Southern tradition, society and politics provides a juicy look at how the old boys network gets things done. The Fortunate Ones is truly a character study - there's not a lot of action - but Charlie and his friends are well worth your time.
4.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley, Algonquin Books and the author for an advanced copy to review.
The Fortunate Ones is the story of Charlie Boykin, who was born to a teenage single mother and grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in Nashville. When he ends up at a prestigious prep school, his life becomes intertwined with his wealthy classmates', changing him forever. Arch is the charismatic popular kid who adopts Charlie as his little brother, Jamie is the fuck up who Charlie takes care of and Vanessa, Jamie's twin sister and Arch's girlfriend, is the one Charlie wishes was his. They are the titular "fortunate ones" but as they all come to learn, buried bodies always find a way to reveal themselves.
I could not put this book down. Like one of the classics from Fitzgerald or Hemingway, it's a story of wealth and privilege, of friendship and love, of the fall of heroes and the loss of innocence. Tarkington has created a brilliant cast of flawed and believable characters and his examination of Southern tradition, society and politics provides a juicy look at how the old boys network gets things done. The Fortunate Ones is truly a character study - there's not a lot of action - but Charlie and his friends are well worth your time.
4.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley, Algonquin Books and the author for an advanced copy to review.
The 4 and 5 star reviews were the reason I read this. It started out ok and then just became a disjointed tale of really no consequence.
This novel was the epitome of telling over showing. I can’t even believe it was published, a college student could do better.
It is nothing like The Great Gatsby, not in any possible way.
The characters were completely one-dimensional and just like cardboard cutouts.
The narrator is so uninspiring and the author writes contradictory prose on the same page so that several things make absolutely no sense. But they are of no consequence anyway.
This book seems to be going somewhere but it does not. The story and writing are herky-jerky.
If, however, you want to read about someone smoking over and over again, you might like it.
This novel was the epitome of telling over showing. I can’t even believe it was published, a college student could do better.
It is nothing like The Great Gatsby, not in any possible way.
The characters were completely one-dimensional and just like cardboard cutouts.
The narrator is so uninspiring and the author writes contradictory prose on the same page so that several things make absolutely no sense. But they are of no consequence anyway.
This book seems to be going somewhere but it does not. The story and writing are herky-jerky.
If, however, you want to read about someone smoking over and over again, you might like it.
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes