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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Algonquin Books for including me in the blog tour of
Before starting The Fortunate Ones I knew almost nothing about the story, only that it is a modern, southern take on The Great Gatsby.
It’s not a retelling of Gatsby but I can definitely see the inspiration in some of the characters. This is a beautiful coming of age story, and reminded me a bit of Pat Conroy’s books.
This book follows Charlie, who lives with his mother, a waitress, in the working class section of Nashville. When he gets a scholarship to a prep school life changes in a big way for them both. I liked not knowing much about this when I read it so I will leave it there.
I can’t say enough good things about this one. Complicated families and friendships, sacrifices, and politics are explored in the most heartfelt way.
It’s not a retelling of Gatsby but I can definitely see the inspiration in some of the characters. This is a beautiful coming of age story, and reminded me a bit of Pat Conroy’s books.
This book follows Charlie, who lives with his mother, a waitress, in the working class section of Nashville. When he gets a scholarship to a prep school life changes in a big way for them both. I liked not knowing much about this when I read it so I will leave it there.
I can’t say enough good things about this one. Complicated families and friendships, sacrifices, and politics are explored in the most heartfelt way.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Abortion
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Charlie Boykin is a Casualty Notification officer in the Army meaning he’s the one who informs the loved ones of fallen service members, that they have completed their service with honor. He is at such a notification, when he notices on TV, that the charismatic Republican senator, Arch Creigh, has shot and killed himself. Charlie is shocked like the rest of the country, although for an entirely different reason: Charlie and Arch were classmates at an exclusive private school in Nashville, although Arch was the Golden boy and Charlie was the scholarship kid. As Charlie falls into the charismatic world of Belle Meade, he falls in line with the privileged set and helping the fated (Arch) to the top, despite Charlie’s own passion for Vanessa, Arch’s high school girlfriend. As Charlie is pulled deeper into the world, he must decide if he should choose wealth or morals. First of all, I really enjoyed the Charlie’s character. He was so insightful as to what was going on around him, even as he ignored the obvious signs of corruption. He was compassionate and full of angst, yet he was such a likable character for me to follow. I must admit, I really love the underbelly side of politics and Southern niceties as well. If you’re looking for a book that goes in depth about the ole boy network and the privileged set from the viewpoint of an outsider, be sure to pick this one up.
Cruised through the first half, then pretty much hated everybody in the book in part two. Did not care at all about what happened to any of them.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
The Fortunate Ones • Ed Tarkington
⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
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“I discovered that all our lives had been governed by a grand deception of which only I was unaware.”
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👍🏼 Thumbs Up:
Interesting retelling of a great gatsby-esque story. I liked the setting of Nashville!
•
👎🏻 Thumbs Down:
I did like it, it just didn’t hit home for me.
•
🤓 For Readers WHO:
Like literary contemporary fiction. Want a story that delves into issues of race and class.
•
👉🏼 This is what’s WHAT:
Charlie relives his childhood and the choices people in it have made when he discovers that the boy that helped shape him has died by suicide.
•
⏳WHEN I read this book:
I liked reading about the upper class of Nashville and how class plays into so many issues and life choices.
•
🚨WHERE you should watch out:
Suicide, abortion, stillbirth, addiction, alcoholism
•
📍WHY you should read this book:
If you’re interested in wealthy southern family sagas, this is for you.
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📚 HOW I read this book:
Checked out from my library
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes