Fortunate Son: A Novel

Walter Mosley
Back Bay Books (2007)
ISBN 9780316066280
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (9/07)

“Fortunate Son” is the story of Thomas Beerman and Eric Nolan.  Branwyn Beerman, a single black mother, meets Dr. Minas Nolan, a recent widower, at a Los Angeles hospital while visiting and watching over her newborn son. Born with a hole in his lung, baby Thomas is confined to live in a plastic bubble.

Nolan’s wife died immediately following the delivery of her son Eric, who was a week younger than Thomas. Attracted to Branwyn, Minas invites her to his home to help provide care for her young frail infant, Thomas. When Branwyn takes blonde, blue-eyed baby Eric into her arms, he is drawn to her. In the absence of his birthmother’s love, Eric soon identifies Branwyn as his mother. He also learns to love Thomas as a brother. Thomas is sensitive and thoughtful, Eric, bright and gifted. Their personalities, gifts, and interests are a paradox, yet they have a unique bonding. As the years pass their relationship continues to grow. 

Although living as lovers, Minas and Branwyn, do not marry. Young Eric becomes very ill.  While nursing him back to health, Branwyn contacts the disease and within days becomes critically ill and dies. The boys are separated. Thomas is sent to live with his father in a rundown neighborhood in Los Angeles.

As the years go by Eric excels in his studies and in sports. As a senior in high school, at age sixteen, he becomes a father. The baby’s mother Raela is the stepdaughter of billionaire Kronin Stark. Problems of loyalty arise as Raela is still in another unresolved relationship.

Sickly and small, Thomas is ridiculed, then, attacked on his way home from school.  Soon he drops out of school and spends his days in an alleyway near his father’s rented house.  As a nine-year-old he is drawn into delivering for a gang leader and drug pusher. At the scene of a gang-related drug bust and police shootout, Thomas is apprehended and taken into custody.  After being transferred to an honor facility, Thomas walks and begins life as a street person.

Reunited after 10 years, Eric and Thomas are bonded together again as siblings.  Together, as they try to rebuild their lives they seek answers to a search for meaning, they are drawn into fast-paced action that keeps the reader turning pages to the surprising climax and concluding chapter.

Walter Mosely uses the novel “Fortunate Son” to address issues of corruption, injustice, destiny versus luck, self acceptance, racial tension, violence, and love.  His work is earthy, provocative, and complex.

I experienced the pathos of sadness and exhilaration of joy as I related to the challenges of the human spirit in overcoming the difficult circumstances faced by each of the core characters of this dramatic narrative.

I found Walter Moseley’s writing in “Fortunate Son” to be unforgettable, disturbing, and penetrating. Superb writing! Great reading!

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