Welcome to Litsy!

Charlie gets the chance to grow up among Tennessee‘s upperclass. Suddenly there are choices and possibilities everywhere. His new lifestyle is far from my reality, yet these wealthy Republican characters felt so real to me. Their struggles felt true, their lies and truths, their sorrow. I really loved spending time with them, as unlikable as they often were.

I have mixed feelings about this one. The rich man poor man theme was a bit cliched. The main character was a bit of a wimp. But I was interested in the story and whipped through it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️s

I‘m off to a slow start this month. Working on my #bookspin. Good so far. #BookSpin #DoubleSpin

#NewYearWhoDis

When the Goodreads summary said “for fans of Succession and the White Lotus”…yup, sign me up! This is a coming of age story of a character with humble beginnings finding himself in a world of extreme wealth and privilege. It displays the contrast between his old life and his new one in a way that is very apparent (and at times uncomfortable) to the reader but to which our narrator is largely ignorant of himself. Enjoyed this one!

There is just something about how Ed Tarkington writes that I love. His earlier book I also enjoyed.

Charlie Boykin comes from a poor, single parent family. He ends getting a scholarship into an elite private school. A bit of a coming of age story but also a story about wealth, class, friendships, loyalties, and family. At times this book made me frustrated with some of the characters but in a good way because that‘s how life works.

I am officially an Ed Tarkington fan as he is 2 for 2 with me. I wish he had fleshed the back half out just a bit more but this is a great meditation on class, facades, and belonging. 4 ⭐️

I liked The Fortunate Ones, but it wasn‘t as powerful or unique as I had hoped. It is, however, beautifully written and the author completely humanizes his characters, never making them wholly good or bad. While I never found myself disengaged from the narrative, I did seem to enjoy the first half more than the second half.

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3685583851

3.5⭐️ || I enjoyed this one... I was drawn in from the very beginning. This is my #DoubleSpin for May!

Definitely recommend this book, and it‘s a great price in the US today! (I read the audiobook, which was excellent.) #kindledeals

SUPER SALE ALERT! I‘ve seen great reviews for this from several trusted littens.

A good book and sunshine! ☀️ Doesn‘t get much better than that!

This is one of those books I can‘t be objective about. The school it‘s loosely based on, sits at the end of my street. There were so many characters based on real-life Tennesseans, it frequently distracted me (not always in a bad way) from the fictional narrative. Has this ever influenced your read of a local author? Curious if anyone outside Nashville has read this one, and what they thought.

I love a good ole #SouthernSaga and this one did not disappoint.
This was my second book by Ed Tarkington and it was just as memorable. The author clearly knows his setting, people and community. He writes from both the male & female viewpoint with authenticity and believability. Loved the narration 🎧

#AudioBaking Book is 🙌🏻 @Cathythoughts @Kalalalatja @Megabooks and you‘re so right, Meg ... narration is wonderful 🎧♥️ “The truth is hidden, but nothing is more beautiful than the truth.”

High expectations @Megabooks @Kalalalatja @Cathythoughts 💗💗💗🎧

Excellent first half with that Gatsby-esque feeling I was expecting, complicated by the emotions of a kid coming of age as a complete outsider after being dropped into a private school. The second half felt somewhat rushed with a rather abrupt ending that didn't tie into the opening of the book. I didn't quite make all the connections I think I was supposed to make, which took away from things.

Book 2/5 finished for #FabulousFebruary

Excellent read, from the beginning 👌🏻.. and in the main part of the book I was waiting for answers about our MC .. how his life panned out. Death & grief a theme , and all the life stories of the characters are well developed... compared to a modern Great Gatsby ( need to read Gatsby again) ... beautifully written.
Thankyou @Megabooks @Kalalalatja I‘m grateful for your recommendations ! I really enjoyed this one ❤️

I really enjoyed this one—a Gatsby-esque story of affluent young men in the late 20th/early 21st century South. Pretty political, if you like that sort of thing.

Just finished this, and I‘m not sure I can write a better review than @Megabooks so find that. Then find the book. Then read it. Prepare to feel 💔

#Booked2021 - #newin2021
#Pop21 - A book you think your friend would like ( @Cinfhen )

The Fortunate Ones is a fathoms-deep exploration of love, loyalty, and the ties that bind, written masterfully from all angles. It‘s a laser-sharp look at the underbelly of power and privilege‘s repercussions as told through the power of story.

This plot felt a little tired to me...way too predictable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

Full review at https://erinkonrad.com/2021/01/09/the-fortunate-ones-book-review/

I‘m rolling this book over and over in my mind like a worry stone. This is not your typical rags-to-riches story. Charlie is so complicated. He‘s the son of a young single mother and a father who died in Vietnam. When a local businessman pulls Charlie and his mom from a bad neighborhood and enrolls Charlie in an elite private school his life gets financially easier but emotionally more complex. This book is littered with amazing characters ⬇️⬇️

Got my first #ShelfSubscription yesterday and my second one today! The first was in transit for 5 weeks. Both are books I had on my radar. #Anniepicks #bookshelftville #bookmailisthebestmail

Picked this new release up on audio today. 🎧😊💖 I LOVED Only Love Can Break Your Heart. I‘ve been alternating it with The Warmth of Other Suns.

This was a five star read for me. This author writes such a beautiful narrative.

http://obsessedbookaholic.com/2020/12/12/the-fortunate-ones-book-review/

I was completely captivated by this book. The prologue grabbed me when Charlie Boykin, an Army soldier, is stunned to learn of the suicide of a prominent Southern senator, a senator he knew well. I immediately wondered what the connection was between the two men.

The superb writing flowed beautifully with no hiccups to disrupt the stream of the story. Tarkington really brought his characters to life.

Picked this up because I enjoyed the author‘s memoir. This is his debut novel and it‘s awesome. A plot driven story of family and privilege. #ARC #Edelweiss