tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post5885209322584152946..comments2024-03-28T12:15:28.620-07:00Comments on Coastal Horizons... <i>books, beaches, and backroad adventures</i>: The Great SantiniLeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08345657431432380804noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-34334590108647544772016-03-05T18:05:39.415-08:002016-03-05T18:05:39.415-08:00We've lost our genius. Pat Conroy is gone. I...We've lost our genius. Pat Conroy is gone. In his memory I just re-read Chapter 20 of Santini, as Ben makes his Ravenel HS basketball team and recalls his Little League coach, Dave Murphy. In the aftermath of Conroy's death, that chapter is emotionally devastating. <br /><br />In this sad moment I am reminded that conroy wrote and delivered superb eulogies for his father, for the inimitable James Dickey and for Pulitzer winning cartoonist and novelist Doug Marlette.<br /><br />Who will write the eulogy for Son of Santini? No one is equal to that task for no one wrote a eulogy as did he.<br /><br />[Posted by Stephen Wright]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-91138076234784261942011-02-27T09:57:20.109-08:002011-02-27T09:57:20.109-08:00One thing I wanted to add about Conroy. Before yo...One thing I wanted to add about Conroy. Before you criticize Conroy's dad, The Great Snatini, fairness requires that you first read Pat Conroy's eulogy for his father. It's on the net here:<br /><br />http://www.usna63.org/tradition/history/Eulogy_Conroy.html<br /><br />I can't read it with a dry eye.Stephen Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-28215419501294517212011-02-27T09:37:44.552-08:002011-02-27T09:37:44.552-08:00Pat Conroy is a national treasure.
And, as anothe...Pat Conroy is a national treasure.<br /><br />And, as another poster said, he definitely evolved over time. I've read all he has published (though I'm only now finishing My Reading Life as I type this). His first, The Boo, written while still in his early 20s, is rudimentary and rough. The boy author then is just finding his legs or, more appropriately, his voice. South of Broad, his latest fiction, surpasses even Beach Music. It is a masterpiece.<br /><br />Santini is early in his career, but the genius is poking unmistakably through its pages. And, the Coach Dave Murphy story, was my inspiration for a 20 year career as an after hours, youth sports coach.<br /><br />God bless Pat Conroy, and thank you, God, for putting his voice in my life.Stephen Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-22763786808799482642007-09-08T07:20:00.000-07:002007-09-08T07:20:00.000-07:00Stephanie - I'd still like to read his Cider House...Stephanie - I'd still like to read his Cider House Rules. I've heard great things about it AND I loved the movie.Leshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08345657431432380804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-2044783849365987372007-09-06T19:10:00.000-07:002007-09-06T19:10:00.000-07:00Funny, A Prayer for Owen Meany was the only John I...Funny, A Prayer for Owen Meany was the only John Irving book I've ever read, but also one of the most memorable books I have read. <BR/>Stephanie<BR/>thewrittenword.wordpress.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-19655863594823636922007-08-29T14:32:00.000-07:002007-08-29T14:32:00.000-07:00Kay - I think you'd really enjoy Beach Music. If y...Kay - I think you'd really enjoy Beach Music. If you only read one by Conroy, this is the one!<BR/><BR/>SuziQ - Maybe we should have a Re-Read Challenge! Probably wouldn't have very many people signing up, though. Too many books to read for the first time to dedicate a whole month to re-reading. Like you, I'm interested in The Prince of Tides, especially since I enjoyed the movie (great setting!). "Someday" is right.<BR/><BR/>Stephanie - Isn't it odd that so many of us have read and loved Beach Music, but haven't tried his others. I almost feel that way about John Irving. I loved A Prayer for Owen Meany, but haven't tried any of his others. <BR/><BR/>Nan - I don't know. It might just depress them even more!<BR/><BR/>JMC - I wondered if Conroy's matured as a writer over the years. I think I'll still give The Prince of Tides a try someday. And, yes, I will eventually re-read Beach Music. Now that I know the story, I can enjoy the writing even more<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by with your comment!<BR/><BR/>Katya - I'll probably read The Prince of Tides, but The Lords of Discipline doesn't really appeal to me. But I never say never!Leshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08345657431432380804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-57913356323245799532007-08-28T14:18:00.000-07:002007-08-28T14:18:00.000-07:00My favorite Pat Conroy novels are The Prince of Ti...My favorite Pat Conroy novels are The Prince of Tides (PLEASE, if you've seen the movie, don't judge the book by it) and The Lords of Discipline.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12066257241391122732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-77395180111129823752007-08-27T08:28:00.000-07:002007-08-27T08:28:00.000-07:00Go ahead and read Beach Music again. It does not ...Go ahead and read Beach Music again. It does not lose anything the second time around. It is <A HREF="http://4weddingsandafuneral.blogspot.com/2007/06/beach-music.html" REL="nofollow">my favorite book ever</A>. I have read Conroy's other books. I thought each one was better than his previous one. So he definitely evolved. Beach Music is the only one I've read a second time, though I'd possibly consider re-reading The Prince of Tides.emailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03653316423608779303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-51364681791822289812007-08-27T07:55:00.000-07:002007-08-27T07:55:00.000-07:00Your review is exactly why I never wanted to read ...Your review is exactly why I never wanted to read it or see the movie. Everyone has either had bully or drunk fathers, or known friends who had them. So I sure don't need to read about them. Maybe this book would help someone who was trying to work through their own father's behavior or disapproval.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-52612323521820755182007-08-27T03:39:00.000-07:002007-08-27T03:39:00.000-07:00Apparently it is a trend to read only Beach Music ...Apparently it is a trend to read only Beach Music and then no other Conroy book. I too adored Beach Music and have recommended it many times, yet I haven't ever picked up another Conroy novel. Weird! Hmmm, maybe I should just re-read Beach Music!<BR/>Stephanie<BR/>thewrittenword.wordpress.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-53528492928230513112007-08-26T16:38:00.000-07:002007-08-26T16:38:00.000-07:00Oh - I adored Beach Music and like you, it's on my...Oh - I adored Beach Music and like you, it's on my all time favorites list. I keep saying I want to re-read it, and still might. It's the only Conroy book I've read. I've never been that interested in The Great Santini, but maybe Prince of Tides . . . someday.SuziQoregonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15552565982732943323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22415234.post-4744413772340082542007-08-26T14:54:00.000-07:002007-08-26T14:54:00.000-07:00I have meant to read Beach Music for a long, long ...I have meant to read Beach Music for a long, long time. Probably since you read it and raved about it. Ha! Isn't it funny how we will do this with writers? Read one book, love it and then wait a long time or maybe forever before we read another. It goes back to what my book group and I were discussing about certain writers and or maybe a lot of writer having one perfect story in them. Doesn't mean they don't write other books but there is that "one perfect story" in them. Something to think about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com