Guest Book

I'm currently reading "The Water is Wide." This is the first book I've read by Pat Conroy.

Next year will be a decade since Pat Conroy left us here on planet Earth. I miss knowing he is not among us in the physical sense. I would love to be reading many more of his words. He knew, more exquisitely and exactly than any writer I have ever read,, how to put them together in a way that moved readers so that we will never forget the stories he told. Thankful for this man, his writing, his legacy and that I can pull from my bookshelves at will and read his creations again and again.

Currenty writing a column about the upcoming 9th annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival that will be featured in The Bluffton Sun and Hilton Head Sun...lest we forget the powerful force he was in the literary world and his generosity and sharing with other writers.

Thank you for this space to express my thoughts, however belated they are. I discovered this site today, 10/6/2024.

Along time ago I got to know Pat Conroy very well under unusual circumstances to say the least. I was a domestic relations lawyer in Tucson, Arizona. Pat was then married to my client's ex-wife. The parties to this set-to had two children, and without getting technical we had a two-week battle in Superior Court over jurisdiction of the custody question. Would it be in Arizona or Georgia? Pat had taken to writing my client (a brain surgeon) the nastiest, funniest well written letters describing in great detail the moral, physical, paternal and other faults of my client, some of which I did not know a person could have. All those letters came into evidence, and I got to cross-examine Pat for two days about each of them. the letters were only partially relevant to the legal questions, but the judge gave me wide latitude to go into them. I am now convinced the judge was as curious about the workings of Pat's mind as everyone else in that courtroom. With only a minor toot of my own horn I did not let Pat get the best of me. I was well taught in the art of cross by my father and other trial lawyers before I examined Pat. It did not matter. Pat came across as the brilliant man he was, with emphasis on his wicked and wonderful sense of humor. I felt sorry for my client. Deep down he knew that much of what Pat said about him in the letters was true. Later on, I ran into Pat at an airport and we talked about the case over cocktails. I told him how much I enjoyed the encounter and he said that he did, too. His parting remark to me, with a twinkle in his eye was that I should be thankful he never had the opportunity or inclination to examine my faults...
Amen to that. I miss him.

I have loved Pat Conroy’s books since the early 70’s. My first book was “Lords of Discipline “. At that time I was a young wife and mother to 4 boys under 5 years of age. The book grabbed my every thought. I couldn’t believe they were doing these things to each other. Reading about the”7” was mind blowing. What really had me going was our dear friend had graduated from The Citadel and confirmed that there was always a rumor of its existence.

But, when I started the “Prince of Tides” my world was truly transformed into the reading of words that sounded like poetry. The complete book is like that for me.

Pat Conroy is truly my favorite author.

I’ve loved the words of Pat Conroy since I can first remember reading. As a native South Carolinian, daughter of a Marine, and a career HS English teacher who also has suicide & mental illness in my family, I was drawn to him, his beauty of language, love of the South and sports. I remember he came to The Happy Bookseller to sign autographs, and I taught next door but couldn’t get away to wait in line, so a good friend and coworker did it for me, and I have his wonderful autograph “To Candi Pat Conroy.” It’s one of my most prized possessions. His novels speak to me like no other, and I’m humbled when I read his words.

I stumbled across The Prince of Tides not too long ago. I found the writing fascinating.

Recently I found South of Broad. Oh my goodness! Fabulous! At the top of my list now for sure.

"A smile starts in the toes. Plant your feet firmly. Let it rise through your legs. Put your groin into it. Let it ride up your spine like a train. Let it shine like fox-fire in your mouth and teeth. Flash it! Now there's a smile. Feel it. Show it. Mean it."

I love this so much. Words to live by.

I would love to have met Mr. Pat Conroy. Rest in Peace Sir.

Wonderful man; wonderful writer; wonderful writing. I fell in love with the voice and character of the person who wrote The Water is Wide, and I loved the two other books I read, ignoring SOME literary criticism that did not appreciate the soaring skill it took to put these stories on paper where readers from all walks could find them and become immersed in and make them a part of our lives.
So sorry such a good man left us so soon. I would love to have managed to attend a reading with The Actual Pat Conroy.
Well, such is not to be. To all who knew him and loved him and were loved by him, good on you guys …

Pat Conroy is my favorite writer! The Prince of Tides is my favorite book of all time, I reread it every few years. This was the book that made me a true reader. I do love all of his books. I really enjoyed the time when he came to our area for a discussion about his books and the movies that were made from his books. He introduced the book and movie, then we would watch the movie. It was a great full weekend enjoying the movies and hearing all the details he gave about writing the books. He was so personable and interesting. I often think of how enjoyable that was, and how much I learned about him personally! Thanks for this space! He left us too soon!

https://youtu.be/_wEEHAcARqs?si=yUJkUohuAn7xkF_M

Pat Conroy on the game show "To Tell the Truth"