Pat very much enjoyed hearing from his readers and was often moved and inspired by your comments.
As you know, Pat Conroy died on March 4, 2016. This site continues to be managed by his longtime friends and literary agents. You may join in a community of his readers by sharing your comments about Pat’s books or anything else that comes to mind in this guest book. We, the family, the agents and the friends are deeply moved by the outpouring of love you, his beloved readers, wrote here… Much gratitude to you all; Thank you.
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150 entries.
It is with much interest that I read the entries from the many fans of Pat Conroy ( I almost feel I should refer to him as “just Pat” because of the closeness I feel about his life, his tragedies, his joys...) He is to me a cherished friend.
I just finished my second reading of The Prince of Tides after first reading it in the early ‘90’s. I am envious of the readers who comment on discovering Pat for the first time, whether it be The Water is Wide, The Great Santini or The Prince of Tides because I recall the joy I had in reading a new book by Pat. I have read them all and now that I have reread The Water is Wide and The Prince of Tides I have discovered that the experience of rereading them is as joyful , thought provoking and emotional as the first time I read each of his works.
Like the first two pages of The Great Gatsby, I find Pat’s beautiful introductory pages of The Prince of Tides to be some of the most enduring poetic prose that I have ever read. I immediately wanted to visit the low country of his novels to immerse myself in the beauty of the land he wrote of with so much love and devotion.
Onwards to my return to Beach Music!!!
I just finished my second reading of The Prince of Tides after first reading it in the early ‘90’s. I am envious of the readers who comment on discovering Pat for the first time, whether it be The Water is Wide, The Great Santini or The Prince of Tides because I recall the joy I had in reading a new book by Pat. I have read them all and now that I have reread The Water is Wide and The Prince of Tides I have discovered that the experience of rereading them is as joyful , thought provoking and emotional as the first time I read each of his works.
Like the first two pages of The Great Gatsby, I find Pat’s beautiful introductory pages of The Prince of Tides to be some of the most enduring poetic prose that I have ever read. I immediately wanted to visit the low country of his novels to immerse myself in the beauty of the land he wrote of with so much love and devotion.
Onwards to my return to Beach Music!!!
I’ve read many of Pat’s books over the years, Prince of Tides being my favourite. I am in the process of planning a trip to Charleston, Beaufort and Savannah for the end of March so I decided to reread Prince of Tides to prepare myself for the trip. I have only a few pages left and I can’t describe how much this book has touched me in so many ways. I am so looking forward to finally seeing the Lowcountry and I will certainly drop by the Pat Conroy center while in Beaufort. Thank goodness for writers like Pat Conroy!
Thank you Pat! With tears in my eyes and a full heart, I write this as a fellow Marine Corps Brat! My dad was… almost a duplicate copy of yours, but by the Grace of God I learned to love him and the Corps sadly long after I left that life. As with The Great Santini… it wasn’t always bad and there are many times I look back and appreciate what the Marine Corps taught me… lessons learned.
I just finished My Losing Season and it touched my heart. It was given to me by a cheating spouse 20 years ago as she was leaving me but I didn’t have the courage to read it until this year.
I guess I finally got over her. Thanks to you Pat Conroy
I guess I finally got over her. Thanks to you Pat Conroy
A year or so ago, I read/listened to "My losing season", it was by accident and it was no accident that I was instantly captured by the beautiful way that this writer this artist, Pat Conroy wove his stories. The smooth butter of his words made them so easy to be consumed. I found myself numerous times shaking my head at the beauty of his lyrics. As one whom listens to audio books as I drive, I decided to purchase "South of Broad" right before Christmas. It was fortunate it arrived the morning the day I would be leaving... then well, it had me at and took me too "the mansion on the river" and I never turned around. I so love it when we are introduced to places and characters so vivid and colorful that they are a joy to visualize in our minds eye... and thogh they only truly exist in the words of a gifted writer, we find ourselves giving them, these words on paper, personalities of flesh and bone. With that, those visualizations, we become voyeurs to their journeys...
When I think about it, getting lost in one of Pats books is kind of like going on a vacation... a journey of new friends and the excitement, drama, etc that they bring with them on every word, every page, but then... as in life everything that has a beginning must also have an end... you start to fear the final pages... and so it is that as those pages do dwindle down, the realization it will soon be over and everything must go back to your normal... so it is that with that last page... that last line, you find yourself knowing, that you will be missing those words of flesh and bone that you came to know and the moments you shared in the pages you left behind.
When I think about it, getting lost in one of Pats books is kind of like going on a vacation... a journey of new friends and the excitement, drama, etc that they bring with them on every word, every page, but then... as in life everything that has a beginning must also have an end... you start to fear the final pages... and so it is that as those pages do dwindle down, the realization it will soon be over and everything must go back to your normal... so it is that with that last page... that last line, you find yourself knowing, that you will be missing those words of flesh and bone that you came to know and the moments you shared in the pages you left behind.
Thank you for the great work. I have always loved your books. RIP sir.
Just read South of Broad. I have no idea where I picked it up or how long it has been with me. Maybe from a thrift store haul, possibly a little free library or a take one bookshelf at the USO. What a find. I have for about 5 years I think, had trouble reading and focusing on a story. It was a new sad thing, the inability to escape while turning pages. This got me from the start. And kept me all in until the end. What a beautiful medley of people, time, place and spirit. Thank you Mr. Conroy.
I am a new Pat Conroy fan! I have read 3 of his books since August 2022 and can't wait to read them all. I know that a book is good when I highlight parts of the book that really speak to me. This is so with Pat's books. What a gift to us all. Thank you!
Today I received an ask for the Conroy library. I told my wife, the bookkeeper in our house, to send a donation. She asked why. The only answer I could give her was that Pat had entertained, enlightened, and shared so much through his writings that I wanted to be sure there was a place like it for others to learn and and immerse themselves in the joy and pain of his works.
The Citadel ‘67
The Citadel ‘67
As the famous quote says, “we read to know we’re not alone” and Pat Conroy’s work has done that for me since I was a teenager. I first read Prince of Tides when I was 13; it was the first time I received real validation that, yes, parts of my home life felt similar to Tom’s. I love how Pat’s perspective was so aware of racism, classism, and mental illness and how these themes come out so clearly in his books. As a former English teacher, I love how he captures the lifeline between bright students and their teachers.
To this day, my college best friend and I use lines from Prince of Tides as our own personal sound off.
Pat draws you effortlessly into his world and into his heart.
Thank you so much for keeping this badass gentleman’s legacy alive.
To this day, my college best friend and I use lines from Prince of Tides as our own personal sound off.
Pat draws you effortlessly into his world and into his heart.
Thank you so much for keeping this badass gentleman’s legacy alive.
I adore Mr Conroy's writings. I first fell in love with his books when I read Prince of Tides a very long time ago. The way he describes everything from the look, smell and feel of the water to his delicious way of explaining emotions from grief, and fear to anger and the heartbreak of love.
Thank you so very much.
Thank you so very much.
I suggested Prince of Tides for my book club discussion tonight. It was on a list of 25 books to read before you die :). I had only missed this and two others. WHERE HAD I BEEN!? Wonderful and I am doing my research to lead the discussion tonight as the movie plays in the background. The Water is Wide will be my next read. THANK YOU!
I discovered how reading can change your life in high school. In 1981 I was lonely after my mom died when I was 15, she was an Italian immigrant and moved to America when she was 11. She was reading the John Jakes series and I lived in a beautiful strict ethnic home. I picked up one of her books and I was hooked on reading. It taught me to enjoy to read, my English was good but my mom always used Italian words so I thought English was a combination of both English and Italian as I grew up. I discovered Pat Conroy when I was in college and it changed the way I thought about things. He was the first author that I ever read which was capable of saying an entire paragraphs worth the words in one sentence his writing is flawless beautiful and moving. I’ve read his books over and over again. His writing style makes me think about how I write emails and messages and how to be a better writer in person.
Thanks Pat for teaching me, first generation immigrant and how to communicate better. Also, I loved your books when your characters were in Italy, beautifully written with such incredible detail. Thank you Pat, I think we’d be great friends.
Thanks Pat for teaching me, first generation immigrant and how to communicate better. Also, I loved your books when your characters were in Italy, beautifully written with such incredible detail. Thank you Pat, I think we’d be great friends.
At the age of 73, I have found Pat Conroy's books. I almost finished Beach Music and I love it. Every character comes alive. His writing is so clear and so wonderfully descriptive. It is with sadness that I have discovered that he has passed on. With thanks, from Olivia in Australia.
Can’t stop reading Mr. Conroy’s novels. I found him in my 30’s. 40 years later, his books still touch my heart.
My mom passed away in 2013. She had just turned 61 and she and dad had just celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary. Mom was a true southern belle. Raised in a loving home, full of family who dined on good grace, good faith, collard greens and home-made fried chicken. Mom was a proud southerner, educated, sophisticated, very much a Scarlet O'hare but without the pouty tude! Mom loved to read, and she was a huge advocate for supporting the small, local book stores that centered the old town square in historic southern towns.
One of her favorite stores was SQUARE BOOKS in the heart of college town (Ole Miss) Oxford, Mississippi. She bought several of Mr. Conroy's books from Square Books and introduced me to one of my now favorite authors in my personal reading life. Coincidentally, I just read MY READING LIFE, and laughed at the title as it is so perfectly applicable ~ Thank you Mr. Conroy for loving the south, and for loving the songbird of literature~
One of her favorite stores was SQUARE BOOKS in the heart of college town (Ole Miss) Oxford, Mississippi. She bought several of Mr. Conroy's books from Square Books and introduced me to one of my now favorite authors in my personal reading life. Coincidentally, I just read MY READING LIFE, and laughed at the title as it is so perfectly applicable ~ Thank you Mr. Conroy for loving the south, and for loving the songbird of literature~
Can someone from Pat Conroy family please reach out to my friend who just passed away and loved your father , loved his books and his cook books
It would mean the world to her family her name is Dawn Berkeley
It would mean the world to her family her name is Dawn Berkeley
I cannot believe I just read my first Pat Conroy book at 58 years old. I have never experienced such beautiful writing. South of Broad was my first book by him and it will live in my heart for as long as I live. I am so grateful for this amazing man and his love of writing. I will read every single thing he has ever written.
I've had a 40 year love affair with Mr. Conroy's books. Assigned The Great Santini in my AP Literature class in 1983, I began the slow but sure walk through it, at first reluctant (I was, and still am to some extent, a huge Stephen King fan) and then had to control myself to pace myself reading the rest. Never had I wanted to reread a book the instant I finished it! I was happy and glad to find the rest of his work before Santini and I was hooked. HOOKED.
Mr. Conroy's worked its magic on my ADD brain like nothing other. His descriptions helped me get into the story, deeper than I'd ever had with any other novel. I didn't want to skip one nuance of how he painted the scenery and emotions of his passages. Oh my goodness, how I hung to every word of his. And it continued, through every book he shared with the world. His death was the first "celebrity" death that affected me, ever, for I knew that with his passing many more unwritten stories went with him. I hope and pray somehow, that there are more Pat Conroy words out there, buried and unseen, waiting to be discovered. Never have I admired a writer more than Mr. Conroy. Never.
Mr. Conroy's worked its magic on my ADD brain like nothing other. His descriptions helped me get into the story, deeper than I'd ever had with any other novel. I didn't want to skip one nuance of how he painted the scenery and emotions of his passages. Oh my goodness, how I hung to every word of his. And it continued, through every book he shared with the world. His death was the first "celebrity" death that affected me, ever, for I knew that with his passing many more unwritten stories went with him. I hope and pray somehow, that there are more Pat Conroy words out there, buried and unseen, waiting to be discovered. Never have I admired a writer more than Mr. Conroy. Never.
I am not a gifted writer like my favorite author. However I am in love with all of Mr. Conroy's books. I am a mother of 4 sons and my oldest and I share a love of these books. Our wish is to someday visit the places that he has written about. We have read Beach music several times and it will always be our favorite. Thank you!