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Pat Conroy

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Guest Book

Pat Conroy's community
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.

Read what others are saying or click the button to add your own thoughts

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150 entries.
Richard Montpetit Richard Montpetit from Hauppauge, NY wrote on March 14, 2023 at 9:09 am
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!!!
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
You are so very right. Pat Conroy books make it easy for re-reads. I remember myself after finishing them all I started over again. Thank you for helping preserve Pat's memory.
Irina Kleiman Irina Kleiman from Toro wrote on February 27, 2023 at 9:30 am
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!
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Dear Irina Kleiman, you will not be disappointed coming to the lowcountry and the Pat Conroy center. We are all in love with people like you who keep the “Conroy Legacy” alive. I’ll send you an email with Pat’s sister who is a board member and a docent at the center…
C Richardson C Richardson from Spring Grove wrote on February 19, 2023 at 7:00 pm
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.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
By your email I suppose you are Debby... so it is with great pleasure and emotion to read your words in Pat's guestbook - Wonderful you shared your memories... Pat's family, readers, fans... read these messages from his devoted followers. You are one of those supporting his legacy. One of the wonderful people who write to tell everybody that Pat Conroy writing means something to them. Thank you.
Jeff Chapman Jeff Chapman from Ogden, Utah wrote on January 19, 2023 at 5:32 am
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
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Dear Jeff,
First, I thank you for being a Pat Conroy supporter by liking his books and perhaps reading more of his masterpieces.
Second, your message is the most hilarious we received in a great deal of time.
Twenty years is like an eternity in people's relations; I hope you two at least talk now... in the same spirit of Pat Conroy who made peace with many matters he had over the years...
Dale Terbush Dale Terbush from Paradise Valley, Arizona wrote on January 14, 2023 at 11:01 pm
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.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Thank you for your wonderful words to Pat Conroy. Thank you for keeping the "flame" alive. Many read these notes, the family loves to see them.
Thomas Harris Thomas Harris from Burgaw wrote on December 11, 2022 at 4:03 pm
Thank you for the great work. I have always loved your books. RIP sir.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Thank you Thomas Harris for keeping Pat Conroy in your thoughts. There is so much to read by him...
Jill Landry Jill Landry from Chula Vista wrote on December 10, 2022 at 8:21 am
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.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Thank you Jill Landry for discovering Pat Conroy. Please continue to read his masterpieces. You will be in for a roller coaster of the English language at its best, let alone the unforgettable stories Pat Conroy gives us. He knows our souls and heart aches are his and writes to share them with us...
Sherry Curry Sherry Curry from Kitchener wrote on December 2, 2022 at 5:36 pm
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!
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Dear Sherry Curry, as you see I am so happy receiving these messages in Pat's guest book. His family reads all these and is so happy to see that you, Pat's readers are still with him. He is indeed one of the best ever who took the "pen to the paper"
Thank you for reading his works; keep going, you will find a whole new world behind his words...!!!
Mike Smith Mike Smith from PeBble Beach wrote on November 28, 2022 at 12:48 pm
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
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Dear Mike Smith, lovely to see your wife watching over your "enterprise" so to speak... and even lovelier to see your response. Pat's family reads these postings and will be thrilled to see he is remembered. Thank you and my best regards to Mrs. Smith.
Marissa Marissa from Davie wrote on September 12, 2022 at 2:36 pm
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.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Dear Marissa, you are joining all these Pat Conroy supporters or better said lovers. Pleasure to be in the same group with you myself... this is, I hope, a never ending "story" of Pat's readers. The family reads these entries and they know Pat's legacy goes on.
Like you, I use some of Pat's thoughts often times in my brief narratives...
Thank you for writing.
(By the way your name is on my list of lovely and unusual names mostly coming from my Brazilian contacts: Marissa, Larissa, Marilia, Mayara and more)
Blue Kelly Blue Kelly from Durango, CO wrote on August 22, 2022 at 3:38 pm
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.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Dear Kelly if I may; I always wonder where the ease of expression of those who write here comes from...!? It hit me tonight, actually I knew it intuitively but never questioned it... It is the master of words, the inimitable Pat Conroy who triggered the best in all of us... I mean I heard it, read it, from so many of our friends writing here...
I feel it in me too, Pat Conroy makes us all use the language at the best we can and the result is clearly visible in all the love messages in this "guest book" - there is hardly a message from his admires like yourself, without a "brush" with literary devices such as (my favorites) metaphores...
Thank you for writing
Nancy Link Nancy Link from Fox Point wrote on August 18, 2022 at 5:00 pm
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!
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Dear Nancy Link, you are in a place where everybody is a Pat Conroy fan. Frankly fan is to light of a word since we all around here (and in many other places) simply love Pat Conroy with a fierce devotion.

Please know the a major event is coming up soon and will be celebrated at the "Pat Conroy Literary Festival" https://patconroyliteraryfestival.org this October... that is 50 years of THE WATER IS WIDE which had a great effect on so many people... many decided to choose a teaching career...
Thank you for writing to us.
Guglielmo Di Francesco Guglielmo Di Francesco from Boston, MA wrote on August 9, 2022 at 1:41 am
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.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Guglielmo, if I may, your writing to Pat is mesmerizing to me. I so much see myself in every thought you conveyed in your message. Like you I learned English here in the US and at some time in my life when chance brought me to Pat Conroy’s friend for decades, Marly Rusoff who later entered publishing where she ran Pat’s publicity on most of Pat’s masterpieces (including The Prince of Tides and his “Italy” loving novel, “Beach Music”) …when I became her partner I was introduced to his work and an entire world opened up…
I admire your appreciation of language… it gives us the “tool” to communicate in a way unmatched by anything… Language is powerful… and your message touched me as you so obviously understand its power…!
Olivia Gregory Olivia Gregory from Taree NSW wrote on August 3, 2022 at 2:00 am
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.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Dear Olivia from Australia; we are so thrilled to hear from you, from such a faraway land. We know Pat’s books were publishes there. You just finished one. There are many other fiction and non-fiction books. Every one of them has pearls of language and plots including the cookbook which has an essay to start any recipe – some of those are so hilarious…
You must read more of them for a full delight of a rollercoaster of the English language.
Amy Altman Amy Altman from Lake Havasu City wrote on July 28, 2022 at 2:49 pm
Can’t stop reading Mr. Conroy’s novels. I found him in my 30’s. 40 years later, his books still touch my heart.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Dear Amy Altman, if I may... We all feel the same. It seems Pat's writing is like a great wine... the older the more precious. We never tire of his writing. Thank you.
Cate Gundlach Cate Gundlach from Troy wrote on July 16, 2022 at 11:34 am
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~
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Dear Cate, Such a treasure story about your mom. As you know Pat wrote for all of us he said it he was trying to explain life to himself and to us all. He never wrote a word that wasn't from his heart.
We are familiar with Oxford, MS bookstore "Square Books" - we had many interactions with them for many authors. My gratitude to you.
Dawn Berkley Dawn Berkley from Okatie, SC wrote on July 11, 2022 at 8:43 pm
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
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Please tell us in a message what to do and to whom. We would be eager to help with your request but send us an email - I already contacted you and asked you to help do whatever you need but we do not know who to contact...
Elizabeth Cox Elizabeth Cox from Atlantic Beach, NC wrote on June 29, 2022 at 1:12 pm
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.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Yes Elizabeth Cox, read all his books; Once inside one of Pat Conroy's books you’ll rise and fall with the tide of the English language at its very best.
Than you for writing to us.
Virginia Fernandez Virginia Fernandez from New Orleans, LA wrote on June 29, 2022 at 1:03 am
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.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Virginia Fernandez, we thank you for your wonderful words and thoughts. Yes, we lost a giant of the American Letters. We all will do whatever it takes to preserve his legacy. Thank you for writing to us. The family reads these postings...
Cindy Retallick Cindy Retallick from Omaha wrote on June 2, 2022 at 3:58 pm
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!
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
You say you are not a "gifted writer" but, like your favorite author you wrote from the heart. Thank you for helping keep Pat Conroy legacy flame alive.
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About Pat Conroy

  • The Definitive Biography
    • Pat’s Cemetery Notes
  • Awards
  • Legacy Articles
  • Profiles of Pat Conroy
  • Pat’s Desk
  • Letters to My Readers
    • Letter to Readers October 2009
    • Letter to Readers August 2009
  • Video Interviews

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