Guest Book

To the Wonderful Pat Conroy Community,

Even though I have been an avid lifelong reader, I read my first Pat Conroy book just last month (July 2023) at the age of 63. That book, The Great Santini, rocked my world. I was stunned by the beauty, power, lyricism, and heartbreak of Mr. Conroy's prose. As I put the book down, I vowed to read every work in the author's canon. I dove straight into The Water Is Wide--loved it. In addition, I had the privilege of living in Beaufort SC from 2012-13, so it was a treat and a delight to realize that Pat was an adopted son of Beaufort and the Low Country, areas that remain dear to my heart.

Just now, I finished The Death of Santini. (literally, like 10 minutes ago!), and felt compelled to come to this site to pay my respects. The eulogy Pat wrote for The Death of Santini that are the closing words of the book is pure genius. The entire book is pure genius -- a powerhouse of joy and pain, mystery and struggle, and the eternal cycle of family, especially this enigmatic dysfunctional Conroy one that Pat illuminated so brilliantly through his literature. I believe Pat Conroy to be one of the very finest of American writers. I'm humbled and honored to be finally reading his books. I will read every last one of them until there are no more left!
With appreciation, love, and gratitude,

Claire Gunderson

I just showed a group of friends the film, The Water is Wide. I wanted to introduce them to Pat Conroy as I know they will love him as much as I do.

When I was first introduced to Pat Conroy, I had been refusing to read any books written by a man. I felt that if the protagonist was a woman, there was something disingenuous of a male author to think he could have a woman's voice. Then I read, Prince of Tides. A terrible story written so beautifully with the descriptions of nature and the deep soulful emotions from a man so deep and passionate, I had to read everything he had written. And, I did. I even read his book about baskeball. I know nothing about sports and have never had any interest in sports. But, this book is not just about basketball.
I was visiting my cousin in Florida when we found out that Mr. Conroy had died. We both burst into tears. No more Pat Conroy books. Oh no!
Having found this site, I am excited to find out about the authors he loved and you can bet, I'll be reading them too.
Rest in peace, Mr. Conroy. Thanks for the love.

I’ve read every book Pat Conroy wrote multiple times. Each time I’ve been absorbed in the story and touched in the deep recesses of my soul.

I too had a father like the Great Santini. A career military man who believed family was a contact sport. By the grace of God, this wounded son did not become an abusive husband or father.

Pat was such a gifted wordsmith. You just fall in love with so many of his characters.
My love for Charleston was birthed as a result of reading his books. Late in Pat’s life while traveling in the Charleston area, I hoped to meet him and communicate what his life work had meant. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.

God speed Pat Conroy. Thank you for touching my soul in such an extraordinary manner. May the Lord keep you.

My wife died December 28, 2021 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer diagnosed in 2016. We visited Pat's resting place in St Helena Gardens in 2018-he was our favorite writer and we/I miss him till this day as I do my wife. I continuously re-read Pat's books and derive comfort and inspiration -as I do for my wife Patricia Bolton/Pat Conroy rests in peace-In The Name Of the Father Son and Holy Spirit
Bill Dykes

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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