Guest Book

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.

Can’t stop reading Mr. Conroy’s novels. I found him in my 30’s. 40 years later, his books still touch my heart.

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

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 was such a gifted writer. I think Beach Music was a masterpiece, and a wonderful experience to read. My hope is that there will be a screen version one day.

I am so thrilled that I found this website. I can’t believe that I was unaware of its existence until now. I have not only loved Pat’s wonderful writing, but when I met him in person, he immediately became my Superman, best friend to Batman... my nephew, Doug Marlette.

I was privileged to meet Pat at our family reunion, held at Doug’s home in Hillsborough, NC. Pat and Doug were definitely brothers in the literary world, and Doug’s brother, Chris then became Robin to complete the trio. Pat’s personality definitely matched well the “wonder what the next act of this play holds.?” mantra surrounding our huge, but in my humble opinion, amazing family.

Pat and Doug were joined at the literary heart and I know that Doug’s sudden tragic death was an emotional bomb for him as it was for our family. I so wish that, while I had such remarkable wisdom and talent available, I had listened to that internal whisper that I needed to write my memoir. Immediately after I began reading Doug’s book, I realized that individuals, experiencing the same interactions might perceive them very differently. I wanted to share the good attributes of our ancestry as well as try to purvey the desire to overcome the attributes that steal one’s joy. At 84 years old, and having gone through many valleys, I much prefer those mountain tops.

I have been a fan of Pat Conroy since reading The Prince of Tides, which to this day remains one of my top three favorite books of all time. I am rereading Beach Music at this moment.

I have the honor of passing my reading onto other readers looking for an author they can lose themselves to. Mr. Conroy is one of those authors.

I wrote earlier and I forgot to say a few things...
I was on a website book club and was asked what my all time favorite 2 books were and Prince of Tides was my first. Mr. Conroy was such a world-master.

That story still has a place in my heart and soul even now. My second book was Lila by Marilyn Robinson that reminded me of the feeling I got when I read Prince of Tides and I don't know why. I thank Pat Conroy for starting me on my journey to reading books that matter. Thank you.

I love Pat Conroy.
From the first time I read the Prince of Tides in grad school I knew this man knew my soul. And as my grad school classmates and I discussed, he seemed to know each one of us.
How could one man touch so many hearts and souls in another state and from many different walks of life? I love his use of the English language, it is my poetry now.

When I am lonely for others that have passed away, I read Pat Conroy.
When I think about a lost love, I read Pat Conroy.
When I have a client who is searching for answers, I read Pat Conroy.

Pat Conroy is my Bible, my guide, my friend.
I love Pat Conroy.