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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.

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150 entries.
Charie Charie from La Marr wrote on November 16, 2021 at 3:42 pm
I adore reading Pat Conroy's prose. It is unlike anything I have ever read. It's like taking peaches and pecan tea, throwing it in the blender, topping it off with sweet tea and then pouring the sweet and syrupy nectar all over the words on the page.

As an author myself, cannot tell you how often I have to stop and read a sentence two or three times - filled with the awe of his use of metaphor - before I can go on. His books are so filled with his gentleness and sense of beauty that the words take my breath away every time. Reading Beach Music right now, and am filled with a new love for Rome as told through Pat Conroy's South Carolina eyes. He will be missed, but I am grateful that his words live on. Thank you.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Charie your city is not La Marr is it?
However, whoever you are I truly appreciate your message. I do know the feeling since we read Pat's metaphors time and again... Thank you for posting...
Dr. Bryn Gabriel Dr. Bryn Gabriel from Cochabamba, Bolivia wrote on October 31, 2021 at 8:31 am
I am the Assistant Head of School at the Cochabamba Cooperative School, in Cochabamba, Bolivia. When my Dad (also an educator) took me to see Conrack when I was 14, that inspired me to be an educator. I now have 35 years of experience as an educational administrator. His other books were great.
However a book that touched my heart was My Losing Season. I played in the professional basketball league in Bolivia for 10 seasons. When I read that book, it was so moving about my own basketball experience in life. I got to take my students from Bolivia one time to Ford's Theater to see the adaptation of Conrack, the play.

The booth where Lincoln got shot was open that night because someone forgot to lock it. I took my students in to see it and be there. We were there maybe 5 minutes before a security guard told us to get out. Pat Conroy inspired me to become a teacher. Just thank you Pat Conroy. Dr. Bryn Gabriel
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
I know (from many translations) that Pat Conroy has admirers in many countries. Now we can count Bolivia among them. Thank you Bryn for sharing this with us...
Patricia DeGemmis Patricia DeGemmis from Stratford wrote on October 28, 2021 at 9:31 am
Hello. A huge fan of Pat and born on the same day except two years later, I am still sad at his passing. Time has gone by so fast. My ex husband graduated from the Citadel with Pat and was in Pat's English class which gives me some "connection'".
I have been to the Citadel a few times and loved every minute of it including hanging out in Charleston. I just have one question.: When will the book Pat started. Aquarious" be published? Keep up the great work with this website as it brings Pat to life each time we, his fans, look at it.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Indeed, time passed us by at such speed but Pat Conroy writing seems to be unaltered by time while maintaining its allure and permanence…
As far as Aquarius, it is not a "finished" work. We would have to finish it and it is not easy... but we will...
Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson from Lexington, KY wrote on October 28, 2021 at 3:05 am
I read "The Lords of Discipline" for the first time during the summer of my sophomore year in high school. I thought... "I'll never go to The Citadel - even if it is the last college on earth." Then I read it the following summer, and thought, "If they recruit me, I will go." I played soccer for The Citadel, and it was the only college to which I applied.

Pat's nephew, Ed Conroy was a fellow knob in my company, and oddly the cadet upperclassman I loathed the most was named McClain (same last name as the protagonist in TLoD). Before I knew it, I had changed my major to English (because Pat was an English major) and was trying to figure out if it were possible that Col Mathis (who was as large as a right whale) and Col Alexander (whom everyone called "Trashmouth") where the two characters the legendary professor "Alexander the Great" in TLoD was based on.

Anyway, I regretfully never met Mr. Conroy in person, but I think we would have gotten along well together. In one of his books, he claimed something akin to, "I don't write fiction - I just change the names of the characters so I don't get sued." I really grew to feel like I knew him, and most of his friends personally.

Like everyone else, I was devastated when I heard of his cancer diagnosis, and I felt like I'd lost a friend when when he passed. The world needs more Pat Conroys. When I meet a future cadet, I make it a point to gift them "The Lords of Discipline." That book changed the trajectory of my life, as I know it has many others.
Happy Birthday Pat Conroy.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Messages like yours make me very emotional… since in my mind, I see the scenes people describe. I am certain you and Pat could’ve become friends.
Tony Maupin Tony Maupin from Raleigh, NC wrote on September 27, 2021 at 3:35 pm
I first met Pat when I was a plebe and he was a Senior at The Citadel in 1966. Pat roomed three doors down from my 4th Battalion R Company alcove. Pat was a Senior private and military discipline was not high on his list. His room was often a safe haven for knobs who were trying to hide out from the hazing of upperclass men.

Pat was our starting point guard on our Bulldog basketball team and was an an outstanding player. I remember when we played VMI he scored over 29 points and we won in quadruple overtime setting a Southern Conference record. His father was upset with him because he did not score more points.

I have enjoyed reading all of Pat’s novels from cover to cover. A few years prior to Pat’s passing I had the privilege of attending one of his book signings in Raleigh. It was great catching up with him sharing a few war stories at The Citadel. Today my wife and I visited Pat’s grave just past the old Brick Church on St Helena Island. Pat is buried in a predominantly African American cemetery very fitting for a man who once taught English on Daufuski Island and cared about all mankind. Pat’s legacy will live on for generations to come. It was a real honor to have known this great Southern novelist!
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
You remember well Pat's way, character, talents and unrelentingly siding with the "underdog"... The VMI game was always on Pat's mind and he wrote about it often; even privately to one of his grandsons who plays the game...
I spin over the cemetery often myself and it was a day chance that I did not run into you... Wonderful that you enjoy his novels; we can't help calling them "masterpieces"
Osvaldo Valdes Osvaldo Valdes from HOLLYWOOD, FL wrote on September 18, 2021 at 2:37 pm
What led me to the writings of Pat Conroy? I wanted to see the movie The Prince of Tides, but wanted to read the book first. When I read it fireworks went off in my head. Every story within the book was better than than the last one, how much creativity could one human being possess? I was hooked. The Prince of Tides led to The Great Santini, which led to Beach Music...

I am in the middle of a literary experience I have never known before. Needless to say, the movies were not nearly as good as the novels. But how can you cram a Pat Conroy book into a two hour Hollywood production? It is never too late to discover the charms of Conroy's work.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
It is the passion of people like you that makes it possible for us to continue Pat Conroy legacy.
You asked:
** how much creativity could one human being possess?
** how can you cram a Pat Conroy book into a two hour Hollywood production?
These are the same questions I have - I am connected with Pat's work so very often... many times weeping as I "dig" in his works for answers I seek and I hope that discussions with movie people would yield the much awaited movie...!!
TERRY CASSREINO TERRY CASSREINO from Madison, WI wrote on August 22, 2021 at 11:52 pm
I have been a huge Pat Conroy fan since the day I read “The Great Santini” in the early 1980s. His beautiful way with words inspired me to become a journalist and a writer. Today I teach high school English. And I am excited to include “The Water is Wide” in my English class this year. I have always wanted to teach a Conroy book to students — and I am excited to finally have that chance. Maybe his writing will inspire my students the way it has me.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
It is heartwarming to see your message especially your desire to use THE WATER IS WIDE. This book inspired scores of people to become teachers... It's coming up for its 50th anniversary - perhaps you should plan something...
Michael Gygi Michael Gygi from North Charleston, SC wrote on August 22, 2021 at 5:22 pm
I am originally from San Francisco. I was transplanted to Charleston from Southern CA 6 years ago for employment. I fell in love with Charleston immediately; love at first sight.
Since I was already acquainted with with NC's favorite author, Thomas Wolfe, I decided to pick up and read Prince of Tides. It was enjoyable but I wasn't really moved. Then I read 'The Water is Wide' and fell in love with it.

I have just finished 'South of Broad' which I thought deserved a Pulitzer. Mr. Conroy somehow wrote the story of my life (at least in parts). Loved all the Joyce references and sarcasm. I know every step of "The City" which he described in perfect detail. I could almost smell the Tenderloin again. I have walked every step in Charleston he artfully painted on each page. I felt I was there with Leo.
I knew and loved the characters and found myself in tears at different points . It's been a long time since a novel has moved me so much emotionally. My real regret is never having the opportunity to meet Mr. Conroy. God Bless you Pat and thank you for the gifts you shared with us.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
I doesn't happen often that I feel saying the cliche WOW but I am overwhelmed in this case... why? please look at https://patconroy.com/south-of-broad-whys-and-whats/ and down the page at "South of Broad" The Pat Conroy Fan Test!
This book has many lovers and some detractors as well. It is a complex narrative which runs on many story lines. One day some smart film producer will figure it out and make it a smashing movie or series. Marly Rusoff and I did Leo's paper route with Pat way back in 2009 then had lunch at Magnolia... It was quite memorable...
Thank you for loving it!!
Frank Reedy Frank Reedy from Sarasota, FL wrote on August 5, 2021 at 11:48 pm
If you are a Conroy follower and haven’t read his 1996 preface to the current printing of Scribner’s and Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, it is a stirring tribute to the years that wrapped the War Between the States, pre-, during and post-. A marvelous essay that captures the spirit of the Lost Cause and all that became of the South, Atlanta and the futility of ante-bellum life. And now, for me, it’s on to reading the 1,000 page tome from 1936 that changed the American literature scene.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Frank Reedy; I got goosebumps as I almost always do when I read, re-read that preface which we placed in Pat’s collection that became MY READING LIFE (2010) Nothing ever helped me to understand the south in a particular way than that writing… and yet again as the master said:

“American letters will always be tiptoeing nervously around that room where Scarlett O'Hara dresses for the party at Twelve Oaks as the War Between the States begins to inch its way toward Tara.” – Thank you for posting!!
Beth Beth from West Bloomfield, MI wrote on August 3, 2021 at 10:16 am
Just watched 'Conrack' and discovered Pat Conroy. I will seek out more of his work. He will continue to inspire future generations.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Conrack film is based on Pat Conroy's "The Water is Wide" That book encouraged many young people to become teachers. Thank you for posting...!!
Joy McClanahan Joy McClanahan from Newport, KY wrote on August 3, 2021 at 6:29 am
Some 30 years ago I read Prince of Tides and could not put the book down. Recently, while searching my local library, I came across South of Broad. I've just spent most of the day and evening reading this wonderful put and have just finished it. I wish I had sufficient words to give adequate praise to his writing. It is so honest, laying human frailties out for all to see, and then demonstrating the triumph of the human spirit. His writing was such a wonderful gift.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Wonderful, thank you for posting here your great thoughts...
Nicole Wright Dalton Nicole Wright Dalton from Hertford, NC wrote on July 24, 2021 at 4:25 am
He was and continues to be an inspiration. I have read his books many times. They are old friends. The works are ageless and set in my beloved South. His characters remind me of my upbringing and the many people who have touched my life.

I have turned to them during times of joy, loneliness and grief. Particularly during these current times when the world has gone crazy, time has stood still and the very fabric of our life is being torn.

May his stories live on, the South rise again and our Country return to the greatness that our founding fathers imagined.
May God bless the USA and long live the legacy of Pat Conroy!
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Nicole, I look at these messages when they come in - my duty as the web master as they say and they stir lots of emotions. We could never forget Pat Conroy Legacy; We all, family, friends, literary agents, read these messages and it's like inhaling oxygen... Thank you for writing such a passionate message!!
Terry Filippo Terry Filippo from Clemson, SC wrote on July 7, 2021 at 9:46 pm
2003-2004 was the last of my preliminary vice presidential years before becoming president of the South Carolina Council of Teachers of English (SCCTE). That year our board chose former Beaufort High School English teacher Gene Norris as the person we wanted to honor with our Richard P. Riley Award, presented annually to someone who has made significant contributions to the teaching of English in our state.

My role at the time led me to be tasked with some of the particulars of how to honor Gene in the most memorable way possible. Since we were quite familiar with Gene's friendship with Pat, his former student, and the way that Pat always managed to slip in beautiful tributes to Gene (as well as the larger population of dedicated English teachers) in his interviews and conversations, we knew that our celebration had to include Pat Conroy.

Some time during Pat's publicity tour for My Losing Season he was scheduled for a signing at the Open Book (now unfortunately open no longer) in Greenville, SC. We made arrangements with the owner for me to meet Pat before he greeted the general public. That moment is a cherished memory I will never forget.

When I told Pat that our state English teacher association was planning to recognize Gene with its highest award, he looked at me and without missing a beat said, "Son, if you're doing anything to honor Gene Norris, you just tell me when and where, and I'll be there."

Of course, he was true to his word. I can promise anyone who reads this that there are quite a few English teachers around the state of South Carolina who remember seeing Pat's tribute to Gene that year as one of the most beautiful moments in the history of our conference. Sadly, Gene passed away several months later, but one of his family members told me at his funeral how precious that moment was for Gene as well.

I just wanted to publicly thank Pat for what he meant to those of us who teach English. In addition to his wonderful books, we are so fortunate to still have his beautiful words of support for our profession with us.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Terry Filippo, your message made me read again (and again) “The Teacher” chapter in Pat’s “My Reading Life” – It is an extraordinary ode to Gene Norris – the part with Pat visiting Gene in the hospital hides beneath Gene rough language aimed at Pat to “leave him alone” a masterpiece of description the love between these two humans… unforgettable!.
With the two now gone “The Teacher” is even more valuable as a read, an insight in these two wonderful people’s souls!!!

Thank you for bringing this up. Actually I passed your message to all board members and docents as well…
Jillian Taylor Jillian Taylor from Los Angeles, CA wrote on July 7, 2021 at 2:43 pm
I have read all of Pat Conroy's books and loved every one. It breaks my heart that there will be no more. His description of Charleston made me want to jump on a plane and go there immediately. Years later I was able to visit this beautiful city. He didn't write words - he wrote poetry and the world of literature will never be the same without him.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Jillian, I cannot help weeping every time I see these entries in this Guest Book. The loss is so unbearable. Every time I see human race loses one of its irreplaceable beings I dream of a pact with divinity: "I'll go collect time from this person adulatory base, a year from each and we then expect a life extension to our hero.."
I believe there could be some more from Pat if we can find a way to use his unfinished manuscripts... Thank you for writing!!
Ed Schneider Ed Schneider from Stockton wrote on July 5, 2021 at 2:59 pm
I just finished The Prince of Tides and loved every page. Mr. Conroy's development of his characters with their emotions, cultural background and conflicts of love and family were extraordinary. His style of writing in itself is nothing short of beautiful. I look forward to reading more of his works.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Thank you for coming to Pat Conroy writings. You will not be disappointed. Perhaps you should read them in the order they were written... I did this myself at some time past so that I feel his growing into his mastery of the English language - However, read them as you please... everyone of them is a masterpiece...!
William Roe William Roe from Greenwood wrote on June 23, 2021 at 1:46 pm
I was turned onto Pat by the author Greg Iles. Only one word can describe Pat Conroy's writing, and that is "WOW'. I have read every available book written by him, and wished there were more forthcoming. God Bless Pat Conroy.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Indeed there is a constant "WOW" factor about Pat Conroy writing. Thank you for joining his readers..!
Joey Wahler Joey Wahler from Manalapan, NJ wrote on June 14, 2021 at 1:21 pm
As a boy of about ten, I saw the movie, "Conrack," based on Pat Conroy's book, "The Water Is Wide." That's when I became a lifelong fan of Pat's. I've since become a sports broadcaster, and when Pat's book, "My Losing Season" was published, I was working at Madison Square Garden Network in New York City.

He was scheduled to do an interview with me, which I arranged to happen on the court at The World's Most Famous Arena. Unfortunately, Pat took ill and was unable to keep our appointment. I was so disappointed. I got married two years ago, and recently re-watched Conrack for the umpteenth time, introducing it to my wife, Shari.

Of course, I told her all about Pat's impact on me, and that time I came so close to meeting him.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
This is short of a small miracle... From 10 years old to a mature adult your eloquent admiration and loyalty to Pat Conroy is very moving. Thank you for writing.
LORI GEIGER LORI GEIGER from Upper Saddle River, NJ wrote on June 10, 2021 at 7:06 pm
I just finished reading the Water is Wide. I am touched beyond words.
Now I have to read more of his books.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Lori Geiger, you hardly touched the surface of the immense world of Pat Conroy's writings... Keep reading, once inside Pat's writings you’ll rise and fall with the tide of the English language at its very best; it will be like on an unforgettable roller coaster of emotions!!!
Joseph Davidson Joseph Davidson from Marion, OH wrote on June 6, 2021 at 10:17 pm
I spent 4 years in NJ-ROTC in high school and my first Conroy books were The Lords of Discipline and My Losing Season.. After reading the Lords of Discipline I knew then and there I wanted to be a Citadel man just as Conroy was and just like Will McClean was at the Carolina Military Institute in the book. I pursued this dream because of Conroy's book inspiring me.

I attended leadership school there and applied for college to be in the corps of cadets now while I was rejected due to not having a second language I remained and still remain a supporter of the college because both Pat Conroy and the Citadel taught me a lot about growing up and being both my self and "a man". I'm thankful that I discovered Conroy and his books and stories.
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Joseph Davidson, your story is a story of courage, determination and perseverance. Anybody knowing your story would perhaps think, like I do, that The Citadel lost a person who would have made it proud.
Tim Blocher Tim Blocher from Cloverdale wrote on May 11, 2021 at 1:40 pm
I spent alot of time in Low Country (Beaufort) and on Hunting Island when I was a kid. I read my first Conroy when I was in high school, and I loved it!
Now... I'm 55, teach senior English at Danville Community High School and encourage my students to read Conroy every semester.

My wife and I plan on retiring to the Beaufort area eventually, where I plan to do some writing myself.
He was/is an inspiration to so many!! RIP
Agency Reply by: Mihai Radulescu
Indeed Pat Conroy was and still is an inspiration for many and that inspiration stayed with you for decades... We thank you for this "gift" of loyalty to our "Prince of Words."
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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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