Guest Book

In the early 70s I was a copywriter Doubleday book clubs in NY.

One day a shoebox was dumped on my desk. It was the manuscript for a memoir they'd bought. It wasn't published yet, still in typewriter type and a pile of pages.

"Write something to sell it ."

Gee thanks. Started reading and wasn't sure what the title, "The Water Is Wide," meant. But it grabbed me right away.

Hmmm, this might sell some books, it was a terrific read.

I wrote what I had to, the book club edition did pretty well, and Pat Conroy ended up doing ok too.

It was cool to be at the beginning of that. RIP

This is a comment I left on Mrs. King Conroy’s recent Facebook post. She asked that I share it on here:

I have to share this with you Mrs. King Conroy. Your husband was the keynote speaker at my sister’s college graduation many years ago. I reluctantly took my then (approximately) 6 year old son, who has ADHD, but at that time was un-diagnosed. You can only imagine an easily distracted boy, with A LOT of energy at a college graduation ceremony. Well to say that he was mesmerized the whole time Mr. Conroy was on stage is an understatement. I have never seen him listen so intently to anyone or anything, ever.
You were blessed to have this gifted, captivating individual as your soul mate and best friend and I will always enjoy telling that story. Thank you for sharing him with us.

How did I miss this book, My Reading Life? Just finished the audio version and, oh my, I think I will buy the book as well..... but in this case, hearing it come from his voice was so powerful for me. Like a great book of fiction, I am mourning that it is over. That surprises me. When Pat Conroy was truly passionate about something, he certainly could make you passionate about it as well. Such an amazing gift!

As I listened to this, so much of it resonated with me. When he talked about James Dickey and how he promised himself that if he met him he would not become a blubbering idiot (not his words, mine), I thought, I felt that way about you Pat! And I did. The difference between those 2 situations I think is that he said once he met James Dickey he thought Mr. Dickey would have thought it an appropriate reaction. Lol. I don't think Mr. Conroy would have felt that way.

So much I could say! So much! But I think a big part of what I admire is that he took his pain and turned it into a thing of beauty. Without covering it up. As he said at the end of this book when he described the Japanese art of repairing pottery without covering up the crack. His skill with words made him a master at metaphor.

I will always miss his potent voice. So thankful I found it long ago.

My husband & I are leaving HHI and the lowlands today after yet another amazing week. We celebrated 52 years of marriage on 8/19/19 and we both have enjoyed all of Pat Conroy’s books! He touched so many lives and through his works he will continue to live in the hearts of many.

When I was a kid I caught glimpses of the movie, The Prince of Tides. I was mesmerized. Later in high school I discovered it was a novel and read it shortly after. That book, as a writer and Southerner myself, inspired me greatly. Pat Conroy's words melted in my mouth like butter. Such an amazing writer and I am definitely going to read all his works. I just now found out that he died, so upsetting, he was so young. But he left such a legacy behind and I am very grateful for that. Pat, you will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace dear one.

It's funny one of my favorite movies growing up was "Conrack" years later I found this great author I loved and started collecting his books but couldn't find a copy of " The Water is Wide" finally after a local bookstore kept the title on a list of requests I got one imagine my suprise and delight when I realized that Pat Conroy was Conrack, later when The Prince of Tides came out it became one of my top 2 or 3 favorites then he wrote Beach Music in my opinion an even better book. By now I've read each of those at least 4-5 times each.
Thank you Mr Conroy for some of my favorite moments in reading.
So sad to hear of his death.

The Prince of Tides








xo

I am about half way through "The Great Santini" and I believe this is going to be a very long journey. Is there any order in which I should read your books. I intend to read them all... I am from US Naval Aviation stock and these writings fit right in with me. I'm glad your books have found their way into my home. Thank you.

"Pat. I'm sorry to have never known you. I feel as if I did."

I was born the same year as Pat and knew of him at the beginning of his career, reading "The Water is Wide" upon publication and then reading "The Boo". I knew a Citadel classmate of his in Pensacola in 1968 when he and my husband were training to fly helicopters in Viet Nam.

As time passed, I systematically waited for each new book with baited breath as I shared the Marine Corps, teaching, and writing with Pat. It took me a lot longer to become an author and I shall never possess the gift of painting lovely visuals with my words as did he, the master of the art.

I had the pleasure of meeting Cassandra and sharing a luncheon table with her at a writers' conference about a year before Pat's death. Hope was still alive that I would one day meet the great man, too.

Alas, I did not, but I did travel to the low-country cemetery along dirt roads to view his simple grave within a rusted wire fence enclosure. His SC soil-covered grave was covered with seashells from the waters he so loved. A loving touch -- perhaps from the children whose lives meant so much to him.

Lord, Pat. I miss you.