RIP Pat Conroy

The Prince of Tides is a wonderful book that has its rep muddled by Streisand's ego-driven decision to think the film should be entirely about Wingo and Lowenstien's relationship, not the Wingo family. Conroy overwrote like no one else, but he was wonderful in huge unapologetic bursts. The football scene in POT where he takes two kicks back against Clemson is one of my favorite sports scenes in any novel.

 

"Beach Music" was one long love letter to his beloved tidal flats. Man, I miss this guy already.

 

Loved "The Great Santini" the first time I read it. Alpha dogs rule!

Didn't love it quite as much the second time, when I realized it was a horror story.

I probably couldn't read it again, but it was a hell of a tale.

 

The movie is spectacular.

 

The two flashback sections in Beach Music were fantastic and makes one wonder what he could have done had he set some of his work away from his comfort zones.

 

I always watch "Conrack" when it comes on one of the cheap-movie channels.

 

Conroy penned a letter to the editor in the Charleston (W.Va) Gazette in 2007 after an area high school banned his books.


http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFil...s-Rationales/Conroy_Pat_LettertotheEditor.pdf

 

Finishing the Death of Santini ... What a fucked up family ...His relationship and interactions with his sister.
It's a good read, fascinating. Yeah, he overwrites and sure loves the word "rearguard," but very enjoyable. Having read this I have no desire to go back and read POT or Santini. I may try Lords of Discipline, though.