Pat Conroy's Death of Santini



http://www.patconroy.com/the-death-of-santini.php

I read the book in 3 days.  I woke up at 2 AM to read the book, went back to sleep, and finished it this morning.  It's great to be on Christmas break! This book is about so much more than Pat's dad, The Great Santini, a distinguished Marine fighter pilot, so well described in his book by that title.  We meet Pat's mother, father siblings, grandmother, grandfather, and others that have touched his life. He writes about the filming of The Great Santini, and how the book and movie heal his family over time. It is a story of mostly forgiveness that I can relate to in this time of my life. Incidently, I discovered that Pat's ancestors come from Sand Mountain in Alabama. I claim the same ancestral locale in Northern Alabama. My Dad has told me many stories of the place so that I understand the poverty that drove his grandmother to flee to Atlanta.

I can tell you that this books makes me want to go back and reread Prince of Tides, a book that made me weep, and Beach Music.  I've read all of Conroy's books except for his cookbook & My Reading Life.  I plan to pick up a copy of My Reading Life this week to see what's on his list.

I've read most of Hemingway's novels.  I put Conroy right up in the same league with Mr. Hemingway & here's why...

Conroy's novels make me laugh aloud, ache in resonance with the characters, long to see the landscapes he paints with words, and most importantly, makes me want to read them again.

In a world full of paperbacks, I buy hard copies of his work. Enough said!

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