BEACH NOTES ... 10/31/2009 ... Ocean City, New Jersey

Book/Writer Recommendation ... from Dustin A. Peters, French Real Estate, Inc. (Ocean City, New Jersey)

I just finished the most recent book by Pat Conroy, the southern writer who would certainly be one of our greatest living American authors. I've read them all over quite a long period of time. My early favorite was The Prince of Tides which introduced a family of three remaining characters, the Mother, the son - teacher/coach (both living in the Charleston area), and the sister - a writer living in New York City. The story centers around their early years when the other brother was still living and to the present when the brother travels to NYC due to the recent attempted suicide by the sister. Flashbacks continue throughout the book. The film of the same name was good, but the book was great.

Earlier Conroy wrote The Water is Wide, one of his early books about a teacher working with island children around the Charleston and South Carolina coastal areas; The Great Santini, about a Marine Corps family who move to South Carolina ... another powerful book dealing with family life, again made into a fine film with the same name; and The Lords of Discipline, about cadet life at The Citadel in Charleston.

Beach Music was his book written before the most recent one, again dealing with life in South Carolina, again dealing with several families, interactions and struggles. It was another favorite until the new one came out, and I had the opportunity to read it.

South of Broad, just out in print about 2-3 weeks ago, includes a cast of characters that move from their senior year in high school into mid-adulthood. It is told by Leopold Bloom King ("the Toad") who serves as the narrator with loads of flashbacks and surprises as it explores each of the characters and couples. Set in Charleston with some serious time in San Francisco, it explores relationships, religion, family ties, social classes, racism, homosexually, and much more. It has become my favorite Conroy book ... highly recommended!!! dap