Sorry, I asked because Louisiannie (formerly Helen) who posts on the main
chatboard used to love Conroy, too, and I'm waiting to see what she thinks.

I agree with you about everything, particularly the out-of-place AIDS plot
and then Hugo. Was he filling space? When I wrote in my reading log, I
decried the overblown characters and lack of plot. How sad--I really loved
him!

Now I'm sitting in fear for my #2 fave, John Irving, whose newbie will be
out soon.

Judy

On 9/26/09, Helen wrote:
> No, I currently live in Virginia. I have lived in the South (Atlanta,
> Florida, Tenn.) though, all of my life. I suppose that's why I enjoy
> (ed) Conroy so much. Plus, I come from a large, disfunctional,
> Catholic family, so I can really relate to much of his writing! LOL!
>
>
> On 9/26/09, judy5ca nfm wrote:
>> On 9/26/09, Helen wrote:
>>> I have been a Conroy fan for years, and I have read everything
>>> he has written. I was extremely disappointed with South of
>>> Broad. There were several descriptive passages that were
>>> beautifully written in the way he used to write. However, I
>>> thought there were too many characters, most of whom lacked
>>> depth and development, and too many time period shifts. I don't
>>> understand why the whole AIDS piece took so much of the book.
>>> The book seemed to be made up of bits and pieces of this and
>>> that, but no real substantial story.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 9/26/09, judy5ca wrote:
>>>> I used to love Pat Conroy. I particularly loved The Water is
>>>> Wide, The Great Santini, and Lords of Discipline. We were such
>>>> fans that we rode BART into San Francisco and heard him speak.
>>>> But, I liked Prince of Tides less than his other works and
>>>> then I really hated Beach Music. Of course, after the long
>>>> break, I had hoped that his new work would be like his first
>>>> few. Unfortunately, I am miserably disappointed in South of
>>>> Broad. I finished it because I have been such a Conroy fan in
>>>> my life, but I really do resent the time I spent with it. The
>>>> San Francisco Chronicle called it "florid" and I think that was
>>>> polite. The characters are all overblown stereotypes and the
>>>> writing, though providing a few glimpses of the old Conroy,
>>>> simply expands into meaninglessness. Let me repeat, I am so
>>>> disappointed.
>>>>
>>>> How about you?
>>>> Judy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 9/26/09, Jan wrote:
>>>>> I just finished the book--Pat Conroy's newest---and I would
>>>>> love to hear your thoughts.

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