I understand. I am a middle school and high school science teacher and also
an administrator, so I pop around on lots of the chatboards, but I only post
when I see a compelling topic. This one really interested me because I was
soooo disappointed with the book!

On 9/26/09, judy5ca wrote:
> 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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