Pat Conroy can magically transform prose into poetry. Nobody can spin words like he can. But thats not all. That he understands the art of storytelling is made abundantly clear in SOUTH OF BROAD. True, it started out slowly and, for a while, it had me wondering if there was a story there at all. But there was that beautiful music he creates from his words to carry me through until suddenly the story took over and I was hooked.
SOUTH OF BROAD covers just about every form of bigotry known to mankind: racial prejudice as experienced through his close friends, Ike Jefferson and his girlfriendand later wifeBetty; the superior attitude of the privileged in this South Carolina town with their scorn for those of a lower social standing; and the attitude reserved for homosexuals in Charleston and beyond back in the 60s. The story builds to a crescendo then falls back and builds again as the reader comes to know and loveor hatethese people whose enduring bond of friendship dates all the way back to their high school days and still remains strong.
As should be expected of any book worthy of ones time, SOUTH OF BROAD induced me to laughter and reduced me to tears, and generated every emotion in between. Leopold "Leo" King is the narrator and main character; it is his story to tell. In it, he covers everything from what it meant to him to grow up Southern Catholic, to his inability to cope with his brothers death, to his struggles and determination to become a better mana man like his own father, Jasper King, who rivals Atticus Finch when it comes to memorable literary fathers!
Leo is fiercely loyal to his odd menagerie of eccentric and dysfunctional friends, and often profound in his frankness and honesty. Leo is simultaneously courageous and broken, optimistic and lost, but he never gives up, and his friends tend to look to him for direction in their lives.
In the end, SOUTH OF BROAD is worthy of Pat Conroy and worthy of recommendation to anyone looking for a good story to read.
SOUTH OF BROAD covers just about every form of bigotry known to mankind: racial prejudice as experienced through his close friends, Ike Jefferson and his girlfriendand later wifeBetty; the superior attitude of the privileged in this South Carolina town with their scorn for those of a lower social standing; and the attitude reserved for homosexuals in Charleston and beyond back in the 60s. The story builds to a crescendo then falls back and builds again as the reader comes to know and loveor hatethese people whose enduring bond of friendship dates all the way back to their high school days and still remains strong.
As should be expected of any book worthy of ones time, SOUTH OF BROAD induced me to laughter and reduced me to tears, and generated every emotion in between. Leopold "Leo" King is the narrator and main character; it is his story to tell. In it, he covers everything from what it meant to him to grow up Southern Catholic, to his inability to cope with his brothers death, to his struggles and determination to become a better mana man like his own father, Jasper King, who rivals Atticus Finch when it comes to memorable literary fathers!
Leo is fiercely loyal to his odd menagerie of eccentric and dysfunctional friends, and often profound in his frankness and honesty. Leo is simultaneously courageous and broken, optimistic and lost, but he never gives up, and his friends tend to look to him for direction in their lives.
In the end, SOUTH OF BROAD is worthy of Pat Conroy and worthy of recommendation to anyone looking for a good story to read.
Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
