Cassandra King

While it remained interesting until the end, this seems to be more a story about serious illnesses among the author's loved ones and acquaintances--Pat Conroy's foremost. It presents a very personal picture of an 18 year marriage that succeeded against considerable odds--it was Conroy's third. There aren't that many insights into Conroy as a writer here, except that the book shows us he was Southern to the core. It did inspire me to go to Youtube to watch a speech Conroy gave to a small college in Georgia, as well as his commencement address at the Citadel in 2001. Both are impressive, and the first is hysterical. I guess Cassandra King Conroy has done us a favor at least by reminding us of her husband's greatness and inspiring us to read or re-read his work. But it still went on too long, and some aspects of the story really aren't quite believable. Judge for yourself. The narrator, Susan Bennett, however, was superb. Being from Alabama myself, her accent made me believe I was listening to the South Alabama-born author.… (more)

I'd put this book on my wish list a few years ago and my husband just surprised me with it this summer. When I began reading I kept saying that I would have loved it a couple years ago but it wasn't my style so much now. I was very sure it was going to be heartbreaking in a way that would hit close to home for me. It was. It also ended up grabbing me and pulling me in. I knew the characters, I cared for some, couldn't stand others. The story is really about love in many forms, deep and connected to selfish and obsessive. There is a strong religious tug of war, the main character is a preacher's wife with a liberal heart. Emotional slice of life story with plenty of moments to keep you turning the pages well after bedtime.… (more)