Readers' Picks

10.25.09

South of Broad

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In Pat Conroy’s South of Broad, the main characters bond as high school seniors in Charleston, S. C., and remain a close-knit group through the 1970’s and ’80’s.  One of the group becomes an Oscar-winning movie actress and another Charleston’s first black police chief.  I found the story outrageous, cliche’-ridden and short on character development.  I persevered through its 512 pages, but would not encourage others to do so.  It did not measure up to two of my Conroy favorites, “The Prince of Tides” and “Beach Music.”   

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– Bill Hill, Tampa, Fla. | Comments (2 comments)

Comments

1. martha barkley | 11.02.09

Bill, I agree with you whole-heartedly…South of Broad is not worth reading…Why did I finish the novel full of silly characters and silly conversations? Because I thought it had to get better…The Booh and Water is Wide were Conroy’s first two books and they are worth reading, both of them (even tho Conroy says not to read The Booh). The Boston Globe gave a decent review this Summer with accurate criticism. The CSMonitor review only stated that the Catholic Church would not have it on its summer reading list. I think all church members and non-members should avoid South of Broad…the treatment of the gay community seemed unreal as well as the tragic Hurricane Hugo situation in the city. The Charleston Mercury recently had a decent review where comments were exactly what I read. Many reviews of South of Broad are not the same book that I read and finished. Thank goodness I read a library copy and did not buy it, martha in charleston, sc

2. martha barkley | 11.02.09

The Great Santini and Lords of Discipline are terrific stories of genuine characters and real life situations. South of Broad is inauthentic in every way with silly characters and sillier conversations…Conroy’s first two books are best: The Booh and Water is Wide…even tho Pat does not recommend his first book, I find it much much better that this latest, martha in charleston, sc

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