Beach Music: A Novel

I love Pat Conroys writing style, and he told a beautiful story. However, I felt like Id already read this book once before since Id read The Prince of Tides; not to say the story was identical but the plot of the story was similar enough that I was in no rush to finish this novel like Id done with The Prince of Tides (which I read, non-stop, in three days because I was so wrapped up in the characters, the plot and the writing itself.) **Might have some spoilers** The items that were different didnt feel as if they were executed successfully. I am not sure the multiple story lines that were involved in this novel were integrated smoothly, and as a result, the reading was choppy and not altogether interesting all of the time. Sometimes, his characters were one dimensional, and thus they were boring. I kept hoping he would flesh out the father character as much as he did the mother character, and I kept waiting for his protagonist to grow up a bit. The protagonist did a bit in the end but it was so abrupt that it felt false and flawed. But Pat Conroy has a gift with words and his prose is wonderful. The mother-son arc of the story was touching and beautiful. I would recommend it as a good read but I doubt I would ever read this book again - and I keep re-reading The Prince of Tides.

Loved everything about it

I bought this book because of my love of beach music - the Catalinas, the Embers, The Band of Oz and so many others - but I had never read anything by Pat Conroy. I had the book for a long time because I didnt want to make the time commitment to read it (800 pages). But as I was reading it, I wished it would go on forever. My only complaint was Conroys penchant for dragging things out. Lucy was dying the whole book, but she kept rallying back to life to deliver yet another soliloquy to Jack or whomever would listen. I loved the descriptions of Charleston and the low country in general, and the food - oh my goodness it made me drool! I loved the characters, even John Hardin who, even in his craziest, darkest moments, provided an amazing insight into the world of a schizophrenic. The event on the bridge was described so vividly I laughed and blushed at the same time. All in all, Beach Music was many hours well spent. Ken Follett is my favorite author, but Pat Conroy is giving him a run for his money!

Much too long. The “court scene” is too contrived and strains credibility. Still, it was an enjoyable book, and I recommend. The WWII sections, while painful to read, could easily stand on their own: I recommend the book if only to read those sections. The graphic descriptions create such pathos and indignation, that it makes one want to “enter the story” to rectify the injustice and perversion.

My brother hooked me on Conroy. I found that I either loved his novels or liked them. Loves: Lords Of Discipline, The Great Santini, The Water Is Wide Likes: Prince Of Tides, Beach Music I’m about done with Beach Music and will be happy when complete. I agree with others that complain about so many subplots. The halocaust stories were too much and I found myself wanting to skip the chapters (I didn’t). This is a long book with near 700 pages. He should have somehow made two novels. This one is long and frankly depressing. Not a Christmastime reader! If you want a great Conroy novel, read The Lords Of Discipline.

This book took a while to finish, but it was worth it! This story is one story with several stories within it. So many life lessons learned through the pages.

I had to reorder as I loaned my first copy out a few years ago and didnt get it back. I liked the cover on the other book better. I had started reading it and was liking it. Have had many people tell me this is the best love story they have ever read. A very thick book. For those of us who read lying down, it takes getting used to. When Pat Conroy writes, he puts his all in to it. I like books like this that do not mark a special time. You can read from now to anytime in future and still reads the same-not dated by events in the book. I have read most of Pat Conroys books, have them all as when I find a good book and really like it, I order everything they have done. Order this one before unavailable. You wont be disappointed. Will update when finished with the book.

Ive read most of Conroys works and consider him a writer of incomparable skill in crafting imagery and putting words together in fresh, new ways that make me grab my highlighter in a vain attempt to remember and cherish the lines. There are plenty of these opportunities in Beach Music however Beach Music tries to be and do too much. The story of Jack in Rome, the story of Lucy, the story of Shyla and the holocaust, the story of John Hardin, the story of Capers (one complicated guy), the story of Mike and the movies..... Anyone of these stories was enough to digest alone but altogether they often fought for attention instead of working together. Having said that, the story of Shylas parents as persecuted Jews was the most powerful, memorable one Ive ever read and provided details that were new to me. Conroys telling will haunt me and I can believe that grief could permeate a home strongly enough to cause Shylas mental fragility. Jack comes off as largely likeable and Lucy is lovable and daughter Leah is dear so there was enough character-driven force to get me through the novel even though I felt that I was reading 4-5 novels under one title. There is a mock courtroom scene on a movie set that tries a little too hard to tie all the loose ends together late in the novel and I did expect more revelation about Shyla but her letter to Jack was one of sheer beauty and grace worth waiting for. The long and short of it is that even a less than flowing Conroy missive has so much poetry and story-telling prowess that its worthy of praise.

This book is simply amazing. Conroy is inna class bu himself.

This is a very well written sweeping story about a young man growing up in South Carolina and his first deep love of the Jewish girl next door. There are many threads woven into the story including his mother dying of leukemia, his parents’ broken marriage due to,alcohol, his crazy 4 brothers,living in Rome for a time, his wife’s parents’ background of the Holocaust, the Vietnam war and American protests against it, his love of his daughter,and his very close ties to his childhood friends. Excellent!