Conroy spent much of his career (at least through Beach Music, which is the latest of his books I've read) on the theme of the white Southern male trying to accept the changes in the South during his lifetime. TLoD is the one where he gives it a punch.

I read his newest novel, South of Broad, on vacation. Now, I've loved Pat Conroy for a long time. His writing is definitely florid, but I've been so drawn in by the story he tells that the OTT-ness of some of his language generally doesn't bother me.

South of Broad was a hot mess. He crammed in Shocking Event after Shocking Event, including one completely unnecessary one at the very end. And worst of all was that he spent half the novel *telling* the reader about certain relationships (why so-and-so were friends, for example), rather than *showing* it. About 1/3 of the novel, I think, could have been distilled and then re-worked into something grand. Instead it was just a crazy mess designed to shock by telling the readers that it was shocking.

Also? He *really* needs to stop re-telling the same stories (abusive father, clinically insane wife, blah blah blah). We get it.

He *really* needs to stop re-telling the same stories

That's why I haven't read anything of his since Beach Music. Although I guess if you write long enough, you're going to start repeating yourself.

I think the only one I ever read was Prince of Tides. I loved it, but wow, heavy stuff.

That's one that doesn't get a re-read.

Although I guess if you write long enough, you're going to start repeating yourself.

Nah, he repeats himself in every novel. There's always a Damaged Mentally Ill Woman and always a Horribly Abusive Father and always Oh My God Mother Issues. And usually some weirdness with the Catholic Church. Some that show up in most, but not all, of his novels are Dead Brother, Inexplicable Jewish Character (often Damaged), and Backwoods Hillbillies With An Unbelievably Traumatic Past.

I think the only one I ever read was Prince of Tides. I loved it, but wow, heavy stuff.

God, that's my favorite. I re-read that at least once a year.

I found Anne Rivers Siddons doing the same thing after a while, and although I loved her earlier books, I looked at some of the later ones and they seemed like the same old plots with new names.

John Irving does that too, but in a way that I do not mind. I like looking for the bears.

ETA: His plots are not really the same, just there are elements that appear in each book (bears, wrestling,)

ETA: According to Wikipedia, bears aren't used as often as some other things ( Hotel New Hampshire seems to hit ALL the themes) [link]

There's always a Damaged Mentally Ill Woman and always a Horribly Abusive Father and always Oh My God Mother Issues. And usually some weirdness with the Catholic Church. Some that show up in most, but not all, of his novels are Dead Brother, Inexplicable Jewish Character (often Damaged), and Backwoods Hillbillies With An Unbelievably Traumatic Past.

Hmmmm. Lords of Discipline has a Damaged Pregnant Woman but very little (arguably none) of any of the others. And the Damaged Pregnant Woman is Damaged mainly because she's Pregnant. Or maybe all of the Charlestonians are damaged in one way or another.

My bad. It's been more than 20 years since I read Lords of Discipline, so I disremembered it.

Still, in his novels other than Lords of Discipline, I stand by my criticism of the repeating themes.

If you ever have a chance to hear Pat Conroy speak, take it. He's very funny.