Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy by Nicole Seitz

Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy Reviews

• 
  Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader

  5 stars to this beautiful tribute to Pat Conroy!
  
  Pat Conroy is a favorite author of mine. I haven’t read all his books, but each I have has been one I’ve savored. He was bold and upfront about his challenging childhood, and his writing was influenced by that.
  
  If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be Beach Music. I bought it for my dad as a gift because he grew up on beach music (and I did, too, thanks to him). My dad is (and was at the time) a pretty strict western reader, and within that genre has one or two authors he prefers. That said, he enjoyed Beach Music, so much so, that the copy is well-worn. After he read it, I picked it up, and I think I liked it even more than he did. The storytelling was like no other. I was whisked away to a different time and place.
  
  Conroy mentored many other authors, even starting his own publishing imprint. The list is endless, and you can read in the synopsis just how many friends in and outside of the writing community he had. Everyone who wrote about him had a different anecdote to share, a different piece or side of him they saw. The love for him by these individuals is palpable on the pages. One could only hope to have 1/10th the impact on those around you.
  
  Pat Conroy was known for his storytelling. He made it all seem natural and easy to leave pieces of your heart on pieces of paper. This book is a tribute to a well-loved and well-respected author. Our Prince of Scribes is beautifully written, engaging, and from the heart. I’m sure Pat Conroy would approve. This book would make an excellent gift for any fan of Conroy, fans of southern fiction, impeccable storytelling, teachers, and just about anyone. I know I’ll treasure my copy.
  
  Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invitation and to the editors for my copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
  
  My reviews can also be found on my blog:
  www.jennifertarheelreader.com
• 
  Marialyce

  5 stars for a tribute to an author I loved
  My reviews can be seen here:
  https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
  
  "There's no word in the language I revere more than 'teacher.' My heart sings when a kid refers to me as his teacher, and it always has. I've honored myself and the entire family of man by becoming a teacher." Even though Pat Conroy only taught for a year newly into his career, he always was a teacher. He taught us and me especially, such a love for his words, his sense of humor, his life and its accomplishments, and the joy he brought to me when reading his books.
  
  "I was born and raised on a Carolina sea island and I carried the sunshine of the low-country, inked in dark gold, on my back and shoulders."
  
  I have been a Pat Conroy fan for ages. I started my reading journey with him with his book The Prince of Tides. I was hooked and moved onto The Lords of Discipline savoring every word and every smile and tear I shed. Although I have read all of his books my favorite will always be Beach Music. I laughed out loud, I cried big ugly tears, and I found my love for this man increase with every page. In this love of Pat, I know I am not alone. This book points to that fact, as many wrote how and what they knew and felt about Pat. He was a master author, will always have that number one place in my heart.
  
  For me, his death from pancreatic cancer at age seventy is ever so sad. I will never get to anxiously await a new novel of his, or be able to follow his work, and hope that some day he might come to my town. However, I do have all of Pat's books and have read each and every one, including his cookbook. savoring every word and page.
  
  His boyhood was tragic, but he was able to move beyond it and never resort to victim hood. He moved forward, oftentimes painfully but with a hope that through his writing he might for a few hours touch another. I know he touched me in so many ways and I, too, join those who both contributed to this book as well as fellow Pat Conroy admirers.
  
  Many thanks to the people who wrote this tribute, to University of Georgia, and to Edelweiss for a copy of this homage to an author I loved.
  
  
• 
  Negin

  Pat Conroy is one of my favorite writers, and I was looking forward to reading this compilation. I am probably in the minority here, since I found it to be mostly boring.
  
  Here are two of my favorite quotes:
  
  Mothers
  “… I believe there’s a little bit of Santini in every father, and every mother knows and fears this. Our mothers, deep down, hope their sons will circumvent this character flaw and grow to be men like Pat, who was aware of his behavior, understood the sensibilities of women, and respected all people. Mothers pray that no hand will ever be lifted to strike their sons, nor their sons raise a hand to strike their wife or children.”
  
  Motive for Writing
  “I can remember Pat telling me many years later that a powerful motive for writers is revenge.
  
• 
  Fred Forbes

  A couple of years ago I was traveling through the South and decided on a side trip to Beaufort, South Carolina lovingly described by recently passed Pat Conroy, one of my favorite authors. His "Prince of Tides" is on my lifetime top 10 list. Not only was I able to snag a replica copy of his first book, the self published "The Boo" but it was signed both by Pat and The Boo (Lt. Colonel Thomas Courvoisie). I then discovered the Pat Conroy Literary Center. Despite the fact that they were not officially open, a few people were working and let us come in for a visit. Managed a picture of me at Pat's desk, a picture of said desk which is included in this book so kind of a fun conversation item.
  
  Frankly, I am not sure whether the 5 stars I have awarded this collection of tributes to and memories of Pat Conroy because I am a such a fan of his writing or because these anecdotes reflect what a decent, generous, funny and supportive person he could be. Certainly the 60+ folks represented here with 2-3 page comments are quite varied in quality and approach so consistency is not a factor in the rating. The contributors range from folks in his family to those he met along the way such as Barbara Streisand and Rick Bragg, and what I found interesting was the peek behind the curtain at various aspects of the publishing and media game.
  
  One nagging detail that I could not figure out is that another of my favorite authors, Ann Patchett gives a nice blurb to the book, shown on the front and back covers, but there is no contribution from her to the collection. Strange. Maybe she only knew him through his writing.
  
  Pat will certainly be missed. Probably time to revisit his classics like "Lords of Discipline", the "Great Santini" and naturally, "The Prince of Tides". A life lesson here as well. I wish I had chased down a signing or book fest that he was participating in, even if it meant driving hundreds of miles. I sure would have liked to meet him but thought he would be hanging around a bit longer. Pancreatic cancer is too quick and too cruel.
• 
  Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads)

  Pat Conroy has romanced readers with his descriptions of the Lowcountry and frustrated some with the detailed descriptions and languid dialogue that Southern writers are infamous for.
  
  He became a legend around Beaufort, SC for his warm smile, conversation, and love of the community. Every local there has a Pat story to share. And it would seem every writer, any one at all who has seriously dragged a pen across the page - published or not, has a story to share. Collected here in Our Prince of Scribes is a long list of folks who knew Conroy throughout his life and they all agree that to know Pat was to become not just a friend but family.
  
  Anne Rivers Siddons writes: "If Pat Conroy hadn't existed, it would have been necessary to invent him. I never met anyone else whom that old saw applied so aptly."
  
  Conroy's life was full of tragedy that could shake anyone to the bone and yet he thrived; he had passion for writing and people and life.
  "For Pat Conroy, tragedy and comedy were faithful companions, yin and yang, Siamese twins impossible to separate, conceived in love and born of a painful labor. And nothing sacred. Except everything." -Margaret Evans
  
  "The family decoder ring: tragedy becomes the fodder for Conroy humor. That's how we survived it all." his brother Tim Conroy shared.
  
  Almost every story included in this book points out he loved to make a late night phone call and if unanswered, his message would almost always start out: "It's obvious to me that it's up to me to keep this dying friendship alive..."
  
  He was a self-professed "blurb slut" who had no issue with reading an unknown writer and offering up a blurb to go with the release. He remembered how hard it was to get an established writer to blurb his own books in the beginning so he wanted to do what he could to help out up and coming writers.
  He had a sixth sense for knowing when to call a writer and offer up encouragement. There was no arrogance about him, he wanted every single writer to find their voice and succeed, "his was a resounding message of encouragement to any aspiring writer." Tim writes.
  Pat was a champion for everything he loved. He stood up against censorship and school boards that banned books, telling them that every kid was going to read his book now that they'd been told not to.
  He'd lend an ear, a word of advice, a joke, or a place at his dinner table to anyone in need and make you feel like the most important person in the room.
  
  The contributors to Our Prince of Scribes all have similar stories of Pay Conroy that describe him exactly as he portrayed himself on and off the page: a man who suffered abuse as a child, carried a darkness throughout his life, and though he struggled with tragedy that would make most people crumble - lived life to its very fullest through his writing and his family and friends; and managed to do so with charm and humor.
  
  "Reading Pat, and later knowing him, has been a life-class not only in how to write but how to live. To be loyal, to be honest, to be kind. To love the South while refusing to accept its failings and shortcomings. To pay forward what cannot possibly be paid back. To write about your family, to love your family. To look directly at all the world's horror, to face it honestly, but never turn mean. That's what knowing Pat and reading Pat taught me, and is teaching me still." -Mark Powell
  
  If you're a fan of Pat Conroy's novels, you're also a fan of the man because he so often wrote about his own life in both memoir and fiction. He embraced his life and shared it with the world in a real and honest way. This book is a tribute to the man who is a legend because he faced the world honestly. I can't think of a more profound way to live.
  
  Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing a DRC for review purposes.
  
  *All quotes included are from a digital review copy and are subject to change upon final publication.
  
• 
  Sue

  I only met Pat Conroy at book signings (three of them) but he was without question my favorite author and after reading this book, I learned that he wasn't JUST a wonderful author - more importantly, he was a wonderful person. He was a teacher, a mentor to many new authors, a friend to many and just an all around great guy. When Pat Conroy died in 2016, the world lost a man who had written several wonderful books and who had a control of the English language like no one else that I've ever read. The authors who contributed to this book all talk about the impact they had on their lives - whether they were new author friends or friends for 50 years.
  
  The contributors to this book are a diverse group of people - Pulitzer Prize winners Rick Bragg and Kathleen Parker; Grammy winners Barbra Streisand and Janis Ian; Lillian Smith Award winners Anthony Grooms and Mary Hood; National Book Award winner Nikky Finney; James Beard Foundation Award winners Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart; a corps of New York Times best-selling authors, including Ron Rash, Sandra Brown, and Mary Alice Monroe; Conroy biographers Katherine Clark and Catherine Seltzer; longtime Conroy friends Bernie Schein, Cliff Graubart, John Warley, and Walter Edgar; Pat's students Sallie Ann Robinson and Valerie Sayers; members of the Conroy family; and many more. Nicole Seitz, the editor and a fantastic author did a fantastic job of setting up the essays in this book in a meaningful way.
  
  This book will make a difference in the next book that you pick up -- if you haven't read Pat Conroy, you'll realize what you've missed and know that it's time to start reading his books. If you are a Pat Conroy fan, this book will make you want to take your copy of Prince of Tides or Beach Music off your shelf and travel to the low country and get reacquainted with those characters that you loved.
• 
  Jen

  Pat Conroy was the king of southern literature. Hell, he still is and always will be. Even before I discovered my love of southern fiction, I knew who Pat Conroy was. The Prince of Tides. I remember when the movie came out. I was 9 and it starred Babs. That was a pretty big deal if I remember correctly. Well, clearly the man left a mark on everyone, as Barbra Streisand herself wrote the foreword.
  
  Our Prince of Scribes is a lovely dedication to the complicated man so many knew and loved. It gives us readers a glimpse into the person he was and into the admired man he became. A perfect gift for fans, a treasured keepsake for many, Scribes is one of the best memorials I’ve read, definitely a favorite of 2018.
  
  Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours and University of Georgia Press for the honor of receiving an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
  
• 
  Amy Grossman

  A beautiful tribute to one of my all time favorite authors. I read each Pat Conroe book twice. Pat’s gift of language, of making the low country something I could see, feel and touch through his use of words. Pat Conroy made his tortured and brutal childhood relatable and staggeringly heartbreaking. You where an artist a mentor and a friend to so many. Yours was a great love.
• 
  Mari Carroll

  I'm at a loss as to how I can give credit to the amazing piece of literature that this is. In simple terms, friends and authors pay tribute to Pat Conroy after his death in 2016, but it was SO much more. Having been a big fan of Conroy, I knew how approachable he was because of the interviews I had read...but these submissions took that "a" word to a whole new level. He did everything he could to help new authors succeed.
  
  He provided them with many, many "blurbs" from a famous author that would help sell their books. He remembered them and recognized them and interacted with them even with his high status as a top author. But here is my main takeaway. He befriended so many of these authors and had phone conversations with them on a regular basis. But if they didn't pick up...here was his message: "I'm working hard to keep this dying friendship alive." Sometimes there were expletives in front of the word "hard" but you get the point. He had REGULAR phone conversations with individuals that were not even a real part of his life. When is the last time I or you or whoever did that? It feels like we all keep up via facebook or text or insta or whatever...how can we truly ENGAGE?
  
  There is SO MUCH about this book that is right. First of all...Pat Conroy. One of my all time favorite authors who I am even more endeared to because of his ability to reach out to others and assure them that their flaws are minimal and that their potential is HUGE.
  
  I'm trying to explain this book, but I'm doing a terrible job. I loved that there were so many amazing intelligent conversations not only within his books, but within his dialogues with the individuals who contributed their material. I loved that the people actually RAN in circles...having the same bookshop/editor/etc. named more than once. And the variety of stories...unbelievable!
  
  Bottom line. This book changed me. The legacy that Pat Conroy left behind was one to strive for. I want to be that person who has those phone conversations. I want to be that encourager and motivator. I loved that he took so many others under his wing, and somehow, someway, I want to be that person.
  
  I don't care if you don't like Pat Conroy. I don't really even care if you like literature. If you like words and people, then this book will be SO much up your alley. And if you do like literature, especially Pat Conroy, then boy are you in for a TREAT!
  
  One of my favorite parts of reading this was googling all of the folks who submitted...and I have already added at least 45+ books written by those individuals to my "to read" list on Goodreads. Such great literature that bloomed from the influence of Mr. Conroy himself.
  
  No...I am not related to him. NO...I do not get a kickback from recommending him. He has simply been one of my all time favorites so reading this incredible compilation to pay him tribute has wrapped up all of the loose ends. I had the pleasure of visiting his grave in St. Helena Island where so many remembrances and letters were on his grave and I now want to ensure that I visit the library in Beaufort in his honor. Gentlemen like him are few and far between...esp when they are subject to what he went through. Many of us have similar stories.
  
  Final note. I cannot wait to re-read all of his books. I cannot wait to start having REAL phone conversations with my friends. I cannot wait to pay more attention to details, like he did. And...maybe one day I will write something that is worthy of Mr. Conroy. And maybe I can think of him as Pat one day.
• 
  Linda Zagon

  Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Our Prince of Scribes” “Writers Remember Pay Conroy” Edited by Nicole Seitz and Jonathan Haupt
  
  After reading “Our Prince of Scribes” Edited by Nicole Seitz and Jonathan Haupt, I wished that I had the opportunity to meet Pat Conroy while he was alive. I can see from the contributions of all the authors, that Pat Conroy was a generous, kind, helpful and loyal friend to Authors and Writers. In addition, there were actresses and screen writers who paid tribute.
  
  I especially enjoyed reading excerpts from the authors that I have read their books, and am familiar with them. Each one told their story of their connection to Pat Conroy and the literary world. In Kathy Murphy’s, “My Hero”, I appreciated how Pat Conroy was a special friend. I was so touched by Bren McClain’s “A Circle Lit in Holy Light”. Nicole Seitz, Barbara Streissand, Janis Ian, Patti Callahan Henry, Mary Alice Monroe, Sandra Brown, and so many wonderful contributors to list, individually all were so very fond of Pat Conroy. They all had the same things to say, Pat would call each one, and let them know it was his responsibility to keep up the friendship in his special way.
  
  “The Prince of Scribes” was an educator, and had certain ideals that he fought for. Although Pat, grew up in an abusive household, especially from his father, he was able to redirect his anger to the written word. He would never be the man to raise his hand to a woman or child. After his books were made into movies, he didn’t consider himself, above anyone else. There was no jealousy, just the urge to help another writer.
  
  One of the cute contributions that shows his sense of play and humor comes from his loving wife. On Page 266 from Cassandra King Conroy,”His usual response when someone asked about my writing was to say his wife wrote pornography while he wrote only Christian fiction. He once announced to a packed audience at the Miami Book Festival that I was (then unknown) of “Fifty Shades of Grey” Next to him on stage, I snorted, “You wish, “ I said. Oh, Pat.”
  
  I would highly recommend this entertaining and wonderful book filled with memories, friendship and stories of “Our Prince of Scribes”-Pat Conroy.
• 
  Bobbi

  I adored Pat Conroy: as a writer of incomparable stories; as the inspiration for my love of the Lowcountry, long before I ever set foot here and discovered the scent of pluff mud and evergreens that came to mean "home;" as a reader who suggested enough books to keep my nose buried for the rest of my life; as a dedicated supporter of other writers; as a passionate lover and appreciator of his readers; but most of all, for the loving, mischievous, kind man he was, when his awful childhood could have turned him into a mean, miserable person.
  
  When a new Conroy book lands in my hands, I usually devour it immediately, but I knew this one would be different. As I did with A Lowcountry Heart, I read this one in small doses because I knew it would be a beautifully written, funny, heartwarming, and deeply heartbreaking journey. Reading accounts by writers and friends who knew him well, I said a prayer of gratitude that I had the immense pleasure of meeting him not once, but several times at various book events. Those times are among the highlights of my life because he was always warm, gracious, and treated me as though I were the only person in the room. He once sang to me of friends. My deepest thanks to Nicole Seitz, Jonathan Haupt, and Cassandra King Conroy for this treasure.
• 
  Jim

  Not my normal cup of tea, but I relished the opportunity to glean a few insights and anecdotes about one of my favorite writers. Sure, I already knew so much of the information presented, through his own writings, talks, and other materials, but I would have read this book nonetheless. I even knew or had met a few of the people included. A few small surprises, but for the most part you could see the consistency in the stories: a beloved friend and someone willing to do anything to promote and encourage writers, a larger-than-life personality. I only met him once, timidly approached and only wanted to shake his hand, which he did and then he took a few minutes to chat anyway. Pat Conroy touched me with his words, both in person and in print.
• 
  Susan Peterson

  This book reads like a love letter....a series of essays sharing the authors’ love, admiration, and respect for Pat Conroy. Pat Conroy was more than just an outstanding, successful author; he was also a friend, a brother, a husband, a mentor, a father and a teacher. The authors of this book are not only a Who’s Who of the literary world, but also superstar entertainers, family members, and lifelong friends, who have one thing in common...a deep and abiding love for their Prince of Scribes. Their essays are intimate, funny, and heartwarming. This book belongs on the bookshelves of writers, teachers, and all lovers of stories.
• 
  Brei

  I have been a fan of Pat Conroy from an early age. I remember when the movie Prince of Tides came out I ran to get the book. I am one of those weirdos that sometimes watches the movie first then picks up the book. I fell in love with Pat's imagery and characters. I devoured his books.
  
  Pat was the King of Southern Literature and I know he inspired many to read and write in the genre. Not only was Pat the King of Southern Lit he was a teacher, mentor, friend, and loving husband. He would read an upcoming author no questions asked just to write a blurb for their book jacket. He would call an author up just to give them encouragement. Somehow he just seemed to know that author needed it.
  
  I loved this book and how each person had a loving antidote to tell about Pat. The essays are intimate and funny only in a way a close friend or family member could tell it. I loved his wife's tidbits. They were bittersweet but also made me laugh out loud. I loved reading the essays of other authors I read regularly and seeing their connection with Pat.
  
  This book is a must for fans of Southern Lit and Pat Conroy. This would make a great gift for the reader in your life.
  
  Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours and University of Georgia Press for the free book and the opportunity to read Our Prince of Scribes.
• 
  Claire Fullerton

  I loved every line in this gift of a book, and knew right away I didn't want to rush through it, for it is the kind of tome one wants to savor. For all those moved to the bone marrow by Pat Conroy's books, this collection of essays personalizes the man behind the magic. The collection weaves to enlighten the reader with the idea that Pat Conroy was more than a writer, he was chock-full of personality and had an altruistic heart. I've decided that Our Prince of Scribes is the ultimate book to give as a gift to friends that love reading. Reading is such a personal experience, and this book is constructed in such a manner that it delves into the very spirit of why. In any book, I believe it all comes down to the power of connection between the reader and writer. In Our Prince of Scribes, each voice we hear shines with love and pure intent, as it seeks to articulate the impact left by this larger than life man. I could literally feel the love as I turned through the pages, and found it utterly inspirational. Pat Conroy taught many how to write by virtue of his gift, but in reading Our Prince of Scribes, it occurs to me he also taught many how to live.
• 
  Tamara

  Quick thoughts:
  
  Whether you are a fan of Pat Conroy, a FAN of Pat Conroy or just know his books through movies- Pat Conroy, when he was alive, touched many lives and his legacy continues.
  
  This book is part love letter to Pat- the many ways he helped, touched people's lives, inspired authors.... and a way for readers to get to see a deeper, dare say more personal side of Pat as the authors contributing to this book share their stories on how Pat touched their lives.
  
  Recommended.
  
  Book 3 of 2019.
• 
  Paige

  "Pat left us a lifetime of words and tales to savor, but his true legacy is the seed he planted in each person who shook his hand." Pat Conroy: teacher, writer, mentor, was one of the most influential people of his time. Spanning his fifty year writing career, those influenced by his work share their encounters with this literary legend. This body of work is divided into three sections spanning Pat's life.
  
  The first section, his early years as a student and teacher, cover tales of abuse during his childhood through his experiences teaching at his former alma mater as well as being the first white schoolteacher on Daufuskie Island. The second section, becoming a best-selling author, covers his journey as an author, and how he influenced so many through his writings. As Anne Rivers Siddons states, "If Pat Conroy hadn't existed, it would have been necessary to invent him." And the final section, sustained and sustaining friendships, is a final testament to his legacy. This collection of work is heartwarming in every sense of the word.
  
  I had a vague understanding of who Pat Conroy was before reading this beautiful compilation of work. But I had no idea how influential he was to so many people, and how greatly he impacted the literary world.
  
  Of all the sections, my favorite had to be the first section that focused on his mentorship. As a teacher myself, I found a kinship in reading about Pat and how his honest, no nonsense style positively influenced so many of his students, as well as those around him. One of my favorite essays was the one by Sallie Ann Robinson. She was a student on Daufuskie Island when Pat Conroy taught. She later went on to become an author and shares her experience of how supportive Conroy continued to be long after the days in the classroom. This goes to show that though he was a complicated man, his soul was meant to inspire and teach.
  
  This book is better than a memoir. It is better than a eulogy. It is a real, raw, and honest account of a man's life. Though perspectives and encounters of Conroy vary, the underlying theme remains the same: adoration.
• 
  Christina

  This book is a special ode an author that brought inspiration, richness, and a wide variety of relationships to the literary world. It was extremely fascinating to enter the world of author Pat Conroy in such a unique way. The book itself was almost like reading an obituary in book form based on the variety of voices brought to life and each had a unique perspective and experience of this interesting man.
  
  The foreword written by Barbra Streisand was notable to me.
  
  “Pat Conroy was a force for good in our world. With courage and grace, he brought the gifts of the devastating beauty of his writing and his transcendent vision of the human heart to the lives of the readers he touched and the writers he inspired”.
  
  I found that quotation to be ever so beautiful and appreciate the profound impact one man had on so many people. It’s rich and fascinating to read about the imprint he had on so many lives. He wasn’t perfect, he was complex and you can see this in all the various relationships he had. There are many sides to Pat Conroy and this book doesn’t disappoint in showing them.
  
  Another section that interested me was written by New York Times Bestseller, Sandra Brown. It’s titled, To Know the Author and the Man. She discusses the day she met him and how it was the day, she lost his heart to him. Then she discusses how she met Pat’s wife at a book signing year’s later and she tells Sandra that Pat says hello and remembers meeting her years earlier. She also discusses a few interesting stories, dialogue, and ended with an affectionate reunion at a book fair years later. She discuses the unmatched legacy left by Pat Conroy and I found it to be endearing. His impact is summed up very well in her last sentence, ” For having known Pat Conroy, the author and the man, my life was blessed.”
  
  Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours and University of Georgia Press for a gifted copy of this book to enjoy.
• 
  Theresa

  I find it difficult to "review" a collection of essays, each essay is so different. This is a lovely tribute to a man whose work influenced many people - writers and non writers alike.
  
  I learned a lot about Pat Conroy from this book and it was organized in a way that I did not expect. It started with people who were able to tell stories about him when he was young and took you through his career. I was touched at how many people knew him and wrote essays for this book. Each person seemed to actually have known Mr. Conroy and were not just writing about his influence on them as a writer, but also his influence on them as a person. He was a beautiful man, which I guess should not come as a surprise, because how could someone write such beautiful, touching novels if they were not a kind, inspiring, good person?
  
  I also learned a lot about Southern culture and how tight the community of Southern writers can be. Pat Conroy was a good friend to many, always there to lend an ear or a hand. He was the kind of friend that you could just pick up where you left off, even if you had not spoken for a while; but he did make a point to stay in touch with his many friends.
  
  I came away from this book thinking that he lived his fiction. His fictional characters and the way I felt reading his books were what he exuded in life. What a beautiful legacy to leave.
• 
  Jonie Mcgraw

  If you're not a fan of Pat Conroy, this book isn't for you. If you are a fan, you will enjoy the intimate tributes written by people who knew him well. The admiration does at times feel a bit tedious and redundant, but what do you expect when the essays are written by family, fans, friends, and colleagues whose lives were impacted by such a dynamic and outspoken man who also happened to be a successful and famous writer? One characteristic of Pat Conroy that seemed to be commonly observed by many of the contributors was his desire to be a strong advocate for new writers - often writing blurbs for first books and being accessible for encouragement and advice. There are many interesting tidbits throughout the book that provide insight into the man behind the eloquent pen, and once you close the book, you'll find yourself wishing that you could have been among the many who had the privilege of being his friend.
• 
  Karli Eller

  A series of stories shared by over a hundred people that had interactions with Pat Conroy over the course of his life. From family members to students to authors he encouraged to friends, each helps show a different part of who Pat was and the lives he somehow touched or influenced. It is now all flowers and I appreciated that. This gave a sense of who Pat was, warts and all through the eyes of those who knew him best.
• 
  Ms. Tongate, TLC Librarian

  A must read for Pat Conroy's fans. I fall in love with Pat Conroy and his words with each book I read. No one paints the Lowcountry like Pat Conroy. I agree with Kathleen Parker that Pat Conroy's words made him the sexiest man alive. He will always be my Lowcountry Love.
• 
  Deb

  What a lovely tribute to a beloved author. It made me go back and see which of his books I haven't read.
• 
  Wendell Barnes

  Laughed, cried, smiled and fell in love with Pat even more strongly than before! I miss you Pat! Encouraged me to get to work on that novel! Great love!
• 
  Cathryne

  This was a lovely book but it only made me miss him more.