South of Broad

What an amazing book. I have to say, I think Pat Conroy is one of the greatest writers of our time. He writes with emotion, wit, grace, style, and charm. In his latest book, South of Broad, he introduces us to an unlikely group of friends brought together by the narrator, Leopold Bloom King (how's that for a great literary name?). The novel covers their lives over the course of 20+ years, from high school in 1969 through Hurrican Hugo in 1990. And through it all is Charleston, obviously a city Conroy loves and knows well.

This book touched me in so many ways. I was by turns amused, enchanted, disgusted, and shocked. I often felt like I was right there with Leo, Sheba, Trevor, Ike, Betty, Niles, Starla, Molly, Fraser, and Chad, and like I knew them. I think one of Conroy's greatest gifts as a writer is his ability to write about damaged people, in some cases seriously damaged people, who survive, and even thrive. That is what I take away from South of Broad - that you can have a lot of horrible things happen in your life, but they don't have to make you into a horrible person. You CAN rise above what life does to you. And that is a pretty powerful lesson.