I actually gasped when I read that. He's one of my favorite authors. I follow him on Goodreads and get emails from him. That's just really, really sad news.

Doctor_J

(36,392 posts)

12. Lords of discipline

Reply to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 01:02 AM

Mar 2016

SCantiGOP

(13,869 posts)

14. Maybe my personal favorite

Reply to Doctor_J (Reply #12)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 01:05 AM

Mar 2016

Have lived in SC my while life, and The Citadel is a big presence in this state.

shenmue

(38,506 posts)

16. 'The Lords of Discipline' is one of the best novels by an American ever

Reply to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 01:12 AM

Mar 2016

I read it in high school. Now I'm going to cry.

Zorra

(27,670 posts)

17. Oh, no! Ouch.

Reply to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 01:12 AM

Mar 2016

The Prince of Tides is one of the best novels ever. I loved when Savannah, Luke and Tom saved Snowball the white dolphin so much. I've read the book 5 times, and read all his novels.

Pat Conroy was a master, one of the great novelists of the 20th century.

tularetom

(23,664 posts)

19. That's too bad

Reply to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 01:25 AM

Mar 2016

His earlier books were some of the best stuff I have ever read.

oldandhappy

(6,719 posts)

20. Thank you for the post. Did not know.

Reply to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 02:23 AM

Mar 2016

Enjoyed his books.

dchill

(38,472 posts)

21. RIP to a great writer.

Reply to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 03:07 AM

Mar 2016

Doctor_J

(36,392 posts)

22. I like when writers set their stories where they're from

Reply to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 09:13 AM

Mar 2016

You get a feel for south Carolina from reading Conroy. Same with dave Barry and Miami, Larry mcmurtry and Texas, Sarah paretsky and Chicago, and so on.

SCantiGOP

(13,869 posts)

26. McMurtry is great

Reply to Doctor_J (Reply #22)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 10:45 AM

Mar 2016

I think I've read everything he wrote, but the 3 Lonesome Dove novels are great literature.

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)

23. RIP

Reply to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 09:19 AM

Mar 2016

brer cat

(24,559 posts)

24. “I always thanked Dad

Reply to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 09:20 AM

Mar 2016

for giving me such intense pain as a child,” Mr. Conroy told The Washington Post in 1992, “so I could write about it the rest of my life.”

I thought he was courageous to face his demons and bring them to life on the pages of his works. He eventually reconciled with his father, which I hope gave him peace.

SCantiGOP

(13,869 posts)

25. And he reconciled with the Citadel

Reply to brer cat (Reply #24)

Sat Mar 5, 2016, 10:36 AM

Mar 2016

(Which I had mixed feelings about) and overcame alcoholism but the cancer got him quickly.
I knew one of his brothers, Tom, well. He had some pretty significant substance abuse and mental problems. He worked as a server at a restaurant/bar in Columbia for years and took his own life when he was only 33.