My call of action for the Three-Day Quote Challenge came from Susanne Valenti.
Make sure to check out the new blogger on the WordPress block. Thank you, Susanne.
I’m going with quotes from literary characters from novelists dear to my heart. Relatable souls. In day two I dip into the lexicon of the protagnist of the latest novel from the inimitable Pat Conroy.
(Image from Google Books)
South of Broad was published in 2009, a long 14 years after Beach Music, which came out nine years after The Prince of Tides. Conroy takes time to develop his stories and people, rooted in his beloved south. He’s the man who’s brought to the world the vivid tales of The Water Is Wide in 1972, The Great Santini in 1976 and The Lords of Discipline in 1980, movies of varying levels of success made of them all.
It’s been five years since Conroy put Leo King there to reunite in Charleston, S.C., with his turbulent circle of friends and family to say this: “Somehow, we managed to survive that day, but none of us ever experienced the deliverance of recovery. I realize you can walk away from anything but a wounded soul.”
Now that’s relatable to our world.
Please feel free to join this Three-Day Quote Challenge is so moved.
Mark Bialczak 
Oops. I love all of Pat Conroy books but my favorite is the one he teaches on an island, “Conrack.” The movies from the books are great, too. Your quotes made me think, Mark.
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I’m glad I got the mind stirring, Robin. Yes, “Conrack” was made from “The Water Is Wide.” Good movie with Jon Voight starring as the teacher.
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So glad you remembered the name of the book. I did read it but titles slip easily out of my mind. I actually liked the movie for “Prince of Tides” better and the book more for the “Great Santini.” The movie for the latter made me uncomfortable at th he level of meanness of Pat C’s father. Great acting but uncomfortable. Thank you, Mark for replying even when I am late to respond.
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I’ll always respond no matter the timing, Robin. Life has no set schedules regarding blogging, for me, either. ❤
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I love the book
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Thanks for the support, Robin. Conroy is a master. 🙂
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I also like Frank McCourt’s trilogy of books of Irish family and then, Irish-American’s: “Angela’s Ashes,” “‘Tis” and “Bad Teacher.”
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I am unfamiliar with those, Robin. Thank you for the suggestions. 🙂
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That’s definitely related to me right now bro Mark. And I have read Pat Conroy. One out of 3 — not exactly a winner, but at least I’ve read it. After all, he IS from the South. We have intelligent people with wise words in the South.
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You sure do, sis Angie, have a lot of wisdom in the south. You included. ❤
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Aw, gee thanks bro Mark. I think I’ll trade one of my biological brothers in for you, as soon as I figure out which one ticks me off the most. Pretty sure it will be the oldest one, but another one is in the running right now too.
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Just add me, no subratctions needed. 😉
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he is one of my favs, and i read and loved this book. great quote!
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Thanks, Beth. I am not surprised that you are on the Pat Conroy train. 🙂
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I started reading that a few months ago. Great writing, but the plot started getting too weird for me. I got through over half of it, I remember twins and a water scene and paper delivery, a dinner party with a heated argument, a fallen Hollywood star…
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Yes, that’s how Conroy puts it out there, Kerbey. Things get peculiar in a hurry. I enjoy it more in my fiction than actual life, you see. 🙂
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Agreed!
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Great choice, Mark. I love that he takes his time, the effort shows in his works. The Prince of Tides is one of my all time favorites. He writes with such heart and authenticity about the South. Love the quote, have not read the book…added to the list. Thanks. ☺
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I think Conroy writes about the South with love and family with frightening honesty, Van. It’s always time to celebrate when he comes out with another tome. 🙂
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Once again, an original spin on the challenge. You’re coming up with some great ones Mark!
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Thanks, Marissa. I try, and I’m glad you notice, my dear friend. ❤ Of course I can't go to verse like you. 😮
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I always try. It seems you always have something clever to say and also witty comments.
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Thank you very much! And you do more than try, Marissa. You do.
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Glad you notice!
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Of course I do, my friend. 🙂
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I love Conroy. I am going to have to check out his latest book. You are right, he is slow to publish but worth the wait!
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Yes, getting a book out of this man of the south is like pulling teeth. 🙂 Enjoy, DE.
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Unfortunately yes. One of my favorite ecosystems is the salt marsh and he has one of my favorite descriptions ever in Prince of Tides. It appears in the opening pages: “I would say, “Breathe deeply,” and you would breathe and remember that smell for the rest of your life, the bold, fecund aroma of the tidal marsh, exquisite and sensual, the smell of the South in heat, a smell like new milk, semen, and spilled wine, all perfumed with seawater.”
This description is perfection.
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That’s the writer and observer we love, DE. Wow. Thanks for bringing up that passage from a really great novel.
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It made my hair stand on end the first time I read it and I never forgot the passage.
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And you would know of that ecosystem, my friend.
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I love Pat Conroy! He spoke for my AP English class and also for my college graduation. His gift for language is astounding! South of Broad is a great story.
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He’s such a great storyteller and wordsmith. Pat won over this Northerner, Kimi. You are fortunate to have talked with him in a class and had him as your graduation speaker, my friend. 🙂
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