The Prince of Tides

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It's a hit!

Having read (and loved) Beach Music many years ago, I thought I'd give Pat Conroy another whirl and I am thrilled that I did! What a deeply moving... (show more)

Having read (and loved) Beach Music many years ago, I thought I'd give Pat Conroy another whirl and I am thrilled that I did! What a deeply moving story, that of a family both held together and torn apart by a disfunctional environment to the nth degree. The mindset of each of the siblings are so diverse despite their closeness, which make for an interesting dynamic. While the reader feels the characters' pain, it is not a "heavy" or somber read, but rather one that pulls you into the verse and carries you along. Conroy is a master of detail and description, as Collton, the rivers, the birds, etc. are clearly visible as you read, making the story even more engrossing, putting you right there with Tom and his siblings, for better or worse. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys stories that are rooted in complicated family dynamics without all of the cliches that typically weave their way into the works of lesser authors. (show less)

 

 

by Facebook User

No, it's a flop!

overrated, ridiculous dialogue, felt kind of disjointed which would have fit with the plot if it were on purpose, but i don't think it was... SKIP IT

 

 

by Shana D. Lynch

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  The plot, the intricate psychology, and the incredible characterization are superb; however, even with how good they are, those characteristics are not the best part of the book for me: rather, the incredible things that Conroy does with language are what took my appreciation of the book to the next level.

  I cannot give a fair depiction of the skill Conroy evinces with his language. With a few words, he can effectively capture a scene, a character, an emotion. His words bring the page to ... (show more)

  The plot, the intricate psychology, and the incredible characterization are superb; however, even with how good they are, those characteristics are not the best part of the book for me: rather, the incredible things that Conroy does with language are what took my appreciation of the book to the next level.

  I cannot give a fair depiction of the skill Conroy evinces with his language. With a few words, he can effectively capture a scene, a character, an emotion. His words bring the page to life, and, as good as the rest of the writing is, the langauge is the star of the book.

  However, as I mentioned, most everything else is good, too. The only major issue that I had was that the end felt tacked on to the rest of the story, and somewhat out of place and character. Horrible things happened to the protagonist and his family, yet Conroy does not treat these difficulties as excuses as much as explanations for their behavior, neither condemning nor overly praising them.

  The book is fantastic; I could read it over and over. It is very much suggested. (show less)

   

   

  by Gina Filo on Sep 10, 2009 at 09:43PM

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  I picked up The Prince of Tides on a whim, and I'm glad I did because it is one of the most wonderful books I have EVER read. The first time I had heard of Pat Conroy was when I bought a copy of Gone With The Wind that he had written an introduction to, and I was impressed with him just from that. The Prince of Tides didn't disappoint, either.

  The main character, Tom, was the most grounded character in a story that is beautifully surreal and downright bizarre at times. He was the anchor th... (show more)

  I picked up The Prince of Tides on a whim, and I'm glad I did because it is one of the most wonderful books I have EVER read. The first time I had heard of Pat Conroy was when I bought a copy of Gone With The Wind that he had written an introduction to, and I was impressed with him just from that. The Prince of Tides didn't disappoint, either.

  The main character, Tom, was the most grounded character in a story that is beautifully surreal and downright bizarre at times. He was the anchor that kept the whole tale from spinning out of control. At first I questioned Tom's likeability, but as he began to tell the story of Savannah, Luke and himself, as well as their parents, I began to sympathize with him and even relate to him (to a very limited extent).

  The story of parental abuse, class discrimination, Savannah's mental illness, Luke's fight with the federal government and Tom's desperate attempt to save Savannah while re-examining his own life with Savannah's therapist made for a gripping narrative that I won't forget for a long time. I'll most definitely read this book again after enough time passes. I also look forward to reading more of Conroy's books in the future. (show less)

   

   

  by Miranda Cantrell James on Sep 05, 2009 at 08:01PM

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