On October 6, we met at Uno's to discuss
Pat Conroy's "The Great Santini". Sue, Donna Smith, Betsy,
Diana, Kathy and I were present and we had all read
the book.
Conroy wrote this book about his Dad
who was a Marine and who supposedly
was a domineering, egotistical, homophobic,
alcoholic, narrow minded, abusive bully.
The book created many rifts in the
Conroy family as it was too close to
home and resulted in divorces of the parents as
well as the author and his wife. Sue said the author had to write
this book to put the past behind him.
Above is Pat Conroy and below is his Dad, Don Conroy 
The book was set in Ravenel but was filmed inBeaufort S.C. and the house is featured
below. These photos were taken by Kathy
who happened to be vacationing there earlier
last month. This was also the venue for the movie
"The Big chill".
Don't you love the Spanish moss hanging from the trees
and the way they evoke the humid, sweltering south?
We discussed the many negative characteristicsof Bull Meacham and how they related to his
treatment of his family. The only good thing
we could say of him was that he was a good
Marine and that explained his values system as he
was a stereo-typical Marine.
We all got to say one word that we thought described Bull
and had to support it with 2 examples that demonstrated this.
In this way we all got to recall parts of the book that we
remembered. Therefore we covered a lot of meaty
subjects. I thought it was one of the better discussions
we have had.
I think Conroy is a great author and I found myself
laughing out loud many times.
The next book was chosen by Donna Riker in absentia.
It is "The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot.
It is a non fiction story about the medical research on the cells
of a poor black southern farming woman which have
been very important in medicine and which are still
alive despite the woman being dead for 60 years.
Have we piqued your interest yet?
Tentative date is November 10.
