South of Broad: Review by Carissa

South of Broad:

This story will be one of those that pops into my head for years to come.   Pat Conroy is an incredible story teller.  The way he describes the smallest of things makes them come to life.  I may have been at a slight advantage as I was listening to it be read to me on an CD.  His words just seemed to drip like honey.

I loved the depth that he went into about each character.  The way he would allow you a glimpse into the future and then take you back to those character building moments of youth kept me captivated.  I always wish they would go a little deeper with the background information and whenever I found myself asking a question he would eventually cover it.

The tragedy that kicked this book off is shadowed in misery without much clarification.  It really didn't need any.  Something awful happened and sometimes there isn't a reason why.  People struggle to get through terrible trials and tribulations all the time and it either makes you or breaks you.  In this case I believe it made Leo King the incredible son, friend, husband, neighbor and journalist that he was.  When the cause was reveled I was truly shocked.  The only thing that left me wanting more was the characters reaction even though there was only word that could describe it...horrified. 

This book truly had everything strive, suffering, devotion, forgiveness, love, lust, mystery, murder, triumph, kindness, humiliation, pride.  I could go on and on.  

Well done grandma!

~Carissa