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The Death of Santini
- The Story of a Father and His Son
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
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Publisher's summary
In this powerful and intimate memoir, the beloved best-selling author of The Prince of Tides and his father, the inspiration for The Great Santini, find some common ground at long last.
Pat Conroy's father, Donald Patrick Conroy, was a towering figure in his son's life. The Marine Corps fighter pilot was often brutal, cruel, and violent; as Pat says, "I hated my father long before I knew there was an English word for 'hate.'" As the oldest of seven children who were dragged from military base to military base across the South, Pat bore witness to the toll his father's behavior took on his siblings, and especially on his mother, Peg. She was Pat's lifeline to a better world - that of books and culture. But eventually, despite repeated confrontations with his father, Pat managed to claw his way toward a life he could have only imagined as a child.
Pat's great success as a writer has always been intimately linked with the exploration of his family history. While the publication of The Great Santini brought Pat much acclaim, the rift it caused with his father brought even more attention. Their long-simmering conflict burst into the open, fracturing an already battered family. But as Pat tenderly chronicles here, even the oldest of wounds can heal. In the final years of Don Conroy's life, he and his son reached a rapprochement of sorts. Quite unexpectedly, the Santini who had freely doled out physical abuse to his wife and children refocused his ire on those who had turned on Pat over the years. He defended his son's honor.
The Death of Santini is at once a heart-wrenching account of personal and family struggle and a poignant lesson in how the ties of blood can both strangle and offer succor. It is an act of reckoning, an exorcism of demons, but one whose ultimate conclusion is that love can soften even the meanest of men, lending significance to one of the most-often quoted lines from Pat's best-selling novel The Prince of Tides: "In families there are no crimes beyond forgiveness."
Critic reviews
“Listeners will be moved as they listen to Conroy's latest memoir... The humorous and gut wrenching prologue, read by Conroy himself, transitions perfectly to Dick Hill's delivery of the soul-searching memoir. Hill inhabits all the Conroy family members well, but his shifts between father and son...is where the story soars.” (AudioFile Magazine)
"Despite the inherently bleak nature of so much of this material, Conroy has fashioned a memoir that is vital, large-hearted and often raucously funny. The result is an act of hard-won forgiveness, a deeply considered meditation on the impossibly complex nature of families and a valuable contribution to the literature of fathers and sons." (The Washington Post)
"The Death of Santini instantly reminded me of the decadent pleasures of [Conroy's] language, of his promiscuous gift for metaphor and of his ability, in the finest passages of his fiction, to make the love, hurt or terror a protagonist feels seem to be the only emotion the world could possibly have room for, the rightful center of the trembling universe.... Conroy’s conviction pulls you fleetly through the book, as does the potency of his bond with his family, no matter their sins, their discord, their shortcomings.” (The New York Times Book Review)
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excellent all around yarn
- By G. on 01-10-09
By: Wally Lamb
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Where the Past Begins
- A Writer's Memoir
- By: Amy Tan
- Narrated by: Amy Tan
- Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Moving from her childhood in Oakland and growing up with her Chinese parents through her success as a novelist, Amy Tan delves into her creative interests in music, the paralysis of beginning a new project, journal writing, and travelling. Where the Past Begins chronicles the making of a writer. With characteristic humor and poignant observation, Tan weaves a nontraditional introspective narrative that is as complex and vibrant as this beloved American novelist's fiction.
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Narration Issues
- By Sara on 12-14-17
By: Amy Tan
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Native Country of the Heart
- A Memoir
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- Narrated by: Cherríe Moraga
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Native Country of the Heart is the writer and activist Cherrie Moraga's love letter to her "unlettered" mother. It begins with her mother, Elvira Isabel Moraga, who as a child, along with her siblings, was hired out by her own father to pick cotton in California's Imperial Valley. The lives of Cherrie and her mother, and of their people, are woven together in a story of critical reflection and deep personal revelation as Moraga charts her own coming to consciousness alongside the heartbreaking story of her mother's decline.
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a must read for all chicanx
- By Rachel Barnett on 04-28-19
By: Cherríe Moraga
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Liner Notes
- On Parents & Children, Exes & Excess, Death & Decay, & a Few of My Other Favorite Things
- By: Loudon Wainwright III
- Narrated by: Loudon Wainwright III
- Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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A memoir by the influential Grammy Award-winning singer and actor - son of journalist Loudon Wainwright, former husband of Kate McGarrigle and Suzzy Roche, and father of Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Lucy Wainwright Roche, and Lexie Kelly Wainwright - a captivating meditation on relationships and creativity from the patriarch of one of America's great musical families. With a career spanning more than four decades, Loudon Wainwright III has established himself as one of the most enduring singer-songwriters who emerged from the late '60s.
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Best ever book for listening
- By Jeff Bernhardt on 10-29-17
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Finding Me
- A Memoir
- By: Viola Davis
- Narrated by: Viola Davis
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life-changing decision to stop running forever. This is my story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose but also my voice in a world that didn’t always see me.
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Absolutely beautifully Written❤️
- By Latwhit22 on 05-02-22
By: Viola Davis
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A Journal for Jordan (Movie Tie-In)
- A Story of Love and Honor
- By: Dana Canedy
- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin, Mirron Willis
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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In 2005, Dana Canedy’s fiancé, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, began to write what would become a 200-page journal for his son in case he did not make it home from the war in Iraq. He was killed by a roadside bomb on October 14, 2006. His son, Jordan, was seven months old. Inspired by his example, Dana was determined to preserve his memory for their son. A Journal for Jordan is a mother’s fiercely honest letter to her child about the parent he lost before he could even speak. It is also a father’s advice and prayers for the son he will never know.
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SAD
- By valerie on 12-12-21
By: Dana Canedy
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Daring
- My Passages - A Memoir
- By: Gail Sheehy
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins
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Candid, insightful, and powerful, Daring: My Passages is the story of the unconventional life of a writer who dared - to walk New York City streets with hookers and pimps to expose violent prostitution; to march with civil rights protesters in Northern Ireland as British paratroopers opened fire; to seek out Egypt's president Anwar Sadat when he was targeted for death after making peace with Israel.
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Enjoyed unexpectedly
- By Corinne O'Rourke on 09-06-23
By: Gail Sheehy
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Shanda
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- Length: 14 hrs and 5 mins
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The word "shanda" is defined as shame or disgrace in Yiddish. This book, Shanda, tells the story of three generations of complicated, intense twentieth-century Jews for whom the desire to fit in and the fear of public humiliation either drove their aspirations or crushed their spirit. In her deeply engaging, astonishingly candid memoir, author and activist Letty Cottin Pogrebin exposes the fiercely-guarded lies and intricate cover-ups woven by dozens of members of her extended family.
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Beautifully Written!
- By Adele Aron Greenspun on 01-12-23
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The Cost of These Dreams
- Sports Stories and Other Serious Business
- By: Wright Thompson
- Narrated by: Wright Thompson
- Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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There is only one Wright Thompson. He is, as they say, famous if you know who he is: his work includes the most-read articles in the history of ESPN (and it's not even close) and has been anthologized in the Best American Sports Writing series ten times, and he counts John Grisham and Richard Ford among his ardent admirers. But to say his pieces are about sports, while true as far as it goes, is like saying Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove is a book about a cattle drive.
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Just great
- By ACK on 06-02-19
By: Wright Thompson
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Cry Like a Man
- Fighting for Freedom from Emotional Incarceration
- By: Jason Wilson
- Narrated by: Damany Jackson
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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His grandfather’s lynching in the deep South, the murders of his two older brothers, and his verbally harsh and absent father all worked together to form Jason Wilson’s childhood. But it was his decision to acknowledge his emotions and yield to God’s call on his life that made Wilson the man and leader he is today. As the founder of one of the country’s most esteemed youth organizations, Wilson explains the dangers men face in our culture’s definition of “masculinity” and gives listeners hope that healing is possible.
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Just a sad story, no useful tips
- By Grzegorz on 08-15-21
By: Jason Wilson
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A Prayer for Owen Meany
- By: John Irving
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 27 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Of all of John Irving's books, this is the one that lends itself best to audio. In print, Owen Meany's dialogue is set in capital letters; for this production, Irving himself selected Joe Barrett to deliver Meany's difficult voice as intended. In the summer of 1953, two 11-year-old boys – best friends – are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy's mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn't believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen after that 1953 foul ball is extraordinary and terrifying.
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Outstanding
- By Alan on 03-28-11
By: John Irving
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Fury
- By: Salman Rushdie
- Narrated by: Salman Rushdie
- Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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The world renowned author of The Satanic Verses and The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Salman Rushdie is a Whitbread Award winner and recipient of the Booker Prize. His first truly American novel, Fury is a metaphorically rich black comedy that reflects the pressure-cooker of modern life. Malik Solanka, irascible doll-maker and retired historian of ideas, suffers the pain of wanting without knowing exactly what it is he wants.
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surprisingly good
- By David on 11-21-07
By: Salman Rushdie
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Here's the Story
- Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice
- By: Maureen McCormick
- Narrated by: Maureen McCormick
- Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins
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Marcia Brady, eldest daughter on television's The Brady Bunch, had it all. But what viewers didn't know about the always sunny, perfect Marcia was that offscreen, her real-life counterpart, Maureen McCormick was living a very different - and not so wonderful - life. Maureen tells the shocking and inspirational true story of the beloved teen and the woman she became.
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Gripping
- By Chris on 08-12-14
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Hauntingly Excellent
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Dare I say "Beautiful"?
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What listeners say about The Death of Santini
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Eileen F. Cornacchia
- 03-27-15
Spectacular
Just finished the book and I want to start from page one again. I think I will read it many times.
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- Michael J. Kelley
- 07-20-17
Conroy's Final Attempt to Reconcile with Dad
What made the experience of listening to The Death of Santini the most enjoyable?
As usual, Conroy captures the humorous, sad and, hopefully, factual details of his dysfunctional family. In eventually reconciling with his Father, he travels a tortuous trail with many side roads and detours. It is classic Conroy, made more poignant with the sad realization that this would be his last work.
What did you like best about this story?
Darkness plus explosive humor throughout.
What didn’t you like about Dick Hill’s performance?
I think this was the WRONG voice for this story...the Chicago/New York accent just graited on me throughout...a poor match for this story of a SOUTHERN family in and out of crises.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
LOL
Any additional comments?
Sorry that his voce has been stilled.
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Performance
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- Howard
- 04-04-14
Conroy takes you into his world behind the scenes
If you could sum up The Death of Santini in three words, what would they be?
Powerful, articulate, authentic
What other book might you compare The Death of Santini to and why?
This is one of a kind.
What does Dick Hill bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Dick Hill is a great story teller from a sensitive description to a loud and funny Big John impression.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Conroy tells his true story as only a master writer can.
Any additional comments?
You will lose yourself in this book and wonder what happed to your clock when you check the time.
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- Colleen M. Smith
- 08-23-21
A must read
Listening to this book and Pat’s life makes me even sadder that I never got to meet him or didn’t appreciate his writing until later in my life. It’s a great book by a great author. Thanks for the beautiful writing.
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- Mark
- 05-31-21
Death of Santini
Pat Conroy brings you into the story of his father’s death and his and his family’s reaction to it with great aplomb. You can see the story unfold with each sentence. When he reads his eulogy to his father if it doesn’t bring a tear to your eyes you never loved your father.
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- Fran Millians
- 09-10-15
One of the Worst Narrators Ever
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
It is hard to find good things to say about the work of an author I usually enjoy. This narrator is so bad I cannot go on with the book. I will remove it from my phone and check out the book from the library.
How did the narrator detract from the book?
He reads sentences as if he doesn't understand how English sentences work. Commas mean little to him and he emphasizes a word just before or just after the word he ought to have emphasized.
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- B Cruz
- 11-16-13
Absolutely aweful--not like his fiction at all
Would you try another book from Pat Conroy and/or Dick Hill?
Definitely would not read any non-fiction from Pat Conroy again.
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
Pat Conroy comes off as an insufferable, chauvinistic, narcissist. I found his fiction (Prince of Tides, Great Santini, South of Broad, Lords of Discipline) entertaining but this book was awful. I couldn't finish it--only got halfway through--it was too boring.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Candace
- 01-12-14
Brutal Narration - couldn't finish
What disappointed you about The Death of Santini?
Both the prologue and the book's narrators were remedial at best. Surprised at Pat Conroy's stumbled prologue delivery. Dick Hill was brutal. Reminded me of a third grader reciting the adventures of Dick, Jane and Sally. Too bad. It was disappointing as I was eager to hear Pat Conroy's newest book. Plan to read it as soon as I can erase Dick Hill's voice from my memory.
What could Pat Conroy have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
Selected Will Patten to read it - including the prologue.
Would you be willing to try another one of Dick Hill’s performances?
NEVER
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11 people found this helpful
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- Hill
- 08-13-17
Are you kidding me?
I know people who loved this book. I am not one of them. There is no way this was a story of a father and his son. It is about a completely messed up family from the start. I have heard it said the Conroy is a great southern writer. What does that mean. Is there a difference between southern writers and writers who are not from the south? Are southern writers held to a different standard? I am a son of the south and I sure thought this book was trash. If his family truly acted the way he describes in this book they would all have been committed years ago. Some should have been arrested. If you are to believe anything Conroy has written his dad would never had made Colonel and his mother would be a saint. Neither things happened. The dad was a Colonel and served with distinction. His mother belonged in a mental institution with his sister and the grandmother for sure. His mother would had to be mentally ill to stay with such an abusive individual as Conroy portrayed his father to be. The most amazing thing to me is why Conroy continued to have a relationship with his dad and his sister? Why would you be close to those people even if they were family. Made me wonder if this was pure fiction. If it was fiction it made it even worse.
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- Georgia Lawyer
- 12-17-13
Could not get past the narrator.
What disappointed you about The Death of Santini?
I would have enjoyed having the option to listen to this book. I simply could not tolerate the narration. The narrator has a horrible style.
How did the narrator detract from the book?
Yes, he destroyed the book.
You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?
It's a Pat Conroy work. I had to purchase the book and read it. I only wish I could get a refund for the Audible version.
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7 people found this helpful