• Beach Music

  • A Novel
  • By: Pat Conroy
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Marosz
  • Length: 26 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,725 ratings)

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Beach Music  By  cover art

Beach Music

By: Pat Conroy
Narrated by: Jonathan Marosz
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Publisher's summary

Pat Conroy is without doubt America's favorite storyteller, a writer who portrays the anguished truth of the human heart and the painful secrets of families in richly lyrical prose and unforgettable narratives.

Now, in Beach Music, he tells of the dark memories that haunt generations, in a story that spans South Carolina and Rome and reaches back into the unutterable terrors of the Holocaust.

Beach Music is about Jack McCall, an American living in Rome with his young daughter, trying to find peace after the recent trauma of his wife's suicide. But his solitude is disturbed by the appearance of his sister-in-law, who begs him to return home, and of two school friends asking for his help in tracking down another classmate who went underground as a Vietnam protester and never resurfaced. These requests launch Jack on a journey that encompasses the past and the present in both Europe and the American South, and that leads him to shocking--and ultimately liberating--truths.

Told with deep feeling and trademark Conroy humor, Beach Music is powerful and compulsively readable. It is another masterpiece in the legendary list of classics that his body of work has already become.

©2009 Pat Conroy (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"Astonishing...stunning...the range of passions and subjects that brings life to every page is almost endless." (The Washington Post Book World)

“Reading Pat Conroy is like watching Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel.” (Houston Chronicle)

“Magnificent... Beach Music is clearly Conroy’s best.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

What listeners say about Beach Music

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,935
  • 4 Stars
    479
  • 3 Stars
    194
  • 2 Stars
    65
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Performance
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  • 2 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,716
  • 4 Stars
    384
  • 3 Stars
    145
  • 2 Stars
    45
  • 1 Stars
    42

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Beautiful

This is one of Conroy’s best. Magnificent in scope of history an human emotion and written in beautiful evocative language.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I love this book!

The characters are so real, no family is perfect, this family is no different! My favorite character was Jack; his family was wild and crazy. He came out on the other side in spite of his families many issues.
I set aside reading time everyday, with this book I went over every day. Loved the voice of Mr. Marosz who spoke the words!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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His best book

I had read this book years ago. Listening to it was so very nice. His words are so beautiful. Great plot. Wonderful story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great American novel

I read this book several times is always such a wonderful, wonderful book and covers so much and it's entertaining even when talking about very difficult subjects. you'll love it!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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My (only) annual read

This book moves my heart and soul. Its so beautifully written and Conroy can transport me through time and space, war and country.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful, intense and masterful

This book is about redemption. It covers much Americana and delves characters' experiences from the Holocaust to Vietnam. Conroy's writing is superb.

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My favorite book

Shared with my husband. I’ve reread it over and again almost every year since it’s initial release. A timeless story to be shared with those you love.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

It was something to listen to

It is a long story that does come around to a conclusion. The characters are interesting but not very complex. For me it was something to listen to.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Can be super cringy

When it’s parts with storytelling it’s written beautifully. But anytime it’s dialogue I’m ready to pole out my ears. Too argumentative and also with every sentence author seems to need to say who said. Like the word said was heard 30 times a minute.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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worthwhile read

I read this years ago and hearing it was fun. Love the accents.
Well done

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