South of Broad

By: Pat Conroy

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 20 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Number one New York Times best seller.

“A big sweeping novel of friendship and marriage” (The Washington Post) by the celebrated author of The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini.

Leopold Bloom King has been raised in a family shattered - and shadowed - by tragedy. Lonely and adrift, he searches for something to sustain him and finds it among a tightly knit group of outsiders. Surviving marriages happy and troubled, unrequited loves and unspoken longings, hard-won successes and devastating breakdowns, as well as Charleston, South Carolina’s dark legacy of racism and class divisions, these friends will endure until a final test forces them to face something none of them are prepared for.

Spanning two turbulent decades, South of Broad is Pat Conroy at his finest: a masterpiece from a great American writer whose passion for life and language knows no bounds.

©2009 Pat Conroy (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

“Vintage Pat Conroy...a big sweeping novel of friendship and marriage.” (The Washington Post)

“Conroy remains a magician of the page.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“Richly imagined...These characters are gallant in the grand old-fashioned sense, devoted to one another and to home. That siren song of place has never sounded so sweet.” (New Orleans Times-Picayune)

New favorite book

Oh I loved this story! Southern charm, picturesque Charleston and diverse and lovely characters. I will listen to this one again and again!

A Great story!

I have listened to South of Broad more than a few times. The book is one of my all time favorites! Each time I listen to this Audible version I am reminded of growing up in the South. Listen to it. It is truly a 5 Star listen!

I love Pat Conroy’s writing.

I love the way he can bring an imperfect human being to life and love. Many sorrows come to us but we can survive-some of us-for awhile. I plan to go now and reread. Beach Music. I highly recommend this book but very sad and very happy at times.

Captivating storytelling

Terrific narrator telling a beautiful heartfelt, and sometimes heart wrenching story. The author draws the reader in and holds attention. Highly recommended!

If you like Paat Conroy

This is simply Conroy doing what Conroy does. I like his stories, I like the struggles between what most of us accept as normal. I like seeing how prejudices play out with "real" people. This isn't as good as Prince of Tides, but as stated, if you like Conroy, this book works.

Another "Beach Music"!

All I can say is, South of Broad is the only book Ive enjoyed as much or more as Beach Music. I just finished and am starting over!

Beautiful Prose, Beautiful Saga of Sinners

Pat Conroy was of course, quite possibly the most beautiful storyteller in America. The Prince of Tides is still music to my mind when I think about the words, the love, the relationships and the way that Pat tied everything together- the beauty and the ugliness of people, places, and happenings. South of Broad is in effect, no different. I thought it fitting to listen to this beautiful audible after the untimely and very sad passing of Pat Conroy just last week.

The narrator is entrancing and makes one think of Patrick Swayze and his beautiful, sexy, slightly Southern voice. We start with 'Toad' or Leopold, who is just coming out of a few 'troublesome teen' years due to an older brother who committed suicide and a family who though he would indeed never be as good as his older brother. With Roman Catholic roots and a mother who was previously a nun, Leo starts to find out more about himself by meeting new friends- friends who he didn't know would carry him through the rest of life. A group of friends who held so much love for one another- they got through marriages, divorces, children, substance abuse, psychiatric anomalies, the early stages of the AIDS disease, death, destruction and precious, beautiful life moments.

This book is no less epic than anything the late, very missed Conroy has written. Some may not like the flamboyant characters, but they are all beautiful creations of true Southern hospitality and tradition.

5 starts

South of Broad

It was absolutely fabulous. Couldn't stop listening.

Amazing Characters!

What made the experience of listening to South of Broad the most enjoyable?

The characters were so great and connectable. The performer had great voice and animation.

What was one of the most memorable moments of South of Broad?

When Leo spouts poetry at the guy holding Trevor.

Which character – as performed by Mark Deakins – was your favorite?

Leo!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was so torn up over the death of one of the characters (don't want to give anything away). I was surprised and saddened over it!

Any additional comments?

Great story teller! Pat Conroy is awesome!

A master of prose

This is a lovely, lyrical book about growing up in a small town, as part of the "out" group in high school. Mr Conroy has a lyrical, poetic mastery of words. As I read he evokes those memories, those feelings of not belonging, and trying to deal with the love or lack of love within a family, and moving past life changing events.
The story moves back and forth between the past and present. I found it easy to follow, and enjoyed understanding what happened to the characters as they matured. Some of it is a little unusual but the story is descriptive, and lovely. It is always interesting. I purchased it to keep it in my library and enjoy listening to it over and over.