Average customer rating:
- Amazing Storyteller
- Better than 5 Stars?
- A must read
- Don't judge a book by the movie....
- Great Book
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The Prince of Tides
Pat Conroy
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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Beach Music
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The Great Santini
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The Lords of Discipline
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The Water is Wide
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My Losing Season
ASIN: 0395353009 |
Book Description
In his most brilliant and powerful novel, Pat Conroy tells the story of Tom Wingo, his twin sister, Savannah, and the dark and violent past of the family into which they were born. Set in New York City and the lowcountry of South Carolina, the novel opens when Tom, a high school football coach whose marriage and career are crumbling, flies from South Carolina to New York after learning of his twin sister's suicide attempt. Savannah is one of the most gifted poets of her generation, and both the cadenced beauty of her art and the jumbled cries of her illness are clues to the too-long-hidden story of her wounded family. In the paneled offices and luxurious restaurants of New York City, Tom and Susan Lowenstein, Savannah's psychiatrist, unravel a history of violence, abandonment, commitment, and love. And Tom realizes that trying to save his sister is perhaps his last chance to save himself. With passion and a rare gift of language, the author moves from present to past, tracing the amazing history of the Wingos from World War II through the final days of the war in Vietnam and into the 1980s, drawing a rich range of characters: the lovable, crazy Mr. Fruit, who for decades has wordlessly directed traffic at the same intersection in the southern town of Colleton; Reese Newbury, the ruthless, patrician land speculator who threatens the Wingos' only secure worldly possession, Melrose Island; Herbert Woodruff, Susan Lowenstein's husband, a world-famous violinist; Tolitha Wingo, Savannah's mentor and eccentric grandmother, the first real feminist in the Wingo family. Pat Conroy reveals the lives of his characters with surpassing depth and power, capturing the vanishing beauty of the South Carolina lowcountry and a lost way of life. His lyric gifts, abundant good humor, and compelling storytelling are well known to readers of The Great Santini and The Lords of Discipline. The Prince of Tides continues that tradition yet displays a new, mature voice of Pat Conroy, signaling this work as his greatest accomplishment.
Download Description
Pat Conroy's dark novel exposes a terrible family secret behind recollected Carolina pastorale. The middle-aged protagonist, with the help of a sympathetic female psychiatrist, confronts that repressed horror. The film was directed by Barbara Streisand an
Customer Reviews:
Amazing Storyteller.......2007-08-31
I could not put this book down. Pat Conroy is an amazing storyteller...and certainly brings his characters to life. I am currently reading his book Beach Music and I am enthralled again. Would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a wonderful reading experience.
Better than 5 Stars?.......2007-08-25
If I could give more than 5 stars for this book, I would!
This is probably one of the best 3 books I've ever read!!!
You just have to read it to find out what I mean.
A must read.......2007-04-18
I hadn't read Conroy before this book and if you haven't either, this is a great place to start. It's an emotional book but not overly so. There is comedy, adventure, suspense and brilliant writing. Conroy is the definition of a wordsmith. This story is about a man who is having a typical midlife crisis (marital problems, job troubles, pondering the meaning of life) who then moves to New York to visit his famous, suicidal sister, and while there finds himself. This novel put Conroy on the map.
Also, a bonus if you enjoy reading about the South and southern living.
Don't judge a book by the movie...........2007-03-26
This is just a great book...well written and full of heart. Susan Lowenstein is far cooler than Barbara Streisand could ever make her. Is it a bit sappy? SURE! But so is maple syrup, and that sure is tasty.
Great Book.......2007-02-15
I, as one reviewer put it, will be one of the "fools" who calls this a great book. I read this book for the first time when I was 15 years old, then again in my early twenties. I am now 33 and the images of this book still remain on my mind. I do not know how I would react to the book's take on psychoanlysis at this point in my life but what I am confident of is that Mr. Conroy's language would still both comfort and confront me. I can almost hear Tom Wingo's voice still to this day. The idea of a man at a cross-roads, trying to heal the past, trying to save another sibling from destruction only to find out he is the one who needs saving. But in the end, The Prince of Tides has always been, for me, about forgiving, others and yourself. The plot may be heightened soap opera, (then again wouldn't a lot of Greek tragedies and even Shakespeare sound a lot like modern soap opera if they were viewed by an analysis of their plot instead of looking at their themes?) but the message continues to sound in my head, like a warm deep Southern voice telling me I can survive the wounds of my past. For me, that's a great book. But then again, I'm one of the fools who doesn't appreciate good literature. Or am I?
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The Prince of Tides
Pat Conroy
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GS7X5G |
Product Description
18 tapes/23 hours/ Unabridged.
Average customer rating:
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The Prince of Tides
Pat Conroy
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NPWZXW |
Product Description
Two tape set (Part One and Part two) published by Bantam Books. Performance by Richard Thomas. Running time is 180 Minutes.
Average customer rating:
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The Prince of Tides
Manufacturer: Guild Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HIN4WG |
Product Description
3 Book Set By Pat Conroy; the Water Is Wide; the Prince of Tides; the Lords of Discipline.
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable light read.......2005-07-14
While I do agree the first part of the book was a tad slow, overall I found the book to be very enjoyable. A great murder mystery for those who don't want their murders too gruesome or complicated.
Didn't Live Up To Its Hype.......2003-05-21
Charlotte LaRue is the owner of a successful maid service in the Garden District of New Orleans. One Monday, she shows up at her long term clients the Dubuisson's to discover that Jackson was murdered in the study. With her position as maid in the family, she's privy to a little inside information. While she struggles with what of that to share with her niece and her obnoxious partner, the detectives on the case, she stumbles upon some additional clues. What does it all mean?
I was really looking forward to this book because I'd heard great things about it. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The plotting was uneven at best. There were some interesting twists to the story, but I was bored during the last 50 pages and just kept going because I was so close to the end. We are given way too much information about the main characters; information that would be interesting if they were suspects. Ultimately, it does little more then slow the story down.
There is potential for a great series here, and I will give it another try. Hopefully, with some better editing, the series will rise to the heights I was expecting.
REALLY BAD!.......2003-01-26
tHIS WAS QUITE POSSIBLY THE WORST MYSTERY I'VE EVER READ. I KEPT READING SIMPLY BECAUSE I WAS WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE AUTHOR WOULD HAVE HER CHARACTERS DO NEXT. IT WAS THOROUGHLY WRONG COMPARED TO WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN IN A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. WHEN I CAME CLOSE TO THE END SHE DID SOMETHING SO STUPID, HOWEVER, THAT I QUIT READING ABOUT 20 PAGES FROM THE END.
A welcome entry into the cozies.......2002-09-28
It's always a treat to find a new mystery author. Colley keeps the pages turning in this gentle cozy, with a charming heroine surrounded by a cast of friends and family who could turn into villains anytime. The heroine is especially well-done: a pushing sixty, energetic, too quick to say "yes" except to cover up a murder.
The book has all the ingredients: smooth writing, absence of trite phrases, deft plot. Maid for Murder doesn't have the sharp wit of Sharyn McCrumb's McPherson series or the self-conscious humor of M.C. Beaton. But it's a faster, smoother read than most others of the genre. Definitely recommended and let's hope we don't have to wait long for the second.
A wonderful series debut.......2002-02-06
In Book One of this engaging series, "Maid for Murder," Barbara Colley introduces us to Charlotte La Rue, an efficient, often humorous, and effective amateur sleuth. (I'd hire her to clean my house in a flat second, but not if I had any crime-related secrets to hide!) Charlotte is a successful businesswoman, established in her small cleaning company and a real part of the community. By taking the reader along when Charlotte makes her rounds, Ms. Colley gives us a peek into how the upper crust REALLY lives, an insight that only a trusted maid could have. The story is excellent, the plot is intriguing, and Charlotte is simply delightful. I'm looking forward to her further adventures.
Book Description
When Ringan Laine, British folk musician, becomes the owner of a restored eighteenth-century cottage, he discovers right away that the cottage and the ancient barn on Ringan's property are haunted. Ringan and his longtime lover Penny, researching the identity of their unwanted tenants, learn that they were a young couple, victims of a famous double murder in the year 1817-their story the subject of a song that is a staple in Ringan's repertoire. And they must stage a full-scale musi-cal exorcism to lay the ghostly couple to rest. The Weaver and the Factory Maid is only the first in what promises to be an exciting new mystery series featuring the ghosts of char-acters in folk ballads.
Customer Reviews:
Charming and spooky.......2006-03-27
I picked this one up at the library. It was spooky and charming. I guess I scare easily, because there were parts that I waited to read during the daytime, instead of before bedtime. I couldn't be as brave as those 3, seeing ghosts all over the place. I don't ever want to see a ghost, thank you very much.
I think I am going to have to get the next one in this series. I just wish it came with a CD, so that I could hear what these songs sound like. I am assuming they are actual songs, right?
Very good Gothic........2005-04-10
I'll admit I love Gothics and so was delighted to find a new author who writes them. I learned a bit about English history, architecture, and music. While not horribly scary, which was fine by me, there was excellent sense of place, a bit of pathos in the story of the ghosts, and a very enjoyable read.
Charming supernatural mystery.......2004-05-03
When Ringan Laine, folk musician and historic house restorer, acquires a house in payment for a job, he and his long-time lover, theatre producer Penelope Wintercraft-Hawkes, find that they're not the house's only occupants. Through detective work, they look for a way to deal with their spectral houseguests.
The book features a charming British setting and characters, plus an added fascination for those of us interested in traditional folk ballads. In marketing, it may suffer from being "neither fish nor flesh nor good red herring." It has many of the aspects of a "cozy" mystery. It also has the supernatural aspect, although designed more to intrigue than to terrify. It would be a shame if genre-driven marketing fails to find a way to effectively market this charming whatever-it-is, which should appeal to mystery and supernatural readers; persons interested in traditional music; and Anglophiles.
As a fan of series books, I'd say that The Weaver and the Factor Maid also has many of the elements that can support a successful series. Ringan's musician friends and Penny's theatre work should offer many logical ways for them to become involved in supernatural mysteries. There are also a gracious plenty of spooky ballads from which to draw stories. I'm looking forward to the next installment, The Famous Flower of Serving Men.
lyrical, haunting.......2004-02-17
I read this book when it first came out but waited until I had time to write a thoughtful review.
I really enjoyed this book, but I think it refuses to stay put in any one category. There is a ghost story, some mystery, but really, it just has some interesting characters. Ringhan reminds me of so many musicians I know. He has a strong healthy ego, knowledge of his own talents, but the knowledge that making money by doing what he likes - is never quite going to be enough. I feel like Penny is a woman I want to know, but it is going to take awhile. I liked Wychsasle, and want to see him again.
I love her prose. It is lyrical and very evocative. If you hang with musicians, you'll recognize the bickering. If you have done any historical research, you'll recognize the tedium and triumph. And if I ever drove by Ringan's home I'll recognizes it.
I love her ability to switch the mood of the story in the space of a sentence
So if I loved it so much, why only four stars? Simple. I'm expecting better with the next book.
The Weaver and The Factory Maid.......2004-02-15
I found this beautifully written tale of ghosts and music in the English Countryside to be a great read. Ringan assumes life ownership of a country cottage in lieu of payment for his restoration work on the Manor House of an estate. The cottage and barn are haunted and he and his lover, Penny, discover why it happened. I enjoyed the quality of the writing too much for this to be a true page turner, but it came close! This book may haunt me--I look forward to the next in what promises to be a series.
Book Description
A new Pennyfoot Hotel mystery, set in Edwardian England...
When three Pennyfoot maids are discovered dead--each missing one shoe--Cecily wants answers. But with such a peculiar crime, she has no idea where to begin. It looks like the only thing she can do is wait--for the other shoe to drop...
"Always most enjoyable."--I Love A Mystery
* "Well-drawn characters." --Publishers Weekly
* "You'll enjoy your visit to the Pennyfoot Hotel." --Hamilton Crane, author of Bonjour, Miss Seeton
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing.......2002-04-16
I was very disappointed by my first visit to the Pennyfoot. This is 12th in the series and the author must be ready to "get rid" of the characters and it shows. The plot is rushed and contrived and the characters were stereotypes one and all. Perhaps if I had been following the series through several books I would have felt differently. Recommend not purchasing, instead borrow from library.
Cozy with an Edge........1999-11-29
In the final book of this mystery series, Cecily and Baxter have to solve the most sinister, frightening crime the Pennyfoot has ever had. Maids are being murdered in the hotel and the clues are puzzling.
As always, there are enough twist and turns to keep you guessing and enough activities and characters to keep you entertained. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
I have read every book in the Pennyfoot series and not one has ever fell short of my expectations. Ms. Kingsbury has created a memorable series with delightful characters that can be enjoyed over and over again.
I cried at the ending!.......1999-07-30
Kate Kingsbury does it again with a smashing book of murder and intrigue at the Pennyfoot Hotel. The way she describes the hotel and surrounding environs makes me wish I had a Tardis and could go back in time to such a seemingly simple time and place.
The ending is truly creepy and I felt apprehension and fear. Wow! What a story from a terrific story teller!
Although there is great joy for the characters in the book, it is always sad in real life to see the apparent end of one of your favorite series. Kate, if you're reading this, I hope you have future plans for the Pennyfoot and its inhabitants.
I welcome comments from others regarding this book. Email me!
Average customer rating:
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Maid to Murder
Roy Vickers
Manufacturer: The M. S. Mill Co and William Morrow and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K0EHRM |
Average customer rating:
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Master & Maid: The Charles Massey Murder
Frank Jones
Manufacturer: PaperJacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0770104525 |
Book Description
While out on a walk in the hills during a visit to her relatives in Derbyshire, Jane finds a terribly mutilated body. It turns out to be Tess Arnold, a stillroom maid at a local estate known for her skill as an herbalist. Was Tess suspected of witchcraft? Was she thought to be a traitor to the secret rites of the Freemasons? What was her relationship with the Duke's family? Was the killing the work of a madman? When the wrong person is accused of murder, Jane Austen becomes an innocent victim's only hope in a fiendishly clever and breathlessly diverting mystery. Once again Stephanie Barron reveals Jane Austen's potential as a brilliant sleuth.
"Delightful...captures the wit and style of Austen. A real charmer." (San Francisco Chronicle)
Customer Reviews:
fine recovery.......2005-09-04
Jane and the Stillroom Maid is a nice comeback from the disappointment of the fourth installment in this otherwise spritely series. Unlike Jane and the Genius of the Place, the reason for the servant's odd dress isn't obvious from the very first. Indeed, I found myself being constantly surprised. You won't guess "who done it" until you're told in the very last pages.
As with all the Jane Austen mysteries, you'll find yourself enjoying the style and historical footnotes as much as the mystery itself. Ms. Barron has mastered imitating the voice of Restoration "ladies" books and scrupulously researched the customs of the early 19th century. I felt a little thrill when she alluded to the customs of mourning and "half-mourning."
Lovers of Jane Austen won't be disappointed, of course. But neither are mystery lovers who want something a little bit off the beaten path.
Fifth Time's a Charm.......2005-07-17
Having read the previous mysteries in this series, I've admired the way that Stephanie Barron has brought Jane Austen back to life. At times in her efforts to capture the time period, the language and story have been forced; but all in all she has been true to the author's world. I believe that "Jane and the Stillroom Maid" is by far the best mystery out of the first five books in this series.
The fifth saga of Jane Austen as detective finds her in Derbyshire, with many a hint of "Pride and Prejudice" settings, in August of 1806. While out walking, she discovers the corpse of a young gentleman who has been gruesomely murdered; Jane is even more shocked when it turns out that the victim is not a gentleman, but a maid disguised in her master's clothes. Unable to leave a mystery in the hands of the local (perhaps inept, backwater) town's justice, she begins investigating the matter herself, along with the help of the Gentleman Rogue, Lord Harold Trowbridge. Jane is insinuated in the plots of the local gentry and must uncover the truth behind the maid's death - not a random act by a madman, but possibly by someone who had everything to lose or gain by the maid's life and death; and there are several characters who fit the bill.
Barron has re-created Jane Austen's time perfectly, and the series progressively improves. This mystery offers plenty of twists and turns, but enough clues are scattered throughout the narrative to lead reader's to the conclusions that Jane herself reaches. If the next novels are as well-written as the fifth one is, I truly look forward to more of Jane's exploits in sleuthing out the truth among the most dastardly acts.
fine mystery .......2004-11-29
I've enjoyed the previous books in Barron's series about Jane Austen as sleuth, and I will proceed to read the rest of the series, though I was slightly disappointed in the details of this crime. I thought the murder itself was unnecessarily brutal and distracted from the otherwise fine writing.
Barron captures the tone and style of Austen very well, and the series in general is a pleasure to read. Regular readers will be pleased to see Lord Harold Trowbridge, and the secondary cast -- from Austen intimates to the elevated residents at Chatsworth -- are excellently drawn.
Predictable.......2004-07-09
Altogether too predictable, making it a huge yawn. An excellent idea going to waste under this author.
A Darker Tone Than the Earlier Books.......2001-09-03
I continue to be very impressed with this series of mysteries. This one took me a little bit more time to get into, perhaps more because of busyness in my own life than actually having trouble getting into the story, but, as in the past with these books, I ended up being very satisfied. There is a slightly larger cast of supporting characters here than in the past books, and this one is a little less overtly political (not so much worry about Napoleonic France here) but there are certainly class and social issues. Jane is more socially anxious than in the earlier books, as she heads off to the opulant home of her Whig friends. Some of this is a class and political consciousness, and some of this comes from the growing sense that she is older, without money, and without some of the prospects for happiness that she has to admit she yearns for. This is stronger here than in any of th earlier books. Jane's relationship with Sir Harold Trowbridge brings her both great joy and terrible pain, as she confronts the abyss between their social positions and knows that she can never home to cross the divide between them, no matter how beautifully their minds work together and they appreciate each other.
The actual plot here is as clear and direct as the plot of the ealier books as well--solving the mystery is not the ultimate satisfaction here. It is coming to that solution with the very satisfying characters.
Books:
- The Rapture of Canaan
- The Redemption of Sarah Cain
- The Reverse of the Medal
- The Rose: An Illustrated History
- The Runaway Jury
- The Speed of Dark
- The Watercolors of Winslow Homer
- The Zen of Oz: Ten Spiritual Lessons from Over the Rainbow
- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
- To Say Nothing of the Dog
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