South Carolina Fiction (Beaufort: homes, movies, beach) - Myrtle Beach - Conway area - (SC) -Horry County - City-Data Forum

tmozer · 03-19-2012, 12:00 PM

I just finished an excellent book, especially if you are interested in the culture of those growing up in the SC coastal low country: "Beach Music" by Pat Conroy. I plan a trip to the HC Library to grab some of his other books.......

mkaz01 · 03-19-2012, 05:32 PM

I love love love Pat Conroy and have read just about everything he has written. I think Lords of Discipline and Prince of Tides are my favorites.

tmozer · 03-19-2012, 05:53 PM

I plan to read Prince of Tides next. Do most of his books involve South Carolina?

mkaz01 · 03-20-2012, 05:18 AM

Yes, his books all center on So. Carolina and some are almost autobiographical. Enjoy! I wish he would write something new. I last read South of Broad but did not enjoy it as much as others..

PawleysDude · 03-20-2012, 09:37 AM

IMO, Conroy ranks as one of the finest contemporary US authors. He does a superb job helping his readers "feel" the good and bad of Southern culture, without all the romantic BS so many Southern writers feel compelled to force into their books.

I enjoyed South of Broad, probably because he made us wait so long for another novel, but mostly because he took me back to a kid growing up in SC in the 60's. His portrayal in this book of Southern, white class divisions was dead on, and painful to recall.

I agree that Beach Music is probably his finest book, but I also recommend The Water is Wide, one of his shortest novels and a fictionalized version of his experiences teaching on a Gullah barrier island. If you enjoy basketball at all, you'll probably enjoy My Losing Season, written about his experiences as a basketball player at the Citadel. Good stuff...

If you're tough and want to see a somewhat different view of Southern life, Rick Bragg's "All Over but the Shoutin' " is a very rewarding read. He's a Pulitzer Prize author who grew up dirt-poor in Alabama then went on to cover major stories for a number of newspapers. One of the most memorable books I've read in a long, long time.

tmozer · 03-20-2012, 11:52 AM

Back to Beach Music ........

Anyone think they know where the fictional town of "Waterford" is? Obviously it is on the coast between Charlston and Georgia. But is Waterford based on a factual town or area??

blueherons · 03-20-2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmozer

Back to Beach Music ........

Anyone think they know where the fictional town of "Waterford" is? Obviously it is on the coast between Charlston and Georgia. But is Waterford based on a factual town or area??

Beaufort.

My uncle played baseball with him at the Citadel and he's always been a gifted storyteller.

tmozer · 03-20-2012, 02:15 PM

Now I have a new reason to check out Beaufort some day......... Thanks.

vrexy · 03-20-2012, 02:47 PM

tmozer - Read Prince of Tides. It is my favorite of his books. I have read and love them all, but that's the best as far as I'm concerned. Also, you must make a trip to Beaufort. It is charming and lovely with many quaint little places and plenty of dog friendly B & B's, so you can take Otis with you! Several movies have been filmed in some of the big mansion homes down by the water. I won't list them here, but here's a link you can look at: Movie Sites - Beaufort, SC - Enrich Your Coastal Getaway

While you are in Beaufort, make sure to go to Hunting Island State Park. It's very close and is one of the prettiest state parks I've ever seen.

tmozer · 03-20-2012, 05:03 PM

Prince of Tides is on hold at the Surfside Library branch. Looking forward to picking it up.