Rating: 
Summary: an admirable introduction followed by bathos and howlers
Review: A memoir is by definition a re-creation, and no such work can possibly be completely factual, nor should it be. But after a promising introduction which candidly reveals the author's personal struggles -- struggles all too common in men, especially Southern men -- this work lapses into bathos and what strikes me in one instance as a completely unbelievable "event" in the author's life -- and I am a speaking as a native Georgian who was one of two white players on one of the first desegregated teams in that state's history.The bathos is typified by what I call the "Bob Costas Syndrome": it is possible to enjoy sports intensely without referring to a high school point guard's exploits as "magnificent" and "heroic"; not even Michael Jordan at his greatest was "heroic." Jackie Robinson was heroic indeed, butleast of all for his amazing athletic skills. As I write this the news of the death of another American soldier in Afghanistan is playing on every channel: a former NFL player who walked away from the "heroic" "war zone" of the football field and from millions of dollars to enlist with his brother as an Army Ranger. Sports may possibly build character, a debate which sports increasingly seems to be losing, but PLEASE spare me the grandiose adjectives. Perhaps NOW we will have a moratorium on writers and athletes employing hyperbolic terms such as "warrior" etc. Such romanticizing betrays a poverty of vision especially insulting in our current epoch. The "event" I find completely incredible centers on a supposed train-trip encounter in the early 1960s between the author and an African American girl (who curiously remains unnamed, though the author tells us he "was in love with her" and though he seems to remember the names of every opposing player, coach, referee, and gym custodian from his kindergarten through college years). This young woman, traveling alone (luckily for her and the author, on one of the only desegregated trains in 1960s America), sits down VOLUNTARILY across from the white author, who subsequently reveals he is from the South. This revelation being a famous ice-breaker with African Americans in the 60s, they become friendly, their meeting just happens to coincide with MLK's "Dream" speech, which they conveniently just happen to be able to pick up on am radio on a moving train, and they even tour Cincinatti together on a stopover. Perhaps this young African American woman was from Mars, not the United States. Perhaps her parents actually did put her on a train alone and encouraged her to strike up conversations with white boys, especially Southern white boys. Perhaps they encouraged her to WALK AROUND ONE OF THE MOST RACIALLY DIVISIVE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WITH AFOREMENTIONED WHITE BOY. But based on my experiences as a Southerner who grew up in the maelstrom, the epicenter of the Civl Rights Era, I find such an "event" completely fantastic: the sad truth is that no woman of color in the South could afford or would dare initiate a playful Q and A with a white male on a train (especially one traveling from Nebraska-- hardly a bastion of civil rights itself -- to the Deep South). This nameless woman of course cannot be tracked down (and therefore, conveniently, the story cannot be verified nor proven false). Thus she remains, in my view, a princess in a wish-fulfillment fairy tale of a world that never existed in a South and a United States that was and remains much more racist than most white people can or will admit. After all, what fate ultimately befell the great orator who uttered the "Dream" speech that Conroy and his fairy princess supposedly listened to so rapturously? And how are we to believe the author's contention that sports builds noble traits when we are confronted with such a risibly unbelievable "event"? Perhaps Conroy thereby makes more points about sports then he intends. Certainly this "event," clearly designed to show how progressive and good hearted the author was for his place and time, insults the memory of the deathless speech that it invokes.
Rating: 
Summary: Sparks in the Darkness
Review: Although "My Losing Season" seems to resemble so many of Conroy's novels, there is nonetheless a refreshing new aspect. Yes, there is the same dark, violent characters of his novels, and Conroy's penchent for melodrama. And, many of the scenes seem to play over and over again in "My Losing Season." However, the style had its effect on me when I felt my anger, disbelief and somber mood take hold as Conroy's basketball season goes into a full tailspin and their demeaning, capricious coach sucks the spirit out of the team.
The sparks came as Conroy's indomitable spirit refused to die and he often outplayed opponents who had much more athletic talent. He admired, and often adored, the talents of the point guard that he was set against in each game, but he never seemed to wilt. He gave no quarter and played with every once of his energy as I cheered him on and quickly turned the pages to find out which team won the game. It seemed as though playing against his opponent with everything he had was the highest compliment.
The book deals with more ambivalent feelings than you can shake a stick at. Conroy is elated to be a started and named team but feels guilty because some of his teammates are more worthy of the positions. He plays hard for his coach and staunchly defends him when he is fired, but spends a large portion of the story displaying his bitter resentment of the man that physically and emotionally flattened a talented team. He hated his abusive father yet has him attending a 30-year reunion of this teammates. He is appalled at the plebe system at The Citadel and the mean spirited hazing, yet he is extremely proud to march for his school and wear its ring.
The last part of the story is a reconciliation, of sorts. Conroy reconnects with many of his former teammates and his former coach, Mel Thompson, and discusses his anti-war activities and public criticisms of The Citadel. Although this section of the book is disjointed and at times feels like confessions of guilt and regret, there are a few parts that fit nicely to resolve that ill-fated basketball season that had ended 30 years ago.
In short, Conroy's story worked on me. I was often frustrated and shocked at the abusive relations with people and institutions, and at times the story seemed to float a dark palor above my head. Yet, I kept turning the pages to pick up those sparks in the darkness -- Conroy has an indomitable spirit and an earnest demeanor, and he loves people (even the sordid ones).
Rating: 
Summary: Not enough stars for this one, folks . . .
Review: As with all of Conroy's books, he makes you love the story even if you're not interested in the subject material. The only other author I know of that does this is Jackson McCrae. "My Losing Season" is a true story of how a college basketball player trying to get the approval of his father. Yet, getting that approval is hard due to his father's expectations. Conroy tells a wonderful story that may leave some teary-eyed. One cannot help but to ride on the emotional rollercoaster that this book creates as it follows Conroy's ups and downs on and off the basketball court. As he writes about specific games he played, it reads like the play-by-play to the NCAA championship game, which every game was to Conroy. As usual, this novel is brilliantly constructed and well-done---as all his novels are. Also recommended: "The Bark of the Dogwood," and "Prince of Tides."
Rating:
Summary: Pat Conroy should be a multimillionaire and has had his
Review: books made into movies. He doesn't like his coach. But, his coach seems to be a good guy who is dealing with a bunch of spoiled brats and Pat Conroy seems the most spoiled of all. I agree with the reviewer who said he won't read anymore Pat Conroy books. His themes are always the same and they are all self-pitying. He's become a one trick pony and I'm tired of the trick. Read his two first books and skip the rest.
Rating:
Summary: Book was bad
Review: chens and kwan, do not even think about reading it!
laaaaaaaaaaate
Rating:
Summary: Lords of the Boards
Review: Conroy works emotion like Michelangelo did marble. An absolute master. I suggest that one read The Great Santini and The Lords of Discipline before My Losing Season to fully appreciate his artistry - as he develops the emotional nuances on his palette to weave fiction out of the autobiographical details of his life. I was very moved when he spoke to Will McLean to have his doppelganger recede to the background so Pat Conroy could explain the facts of his heroic VMI game. Likewise when he explained how his father remade himself after the Great Santini - since Conroy took pains to embue Bull Meechum (Don Conroy) with a modicum of admirable traits his "real" father never had. But then again, perhaps Don/Bull did - and that realization may eventually come to Conroy in his twilight years.
Perhaps this book will serve as a final catharsis as regards his late father. If I have a criticism of My Losing Season, is that Conroy retains an adolescent angst while writing from the perspective of a middle aged man and that produces a sense of atrophied personal development. On re-reading the book, this was the message I got page after page: "Here I am, a 5'10" midget with no talent and I go on to be the team captain and MVP of my college basketball team. And, pal, all I got from my dad was a backhand across the puss. And all I and my teammates got from their coach and The Citadel was a figurative backhand as well. So, tell me, pal, who are the real losers here?"
One is left to wonder, as I am sure Conroy himself does, whether he would have attained such personal and career heights were it not for descending into the abyss that was the relationship with his father and with The Citadel. It could well be said that The Citadel has re-fashioned itself much as his father did. Such is the power of words well written.
Rating:
Summary: Memorable and moving
Review: I am rather new to Pat Conroy, having only read "The Great Santini" before enjoying this book. I was prompted to read "My Losing Season" after hearing Pat Conroy interviewed on the Diane Rehm show. His story-telling gifts are not limited to his writing.
If the test of a great book is the imprint of memorable characters and story in the reader's mind, then "My Losing Season" certainly should be rated great in my opinion. I found myself intensely interested in these characters to the point of being disappointed that the only picture was the team picture from the 1966-1967 season. Mr. Conroy's gift for prose is truly unique. There were several passages in the book where he ruminates on the "passing of time" and the increasing effect it has on a person as he/she progresses through life. These passages were extremely moving and beautifully written.
The extent to which Mr. Conroy shares his life and feelings with the reader is amazing. In reading the book, you really feel as though you know the man and you'll very likely find this young basketball player to be an admirable person. The most surprising thing in the book is the way in which Mr. Conroy shares his spiritual journey through this difficult year. I found the young man's prayers to be sincere, inspiring, and very moving.
One negative I could site for the book is the excessive expressions of humility. The writer goes to great lengths to convince us that he was a mediocre player at best. However, the narratives of the games indicates that he was much better than he admits to being. I also wish he had given us a little more info on his plans for life after the Citadel. He mentions that the Citadel offered to pay for his graduate education, but does not tell us why he decided not to accept that offer. I'm reading "The Water is Wide" now and know that he began teaching high school following graduation from the Citadel.
Rating:
Summary: Memorable and moving
Review: I am rather new to Pat Conroy, having only read "The Great Santini" before enjoying this book. I was prompted to read "My Losing Season" after hearing Pat Conroy interviewed on the Diane Rehm show. His story-telling gifts are not limited to his writing.
If the test of a great book is the imprint of memorable characters and story in the reader's mind, then "My Losing Season" certainly should be rated great in my opinion. I found myself intensely interested in these characters to the point of being disappointed that the only picture was the team picture from the 1966-1967 season. Mr. Conroy's gift for prose is truly unique. There were several passages in the book where he ruminates on the "passing of time" and the increasing effect it has on a person as he/she progresses through life. These passages were extremely moving and beautifully written.
The extent to which Mr. Conroy shares his life and feelings with the reader is amazing. In reading the book, you really feel as though you know the man and you'll very likely find this young basketball player to be an admirable person. The most surprising thing in the book is the way in which Mr. Conroy shares his spiritual journey through this difficult year. I found the young man's prayers to be sincere, inspiring, and very moving.
One negative I could site for the book is the excessive expressions of humility. The writer goes to great lengths to convince us that he was a mediocre player at best. However, the narratives of the games indicates that he was much better than he admits to being. I also wish he had given us a little more info on his plans for life after the Citadel. He mentions that the Citadel offered to pay for his graduate education, but does not tell us why he decided not to accept that offer. I'm reading "The Water is Wide" now and know that he began teaching high school following graduation from the Citadel.
Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding
Review: I found this to be an amazing book. At first I didn't think I would enjoy a book about sports, but it is about so much more. I'm only writing this because the book deserves a chance to be read by everyone, not just sports fans. I hated to finish it, but loved knowing that the story was real. I find it especially poignant for those in a mood to reminisce about their college years.
Rating:
Summary: My Losing Season is a Winner
Review: I LOVE PAT CONROY. He is a Master storyteller. I'm not a basketball fan. I'm not a sports fan. I will follow Conroy anywhere he wants to go - through thick and thin. He never disappoints. Articulate, tender, funny, surprising and intelligent are a few adjectives I'd use to describe this book and all of Conroy's books. Don't miss this one.
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