The Prince of Tides

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous literature
Review: I've read this piece of "flawed, outrageous humanity" no less than a hundred times, and have yet to find anything more truly gorgeous, more terrible, more moving, or more hilarious. Pat Conroy chooses the most beautiful words of the English language and strings them together like jewels; the story crafts the lovely as well as the hideous. Mr. Conroy tells a story that is so engaging that it is nearly impossible to stop reading. Somehow this book is especially appealing to those people whose families and backgrounds are less than perfect-yet even these people are able to find something to identify with in this book. I would recommend this to anyone over 18, due to some mature subjects.

If you like short stories, you'll love this book--it's a compilation of them. If you like novels, I've never read anything so accessible yet so challenging. If you think your life was hard, read this book. If you love beauty, poetry, nature, words, literature, or the south, read this. Mr. Conroy's other books are also several notches above excellent.

PS-skip the movie. I've only ever seen one movie that was as good as the book, and this wasn't it.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Depiction of the ultimate disfunctional family
Review: The Prince of Tides is a novel about relationships. It is the story of Tom Wingo and his family in South Carolina. The family undergoes many hardships, testing the strengths of their family ties. Tom and his twin sister Savannah have a very strong bond. Because of this steadfast relationship, Tom notices in early childhood Savannah's severe mental and emotional struggles that become so prominent later in her life. It is not until after the stillbirth of three brothers and a dark afternoon when three convicts escape to attack the family that things really fall apart. Not only is this novel about Tom Wingo's childhood, but also about how it shapes his own adult family, with a wife and three daughters. It is after Tom Has an emotional breakdown because of the death of his older brother Luke, that he goes to New York, leaving behind the troubles of his own family, to help the mentally and emotionally broken Savannah. There he meets Doctor Lowenstein, a psychiatrist, who changes his life. Overall this is a fast moving, and easy to read novel. The vocabulary used by Conroy is not difficult, and it is very engaging and suspenseful. You will become lost in this novel, and will want to continue reading until you discover what becomes of Tom Wingo. If you are looking for a good book that you will remember and can relate to, read The Prince of Tides.

Rating:
Summary: his best work
Review: I reserve my five star rating for books that stand out as the best of the best. This is on the list of my top ten books, so I don't hesitate to put it as a five star book. Unlike some of Conroy's other books, this story line flows very easily, the plot seems reasonable, and it is as if you could have been there in South Carolina with the characters. This is a book for people who love to read-- it seems like Conroy is writing a long and beautiful poem, rather than a novel. But, don't get me wrong, the writing is not heavy or Faulkner-like that you can't get through it. It is a beautiful story of Tom Wingo as he deals with his sister's mental illnesses, his marital problems, and his childhood. As a person from the south, the book seemed very relevant in the way that family dynamics play out and the way childhoods are remembered. I would recommend the book for anyone who wants a captivating story, eloquent writing, and a taste of southern life. There is also some very good humor, too, which I appreciated!

Rating:
Summary: PHENOMENAL READ!!!
Review: As a reader that covers approximately two novels per week, I can say I've read many books. Conroy's Prince of Tides is one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Conroy has a true knack with the use of sarcasm and wit. This story is both moving and shocking and I can honestly say I wouldn't change a single word of it. This novel is one I plan to reread several times and it comes highly recommended to all of those who appreciate great literature. The Prince of Tides left me wanting to read all of Conroy's novels...I truly believe this piece will be a future American classic.

Rating:
Summary: wow
Review: All I can say is that I was blown away by this book. The main character, Tom Wingo's story ranges from being hysterically funny to tragically depressing. The range of Conroy's prose and narrative were outstanding. But above all I think that this book left a lasting impression on me. I haven't the words to do justice to the book so I will end by asking everyone to read it.
Forget the terrible movie adaption. It is completely different. I would actually love to see someone attempt a faithful film adaptation of what has now become one of my favorite books.

Rating:
Summary: Liked the book...loathed the movie...
Review: What was Streisand thinking when she made a movie of this book? I am certain the author can't have been too happy with anything but the money he got. For one thing, it is totally wrong for a therapist to sleep with her patient.
Streisand, who has always purported to be so sensitive to social issues, should have known that this is a no-no.

I can't help thinking that she made the movie to show off her manicure. And to add Nick Nolte to her list of hunky on-screen mates. Vanity, all is vanity.

Do read the book. It's deep and meaningful. Skip the flick.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful, Beautifully Written Book Ahead of its Time
Review: Conroy is the most beautiful writer I have encountered. His prose is poetry, and it's a pleasure to read him whatever the subject. His story is both tragic and beautiful, and importantly places the questions of what we define as "ill" or "crazy" in front of us. It is easy to find sympathy for the difficulties of his characters, whose lives are results of years of repeated trauma. He teaches us lessons we all need to learn (especially Psychiatry). Wonderfully done! My only complaint is the lack of discernment about what a psychiatrist really does compared to a psychologist or counselor--but that's a typical error on the education of the general public.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping, intense look at a dysfunctional family
Review: I have to admit, I saw the movie before I read the book. But this is just astonishingly wonderful! Conroy really knows dysfunctional families. And how we, as adult children, really struggle not to be like the abusive parents we have.

The descriptions and dialog in this book are excellent. The author really shows the passion, the hate, the evil and human nature, all in one book. Forgiveness of amazing, torturous abuse also is shown in an amazing way.

Very believable characters, likeable. It's like he lived my life and knows my family!

Rating:
Summary: The book that's got everything!
Review: This book has got everything; a lovestory, it's a family saga, it's thrilling, scary and it'll make you cry and laugh, but you'd probably want to sleep with the lights on for some nights after you've read it! I read it at the age of 16 and since that I've read it over and over again, trying to recover the same magic feeling it gave me back then. You can't put it away - you just have to keep on reading. If you're wondering which book to get - you buy this one!

Rating:
Summary: Love the book, but how in the world
Review: Love the book, but how in the world did Hollywood cast Babs in the movie version? The description of Susan Lowenstein in the book hardly matches Babs, even when she was < 200 lbs.!