My Losing Season: A Memoir

One of the best reads ever. So well written. You are there with Pat the entire way. Magnificent.

I love Pat Conroy. I mourn his death and wish he could have lived another fifty years, bringing us his gorgeous prose. My Losing Season, his memoir of the 1966-67 Citadel basketball team on which he played as a senior at that institution is classic Conroy. I have to admit, not knowing the game of basketball very well, I got bogged down just a bit as he described each of the games of that season. But the book is more about him and the human condition than it is about a game. Filled with Conroy’s wonderfully evocative metaphors—nobody is better at them—the book proposes the idea that perhaps we learn more from our failures than our successes. As we get to know his team members and his irascible coach, we want to reach out to each. And as Conroy fills us in at the end of the book on these characters thirty years later, we share their triumphs and tribulations in life. And, of course, hovering over it all is Conroy’s abusive father and long-suffering mother. We grow to understand these two, but I personally never grew to like the man, although Conroy says he came to love his dad unconditionally in the man’s later years. Perhaps that acceptance, for me, is for another book, and hopefully Conroy accomplished that in The Death of Santini, the sequel to his novel The Great Santini, which featured a leading character very much like, but different somewhat, his real father Don Conroy. We shall see, as I’ve just ordered that book. But with Conroy’s death, we are deeply cut; no one can fill his shoes, so we must be content with the body of work he left us.

First let me say that I am a huge Pat Conroy fan. This is my second favorite Pat Conroy book, second only to The Prince of Tides. In the true Irish tradition, Conroy is not only an incredibly gifted writer, but also an amazing story teller. The thing most people don't get about this book, is that it is not a "sports" book. It's about life, families, teachers, students and love of school and country. In reliving the games they played his senior year at The Citadel, Conroy invites the perspectives of his fellow teammates, and speaks of them with such affection that you cannot help be touched by the tenderness and bitterness of their memories. As usual his prose is lovely and at times breathtaking. The religious metaphores and descriptions of barrack and locker room antics are all vivid and almost pictorial. Mostly we are gifted with a deep insight into the heart of a shy and wounded young man of tremendous potential, and learn that there is always room for success if we can glean encouragement from the unsung heros we all meet along lifes paths. I am very surprised that most of the reviews I've read make no mention of the historial perspective of the sixties and how influential this was to Conroy's personal development and to the context of the story. Both the civil rights movement, which was both fomented and denegrated in the South, and the anti-war sentiment of the decade were integral to the story line. Spoiler alert - I personally was moved to tears at the end of the book when Conroy relates his personal feelings about the Vietnam War, and how his opinion has changed over the years. I encouraged my 20 year old son to read this book, and he too was very moved by it. His main comment - I can't believe I waited so long to read this book! I think you will feel the same way, weather it's your first PC book - or your last. A recommendation - look on-line for a letter that Conroy wrote about his feelings about Bill Clinton and how his roll as a member of the Honor Board at the Citadel have molded his life.

This is my first Pat Conroy book although I have seen two movies from his books, Santini and Prince of Tides. The Great Santini I enjoyed immensely.Conroy is a brilliant writer who weaves many sentences with excellent descriptions and analogies. While I grade his writing style highly, I was originally attracted to the book for the story line as I thoroughly enjoy basketball. But while this book is centered on basketball that is only the spine around which this book is developed. This is a story of the growth of Conroy with many subplots: life at Citadel and the murderous Plebe system, his complicated family life particularly with his father, his meager love life and his early development as a writer.But, as always, character development is critical to a great book and in addition to Conroy, we see his interaction with teammates and coaches. In fact, it is a comment from one of his teammates who years later provokes the idea of this book of supposed "losers".Conroy writes without an ego and clearly he is a better player than he describes. But after 3/4 of the book, it's rewarding when Conroy visits the aged teammates to find out how their lives have developed. Particularly his coach and one role player for whom all readers will have a high degree of respect for his sacrifices. While I enjoyed the whole book, the most touching passages are of his trips to the Vietnam Wall and the story of the student team manager, Rat.READ THIS BOOK. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. I read books for enjoyment or to learn. I enjoyed the story and marveled at the superb writing. I learned a great deal about Conroy and his life and influences. And I also visualized my life and whether I will have the great memories and be touched by so many wonderful teachers and friends.ADDENDUM: The book had kind words for Jerry West who worked at a camp with Conroy. I met West and asked had he read the book as it had kind words of him. He considers Conroy a good friend and had read the book. He also mentioned that Tom Clancy had come through the camp as well. I guess basketball and authors are a great combination.

This book is used but it looks like it is new. Thanks to the seller!

|The book was as new and arrived quickly. I have always loved Pat Conroy books but the subject matter was not my thing so sadly didn't continue reading

The book was a gift for my grandson. I had been looking for it for a while. It was delivered in the condition that was promised and on the estimated date of delivery. All good.

I bought this book, along with The Water is Wide and both books were in excellent condition.

A great story about basketball and life. Not a basketball fan, but it didn't matter. Lots about teamwork, love among basketball players and dealing with life.'