tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post2604644277125536170..comments2024-03-28T06:20:48.661-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: "Oh, Kaye!" talks about Pat ConroyJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-49009920120565381412022-12-29T00:40:57.413-05:002022-12-29T00:40:57.413-05:00Hi, Pat Conroy is my father and every once in awhi...Hi, Pat Conroy is my father and every once in awhile, when I really miss him, I Google his name in hopes of finding someone writing nice things about him. Your post and comments warmed my heart and helped soothe my grief. Thank you for saying such nice things and loving him for who he was. I could just picture you and him at your mutual book signing, this made me smile. I also loved reading the comments section and am happy there exists such a kind group out in internet world. This post is just what I hope to find when feeling like this. Thank you with all my heart, Megan Conroy. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78732888859312075252016-03-07T13:14:05.988-05:002016-03-07T13:14:05.988-05:00Lynn, Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by and for ...Lynn, Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by and for the kind words. We've lost a treasure, haven't we? sending some hugs right back your way. xoo<br />Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66945651995040587182016-03-07T12:14:19.629-05:002016-03-07T12:14:19.629-05:00Kaye, your posts were so touching. I was offline f...Kaye, your posts were so touching. I was offline for a few days with family obligations and just learned of his passing. I'm also a fan of Pat Conroy, and hoped to meet him someday. I loved PRINCE OF TIDES so much, I bought a copy for my dad too, and being "an oddball" like you, also savored his cookbook and got a copy for my mother. (We're all big readers) <br /><br />My folks moved to Winston-Salem, NC for 8 years in the late 1970's & early '80's, and when we would visit I watched Nathalie Dupree on her cooking show there, that wasn't shown in our part of Texas. So Mom really got a kick out of Pat's stories about her in the cookbook! In case anyone cares to read an excerpt, I found one here: http://www.randomhouse.com/highschool/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385514132&view=excerpt<br /><br />I'm also really saddened that we lost a great writer and gentleman, but what a legacy he left us! I know how much you loved him, too, so here's big (((HUGS))) for you. xo<br /><br />Lynn in Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624333137637840905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78034054397549276762016-03-07T08:28:19.865-05:002016-03-07T08:28:19.865-05:00Debs - I cannot wait to hear what you think of Bea...Debs - I cannot wait to hear what you think of Beach Music!! and wow - I don't know why I'm amazed at the fact that every one of his books is now on back order, but that just blows me awy. <br /><br />Kathy, thank you. My Reading Life is such a treasure. I love that little book. I think I mentioned this earlier - I was lucky enough to receive an arc of that book and walked around with it clutched in my hands like a kid with a teddy bear. I do have all his books, and all of them have been inscribed and signed by him. <br /><br />Oh, Annette, thank you. We southeners took this death quite hard and very personally, I think.Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-41014709054132186312016-03-07T00:58:49.757-05:002016-03-07T00:58:49.757-05:00Kaye,
I can not tell you how much this post and v...Kaye, <br />I can not tell you how much this post and video means to me. I loved Pat Conroy. I am from the South and I can tell you Pat Conroy spoke for the true Southern man. His words and emotions were so profound. I spent this weekend reading sections of Mr. Conroy's cookbook and My Reading Life. He was a big man with a big heart. The South has indeed lost a favorite son. Again thanks for today's post and video. Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09763206050560144313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55318593006856853812016-03-06T23:41:43.943-05:002016-03-06T23:41:43.943-05:00Beautiful tribute, Kaye! It sounds like you had su...Beautiful tribute, Kaye! It sounds like you had such lovely meetings. I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to post until tonight. I consider one of my most treasured author meetings to be Pat Conroy. One of my best and oldest friends had read Pat Conroy's Beach Music years ago, and my friend kept telling me I needed to read it. Well, I did, and it remains one of the most powerful, beautifully written stories I've had the pleasure of experiencing. Kaye, I'm so happy that it's your favorite Conroy, and, boy, doesn't it put you through the wringer.<br /><br />Then, oh, about five years ago, Pat Conroy was at the Kentucky Book Festival in Bowling Green, Kentucky, a little over an hour away. I went and was so astounded that this author was as magnificent in person as he was on the page. Kaye, you nailed it when your said that he treats everyone like an old friend. And, your statement about the laughter. This man was a man that inspired laughter, both by his own jolliness and the hilarious storytelling he told when presenting to a room full of people. <br /><br />I have some catching up to do on reading his books, but I'm glad to say that I bought and got many signed at the appearance at which I saw and met him. One of his non-fiction books is a favorite of mine about reading. It's entitled My Ready Life by Pat Conroy, and in it he pays tribute to many who encouraged and influenced him along the way, including his mother and a teacher. His cookbook is supposed to be a riot, but I have it tucked away. Must get it out now. Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-28543272574646302092016-03-06T23:38:52.281-05:002016-03-06T23:38:52.281-05:00Kaye, I ordered Beach Music. But I'll have to ...Kaye, I ordered Beach Music. But I'll have to wait. I think every single Pat Conroy novel was on back order...<br /><br />And Valerie Horowitz, thanks for the great story.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66844922782738783032016-03-06T21:43:53.204-05:002016-03-06T21:43:53.204-05:00aw, thank you, Reine.aw, thank you, Reine.Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-88515077689026139952016-03-06T21:00:06.597-05:002016-03-06T21:00:06.597-05:00I love this, Kaye. Beautiful tribute. Thank you fo...I love this, Kaye. Beautiful tribute. Thank you for a great reading treat.<br /><br />My Pat Conroy favorite was The Great Santini. It helped me find reconciliation. Later on it helped me be a better parent.<br /><br />My mother introduced me to his books.<br /><br />Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7589435723113059382016-03-06T20:38:23.362-05:002016-03-06T20:38:23.362-05:00What delightful stories these are, Valerie! and n...What delightful stories these are, Valerie! and now I'm going to look for Cinnamon Girl.<br />Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65961834177198636372016-03-06T17:51:25.893-05:002016-03-06T17:51:25.893-05:00What a moment that must have been-- signing your b...What a moment that must have been-- signing your book for him! Wow! I share your deep affection for him. My closest friend from college was a good friend of his, and she is devastated. When we were 20 back in '75 before she knew him the two of us went to a writer's conference in Atlanta. We attended a small seminar given by Adrienne Rich. There was only one guy in the group. Adrienne was entering her angry feminist stage, and she asked the guy to leave. She told us that when she agreed to do the seminar she agreed under the terms that the seminar be women-only. But that wasn't in the literature, and the guy argued that point. I remember being torn because I was a feminist but since he hadn't been notified, I thought the guy should be allowed to stay. He was sitting right next to me, and we talked about it. I liked him, he seemed charming and well-mannered, a little chubby and preppy. Ultimately, sensing her intractability, he nicely agreed to leave, but as he tried to go, the door wouldn't open. Adrienne thought he was doing it deliberately. He was momentarily mortified and I felt bad for him, but he finally got it open and left. Years later, when my friend knew him, she was at dinner one night in Savannah with Pat and another writer, and he told this story. Of course she said, "That was YOU? I was there with my friend..." and they had a good laugh about it. <br /> Over the years I read all of his books of course and heard wonderful stories from my friend about their friendship, but I never met him again. <br /> I am so pleased that you love the stories in his cookbook too. When I worked at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich bookstore in NY in the late 70s-early 80s, Julian Bach came in nearly every day with authors he had taken to lunch to see their books on display (we got a call in the morning and knew where to place them so he could sweep in and show them their books). I was delighted to read Pat's piece about Julian in the cookbook. My mystery series is set in a cookbook store, and it was important to me to include Pat in Cinnamon Girl, which quoted treasured cookbooks in chapter openers.Valerie Horowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240870286039712928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-83186220999094019712016-03-06T15:25:57.904-05:002016-03-06T15:25:57.904-05:00Lil, hi!! We've missed you! I so agree - I t...Lil, hi!! We've missed you! I so agree - I think he will be missed by many and quite deeply.<br />Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79737648137776512242016-03-06T15:07:22.657-05:002016-03-06T15:07:22.657-05:00Admired Mr. Conroy very much. Thought of you immed...Admired Mr. Conroy very much. Thought of you immediately when I read of his passing.He certainly was a writer and person whose loss touches many.lil Glucksternhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09288522126331817172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90407314398091967882016-03-06T12:53:54.928-05:002016-03-06T12:53:54.928-05:00Ramona, Hey You! Thank you. Your mention of The ...Ramona, Hey You! Thank you. Your mention of The Water is Wide reminded me of something. I only learned this recently, but a former student of his from back then, Sallie Ann Robinson, is now a successful author of cookbooks. She was one of the presenters at his recent 70th birthday celebration. He held on to folks. I love that.<br />Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75887335166872400232016-03-06T12:01:52.153-05:002016-03-06T12:01:52.153-05:00A beautiful tribute, Kaye.
I loved The Lords of D...A beautiful tribute, Kaye.<br /><br />I loved The Lords of Discipline and The Great Santini, but I was moved most of all by The Water is Wide. He revealed much of himself in his fiction, but his memoir about that one year of teaching in a place the rest of America didn't know existed revealed his innocent hope that all is fair in America, that a young person with energy and an open mind can reach people different from himself, and that even when your best efforts seem to fail, if you touch one person, you succeed. He didn't remain a teacher in the traditional sense of teaching in schools, but he taught through his writing instead. His loss is painful but he left a huge legacy.Ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00627775403015684868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75210363850391185162016-03-06T11:46:13.619-05:002016-03-06T11:46:13.619-05:00Thank you so much, Kait. I agree, a gentle man in...Thank you so much, Kait. I agree, a gentle man in the truest and best sense.Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64105446659035176062016-03-06T11:44:13.933-05:002016-03-06T11:44:13.933-05:00Debs, thank you. I envy you for having his work t...Debs, thank you. I envy you for having his work to enjoy all brand spanking new. But, and I hesitate to say this, but it's a fact. Some people just simply don't care for his work. They find it to be "too much." Just like the critic I mentioned. That said, I am not a fan of The Lords of Discipline. But. I love all his other work so much I feel like it more than makes up for it. My favorite novel is Beach Music. Most disagree and will vote for Prince of Tides which is also beautiful beyond words and I do love it, but Beach Music will hold me captive forever. Non fiction I would recommend The Death of Santini. (along with My Reading Life which is his book about books and his cookbook). :-D<br /> Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-43276673106517953522016-03-06T11:41:45.239-05:002016-03-06T11:41:45.239-05:00What a lovely tribute, Kaye. I was so saddened to ...What a lovely tribute, Kaye. I was so saddened to read of Mr. Conroy's passing. He was a great writer. Don't think there can be any argument about that...but more, he was a great gentleman and a gentle man. Rest in Peace.Kait Carsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00563141052893906365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-74404968897348475732016-03-06T11:28:39.151-05:002016-03-06T11:28:39.151-05:00Kaye, what a lovely essay. I am embarrassed to adm...Kaye, what a lovely essay. I am embarrassed to admit that I have never read a Conroy novel. (You know me, always too many English things to catch up on...) But I'm so moved by your love for his work that I want to remedy this. (And I loved the video excerpt.)<br /><br />So where should I start? Recommend a novel and a non-fiction book for me, please, Kaye--and all you other Pat Conroy fans, too.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54511712859609286332016-03-06T10:35:39.940-05:002016-03-06T10:35:39.940-05:00Mornin', all - Cam you believe it's 9:30, ...Mornin', all - Cam you believe it's 9:30, and I've only just gotten up!?! I stayed up way past my bedtime reading last night and now feeling like a total slug sleeping this late.<br /><br />Hallie, I was dying to know if you bumped into either Pat or his wife Cassandra while you were in Beaufort. It's a fairly small town (isn't it gorgeous??) and they are, apparently, out and about a lot. I did not, however, realize at the time that he was as ill as he was.<br /><br />Lucy, Donald and I had tickets to attend the 70th birthday celebration. Sadly, we had to cancel and I will forever regret that we weren't able to go. <br /><br />Claudia, his book about books is a gem, isn't it?! I was a lucky recipient of an arc of that book and walked around with it like I had discovered the Holy Grail. I too recommend it highly.<br /><br />Elizabeth, I felt the same way. The irony of him making this decision to take better care of himself is one of those things that can make a person like me cuss up a storm.<br /><br />Kay, one of the things I admired most about Pat Conroy was a statement I read a long time ago no writer ever need worry about Pat Conroy slamming their work 'cause it would never, ever happen. So classy.<br /><br />Karen, what a lovely story!! I only met Cassandra King once. She and Pat shared a signing event at Park Road Books in Charlotte. Because Cassandra and I have a mutual friend she was expecting to see me there and welcomed me with open arms like we were best pals. She's adorable and gracious and funny. She was signing Moonrise, which is my favorite of all her books. I don't mean to give the impression that Pat Conroy "knew" me. I was only one of a beezillion fans that followed him. I did joke with him that I had quite possibly been stalking him a little longer than some. He sometimes recognized me, but that was the extent of our "friendship." He did greet Donald, however, with a "Hey, you. You still hanging around with this woman?" when he saw him in Charlotte and got up to shake his hand.<br /><br />Lesa, The Water is Wide is one of those books that, I think, should be required reading. Sadly, SO sadly, many of the conditions that he faced while teaching those children still exist in that area. Can you believe that?! Makes me SO angry. (sending you a hug, sweetie).<br />Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-3406580097023405552016-03-06T10:19:18.394-05:002016-03-06T10:19:18.394-05:00Cindy, I agree. The legacy will live and we as fa...Cindy, I agree. The legacy will live and we as fans are so lucky in that. I too find it a comfort.<br /><br />I've mentioned here before how I keep a copy of the Pat Conroy Cookbook on my nightstand. That sounds ridiculous, I know. But - it is way more than a cookbook. It's full of some lovely essays as well. But too, I'm one of the weird souls who also enjoys reading cookbooks almost as if they're novels. Believe it or not - I'm not the only one. I know a couple other oddballs who do the same thing. <br />Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-83337823916403691442016-03-06T10:06:14.469-05:002016-03-06T10:06:14.469-05:00Sad to hear that Pat Conry has gone on ahead. Too...Sad to hear that Pat Conry has gone on ahead. Too soon. Too many people with way too many things still to share have passed recently. I never met the man, but his books are wonderful. <br /><br />One nice thing about artists though. Even after they die, they often leave behind such a legacy. Those of us who were only "fans" can hear their voices again, any time we like, simply by opening their books, cueing up their records, rewatching their movies etc. Need to get to re-reading.<br /><br />I'm sure it's no consolation to those who loved the person. but I find it a comfort...Cindy Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08199895839611104564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20156469756266927842016-03-06T09:57:56.620-05:002016-03-06T09:57:56.620-05:00Oh, Denise. I wonder a lot if Pat Conroy truly, T...Oh, Denise. I wonder a lot if Pat Conroy truly, TRULY, knew to what extent he had helped others. He said he did, and I believe he did at some level. But truly?? I just don't know. His father was with him at a signing we went to in Atlanta many years ago. He was sitting at a table also signing books. I remember my Donald asking if I wanted to have him sign my book and I said no. Pat and his dad may have made amends by that time and I was glad for that, but I was never so gracious nor generous. Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59271763623554821042016-03-06T09:53:35.908-05:002016-03-06T09:53:35.908-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-32896066864324718852016-03-06T09:37:26.074-05:002016-03-06T09:37:26.074-05:00Kaye, Thank you so much for this tribute. I love P...Kaye, Thank you so much for this tribute. I love Pat Conroy. "The Great Santini" was a book that changed my life; it told me that I was not alone in the world, an eldest child of a hard-drinking bully of an ex-marine. I can't even begin to explain how each sentence both stirred and comforted me.<br /><br />I have read all the books. And will read them all again. <br /><br />Denise Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790883493798517829noreply@blogger.com