After I got married and my parents moved to Florida (the next day), my dad started sending me books after he'd read them. He did this fairly regularly, and I think I read them all, even though his choices weren't always compatible with mine. (He had a fondness for historical novels in particular, and I remember when, as a teenager, I was reading Harold Robbins he assumed The Carpetbaggers was about history and expressed approval of my book selection.)
I tried to sound enthusiastic when responding to him about the books, but it wasn't always easy. Then he sent me The Great Santini. This time I could tell him how much I'd enjoyed the book, and mean it. He wrote back, "I thought it was good--but not that good."
I never lost my enthusiasm for Pat Conroy. Of his books that I've read, I haven't liked them all equally, but I haven't disliked any. The Lords of Discipline stayed with me for weeks.
The great Santini sound like a really good summery drink. Please don't ever delete these blogs. I want to be able to keep coming back to them to pick my next book.
ReplyDeleteConroy also wrote a cookbook. I wonder if he might have given this name to one of the included drinks.
DeleteI'll have what Sabine is drinking.
ReplyDeleteDid you read The Water is Wide? It's on my list....
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it, but it's on my Kindle. Thanks for the reminder!
DeleteI love the fact that a Harold Robbins' book elicited parental approval.
ReplyDeleteMoi aussi.
DeleteThis is a sweet father and daughter story.
ReplyDeleteThis is sweet. The only book my father ever recommended to me was Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates -- the only book he remembered reading in school.
ReplyDelete