A review by pennyluvs2read
The Great Santini by Pat Conroy

1.0

This book gets one star for good spelling at some lyrical writing (at times). But I hated everything about it. It does not stand the test of time and it is hard to imagine it ever being regarded as a good read. They even made a movie out of it! It valorizes and glorifies violent and brutish masculinity, anti-black racism, antisemitism and misogyny. These are the qualities of the 'hero'. If it is meant to expose the horrors of military men, it succeeds. I only read it, and finished it, because I was recently visiting the low country of South Carolina and Pat Conroy was recommended. I suspect I picked the worst of his oeuvre, but I can't see myself reading any more of his books based on this experience. I only finished it in hopes that the monstrous protagonist would be killed off in the end.