I just finished Pat Conroy's "South of Broad". I love Conroy's writing. He truly is one of the great Southern writers, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed in this long-awaited novel. His love affair with the low country of South Carolina is apparent, and I almost immediately wanted to hop on a plane to see Charleston for myself. However, the book struck me as a pale imitation of his "Beach Music". Some of the characters just seemed carbon copies of the characters in that earlier work, and some of the dialogue was a bit stilted and unrealistic.

However, give me weak Pat Conroy over almost any other writer any day.

I also read "The Scarlet Letter" to help my daughter in English class. I try to read whatever she's required to read so that we can discuss it. Why oh why is this book still required?? I appreciate the theme of a repressive and sexist society and how wrong it is, but is there no other book that can give the kids that?? UGH!