An absolute gem of a book for anyone who cares about reading, writing, and language; a collection of short essays that sometimes moved me to tears and sometimes to hysterics; Conroy strings words and sentences together in remarkable and delicious ways; the tribute to his high school English teacher is particularly moving, and his descriptions of his life in Paris and his canoe trip down the Chattooga River are priceless. After reading his chapter "The Count," you will want to rush out and read (or re-read) War and Peace. Not only do I want to re-read Tolstoy, but now I want to re-read Pat Conroy.

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This is the richest, most extraordinary experience I've ever had with an audible book. Narrated by the author humself, it was a privilege to hear him talk about the the books that have shaped his life. I can't wait to discover some of the authors he loves. Very highly recommend.

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As with all Conroy's works, this book is well-written and fun to read. I learned a great deal about the influences that shaped him as an author, but I deeply regretted learning that I was unaware of so much literary activity ongoing in Atlanta while I lived there! Recommended.

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