The Great Santini - I loved the wonderful, if sometimes cliche, characters in The Great Santini. The book is supposed to be about Bull Meecham, an overpowering, macho maniac Marine who runs his family like he does the men in his squadron, but it seemed to me to be more of a coming-of-age story about Bull's son, Ben. I certainly loved the interaction of all the family members, although I think the author lingered too long on some sequences. We get it. There's no use running Mary Anne's neediness and Ben's resentment into the ground to make the point. Still, an entertaining story that tugs on the heartstrings.

The Lords of Discipline, a tale of four cadets struggling to "make it" through their last year at The Institute, a military college in Charleston, SC, is a powerful story of cruelty, betrayal, and loss. While the characters were wonderfully vulnerable and human, adolescent humor was, at times, overwhelming. Also, the author's need to lace the narrative with extensive descriptions of the charm of southern life was somewhat exhausting and challenging to get through. I felt like the story didn't pick up until the last ten chapters of the book, but it packed a resounding emotional punch at the end.

The Prince of Tides - I believe Prince of Tides is this author's finest book. Although Pat Conroy's stories are wordy—yet eloquent, and this one is no exception—he drew me in emotionally with his wildly vulnerable and unforgettable characters. The Wingo family is a mess. They survived some violent and deeply disturbing events, yet, Tom, Savannah, and Luke's bond is their savior. ( )