- Paperback: 416 pages
- Publisher: Arrow (3 Jun 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099468328
- ISBN-13: 978-0099468325
- Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.5 x 19.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 508,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
My Losing Season
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More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
A poignant and moving yet funny and unlikely coming-of-age memoir.
Product Description
In 1954, in Orlando, Florida, nine-year-old Pat Conroy discovered the game of basketball. Orlando was another new hometown for a military kid who had spent his life transferring from one home to another; he was yet again among strangers, still looking for his first Florida friends, but when the 'new kid' got his hands on the ball near the foul line of that unfamiliar court, the course of his life changed dramatically. From that moment until he was twenty-one, the future author defined himself through the game of basketball. In My Losing Season, Conroy takes the reader through his last year playing basketball, as point guard and captain of The Citadel Bulldogs, flashing back constantly to the drama of his coming of age, presenting all the conflict and love that have been at the core of his novels. He vividly re-creates his senior year at that now-famous military college in Charleston, South Carolina, but also tells the story of his heartbreaking childhood and of the wonderful series of events that conspired to rescue his spirit. With poignancy and humour Conroy reveals the inspirations behind his unforgettable characters, pinpoints the emotions that shaped his own character as a young boy, and ultimately recaptures his passage from athlete to writer. (20031017)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a wonderful book - an autobiography describing Pat Conroy's time at the Citadel (an American military academy). Conroy was not a typical cadet, he played basketball, he wanted to be a writer and he viewed the brutal regime that was in place at the Citadel with great distaste.
It is an interesting story and Conroy comes across as a likeable and intelligent man of great personal integrity and inner strength. He has that fascinating love-hate relationship with the American South that is quite common amongst highly intelligent southerners. Conroy writes beautifully with an easy, fluid, at times almost lyrical prose style that enables him to articulate his feelings and convey an amazing "sense of place".
Determining whether you will enjoy this book is simple. If you have read and enjoyed Conroy's excellent book 'The Lords of Discipline' then you will enjoy this. If you have not read 'The Lords of Discipline' then I recommend reading it and if you enjoy it then read this.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Both Jay O. Sanders and Chuck Montgomery render thoroughly enjoyable readings of Conroy's love affair with basketball. A stand-up comedian and TV performer (The Sopranos, Law & Order), Montgomery brings nuanced richness to his performance on the Unabridged version.
The acclaimed author of "Beach Music" and "The Prince of Tides," Conroy was a military child whose constant was change, from town to town and house to house. He discovered basketball at the age of nine and hung on for dear life.
While enduring a less than perfect childhood, Conroy has said that basketball "provided a legitimate physical outlet for all the violence and rage and sadness I later brought to the writing table.......It was also the main language that allowed father and son to talk to each other. If not for sports, I do not think my father would have ever talked to me."
Thus, "My Losing Season" is not just about a sport, but about a life. It is a memorable coming of age tale.
Conroy played for the Citadel Bulldogs during their 1966-67 season. The team coach, Mel Thompson, was a harsh disciplinarian who was known for his 3 ½ hour Christmas Day practices. Rather than encouragement he doled out abuse.
In retrospect Conroy looks at that season as a benchmark experience in his life. Although his teammates may very well wish they had been victorious, Conroy writes, "I consider it one of the great years of my life. If I could change history, if I could change everything that happened that year, if I could bring us a national championship I would not do it...It was the year I learned to accept loss as part of natural law. My team taught me there could be courage and dignity and humanity in loss...."
Listen to this remarkable true story - listen and learn.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a wonderful book - an autobiography describing Pat Conroy's time at the Citadel (an American military academy). Conroy was not a typical cadet, he played basketball, he wanted to be a writer and he viewed the brutal regime that was in place at the Citadel with great distaste.
It is an interesting story and Conroy comes across as a likeable and intelligent man of great personal integrity and inner strength. He has that fascinating love-hate relationship with the American South that is quite common amongst highly intelligent southerners. Conroy writes beautifully with an easy, fluid, at times almost lyrical prose style that enables him to articulate his feelings and convey an amazing "sense of place".
Determining whether you will enjoy this book is simple. If you have read and enjoyed Conroy's excellent book 'The Lords of Discipline' then you will enjoy this. If you have not read 'The Lords of Discipline' then I recommend reading it and if you enjoy it then read this.
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