My Losing Season: A Memoir (Paperback)

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.

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.

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.