My Reading Life

By: Pat Conroy

Narrated by: Pat Conroy

Bestselling author Pat Conroy acknowledges the books that have shaped him and celebrates the profound effect reading has had on his life.

Pat Conroy, the beloved American storyteller, is a voracious reader. Starting as a childhood passion that bloomed into a life-long companion, reading has been Conroy’s portal to the world, both to the farthest corners of the globe and to the deepest chambers of the human soul. His interests range widely, from Milton to Tolkien, Philip Roth to Thucydides, encompassing poetry, history, philosophy, and any mesmerizing tale of his native South. He has for years kept notebooks in which he records words and expressions, over time creating a vast reservoir of playful turns of phrase, dazzling flashes of description, and snippets of delightful sound, all just for his love of language. But for Conroy reading is not simply a pleasure to be enjoyed in off-hours or a source of inspiration for his own writing. It would hardly be an exaggeration to claim that reading has saved his life, and if not his life then surely his sanity.

In My Reading Life, Conroy revisits a life of reading through an array of wonderful and often surprising anecdotes: sharing the pleasures of the local library’s vast cache with his mother when he was a boy, recounting his decades-long relationship with the English teacher who pointed him onto the path of letters, and describing a profoundly influential period he spent in Paris, as well as reflecting on other pivotal people, places, and experiences. His story is a moving and personal one, girded by wisdom and an undeniable honesty. Anyone who not only enjoys the pleasures of reading but also believes in the power of books to shape a life will find here the greatest defense of that credo.

Critic reviews

"Timely as well as timeless ... Elegant, evocative, and elegaic."
—Boston Globe

"The 15 essays in My Reading Life should delight curious readers ... [Conroy] is fun to read and debate."
—USA Today

"Pat Conroy doesn't just love books, he devours them. He doesn't just visit libraries and bookstores, he inhabits them. He doesn't enjoy language, he revels in it ... [My Reading Life] is a rich, unabashedly self-critical and moving tribute to a writer's passion ... Like Stephen King did in his remarkable On Writing, Conroy reminds us of his considerable talents for telling a story and arranging words."
—Associated Press

"In this marvelous blueprint for how to engage with all things literary, the goal is not only to get wet, but to fall deeply and madly in over our heads. With its heady mix of memoir, advice and out-and-out lust for the written word, My Reading Life asks how we could possibly settle for anything less."
—Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"[Conroy's] fans will savor these 15 essays on the books and people that helped shape his long writing career ... They lend themselves to being taken up separately, at leisure, and savored like a rich dessert."
—The Charlotte Observer

"My Reading Life extols the glories of books [and] offers heartfelt thanks to those who encouraged a passion that led [Conroy] to writing."
—The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

"In My Reading Life, we not only learn about many of Conroy's pivotal reading experiences, we see how he came together as a writer, and are entertained by a host of stories about unlikely heroes."
—Asheville Citizen-Times

"Conroy's legion of fans will doubtlessly bond with the author as he earnestly explores the role of books in providing him with inspiration and solace."
—Publishers Weekly

"What a delightful little book ... with a punch far sturdier than its compact size might suggest ... Try to resist rereading it!"
—Booklist

PRAISE FOR PAT CONROY:

"Pat Conroy's writing contains a virtue now rare in most contemporary fiction: passion."
—Denver Post

"Reading Pat Conroy is like watching Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel."
—Houston Chronicle

Loved it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Conroy gives lots of information on the authors and books that he loved and that influenced him. I thought that might be a guide as to how I should spend some of my reading time.

What was one of the most memorable moments of My Reading Life?

I laughed when I read about Conroy's trip down the Chattooga just because he had read Deliverance, by Dickey.

Have you listened to any of Pat Conroy’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. The professional narrator is better for his fiction, but he is better for talking about himself.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Great story - Horrible performance.

There's a reason authors should never narrate their own work and this is a prime example. I LOVED the content but listening to this beloved writer mumble for seven and a half hours is almost torture. If I had the money I'd have bought the print version and would recommend that route to anyone else. But $13 for a Kindle version or nearly $30 for a PAPERBACK is close to criminal extortion. Never the less any fan of Pat Conroy should read or listen to this one.

Ideal Read for a Reader

Would you consider the audio edition of My Reading Life to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version so I don't have an opinion as to the difference. I rarely read the print version if I hear the audio version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of My Reading Life?

The story of the time spent with the publisher's representative was a treat. There is a brutal reality to the book business at the point where the interest of the book stores and the book authors/publishers some together. In addition, the character of the book rep was refreshingly honest.

Which character ??? as performed by Pat Conroy ??? was your favorite?

The book publisher's rep.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved by the recommendations for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Dostoyevsky endorsement.

Any additional comments?

I'll remember these comments about reading for a long time.

Great book

I read this book years ago when it was first published. What a treat to discover Pat Conroy reading it.

Spellbinding

Conroy’s storytelling is spellbinding; we are honored guests in the parlor of his gracious life.