SOUTH OF BROAD

Listening to Pat Conroy's first novel in 14 years reminds one of just how mesmerizing and affecting a true storyteller can be. The slow, sonorous voice of Conroy's protagonist, Leo King, is perfectly performed by narrator Mark Deakins as he delivers King’s loving descriptions of the people who live South of Broad in picturesque Charleston, South Carolina, in the 1960s and 1980s. Deakins is most affecting when 11-year-old Leo finds his beloved and beautiful older brother has committed suicide. This act hangs like a dark cloud over Leo for decades and is finally explained with heartbreaking emotion. Leo and an assorted band of friends reveal what is most beautiful and most ugly about the South, making this a must-listen for fans of the bestselling author. R.O. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]