Entertaining and engrossing but not great

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	• The Lords of Discipline Pat Conroy Black Swan, 1996 - 512 pages average customer review:based on 169 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Entertaining and engrossing but not great

Patrick Conroy's Lords of Discipline is a good read but there are definitely some blatant flaws. Before I start criticizing though, I do want to acknowledge the excellent diction and the setting descriptions. Conroy does a nice job bringing the Southern military college to life.

However, the Lords of Discpline turns into a twisting and turning detective story with lots of puzzle and strays away what the novel's main purpose is at the the beginning of the book: charting the growth of a boy into a man. Also, these plot twists, while numerous, are somewhat predictable and not provoking to the reader.

I also think that Conroy did not proportion the development of the characters well. Only the protagonist, Will McClean, is the character whose thoughts and actions are analyzed and displayed for the reader. The other characters, while important, are more helpers in moving the plot along than dynamic personalities that readers can relate to.

These are my two biggest criticisms of Conroy's work, that is strays from the theme and only develops one character. Despite these shortcomings, it is an entertaining read and I recommend reading it because it has alot of action to keep you hooked.

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A very good coming of age novel

The narrator is Will McLean, a Georgian of Irish descent and son of a Marine. In 1963, he enters the fictional Carolina Military Institute in Charleston. Like all the "plebes" (first-years), but especially as an outsider, he finds life at the Institute to be brutal. But he finds three friends who stand by him: Tradd St. Croix, an old Charlestonian from a very rich and respected family); Pig, a rough Italian, and Mark, another muscular Italian from up north. The rough but kindly "Bear" Barrineau asks McLean to keep an eye on the Institute's first black cadet. But McLean's journey to manhood is full of twists and turns, as he falls for a girl whose life he can never be a part of and also finds hismelf embroiled with a shadowy, corrupt gang of Institute cadets and grads called "The Ten." This plot is interwoven among 500 pages of musing on the beauty of Charleston; the fiece, loyal love of boys who've been through hell together; regret; what it takes to become not just a man but your own man; courage; and triumph. There is a lot of purple prose, and some rather awkward dialogue, or at least stretches of dialgue that don't seem to belogn to the scenes they're in. And while Conrad's remarks on the Vietnam War, which proceeds to escalate as the book pregresses, are poignant in their understatedness, the "first black cadet" subplot is seen only from a distance, in staccato blips, and Conroy has absolutely nothing weighty to say on the matter of race, racism in the South, racism in the military, or the appalling horrors a brave black knob would face. Instead, he has his narrator describe in great detail his final basketball game, which he won with such a sweet shot, man. Give me a break. And some of the books' big revelations are easily guessed far in advance, and leave the reader wondering why Will doesn't piece together the obvious clues himself. Still, despite the book's flaws, it is for the most part fine reading. Conroy does have much of note to say on the subjects of maturing and courage, and I raced through its 500 pages. Conroy also has a way with words and can turn a poetic phrase or two, even if he gets melodramatic at times, and he knows just how to lead the reader along on an emotional roller coaster ride. It's not up there with the all-time classics, but it's one of the finer popular novels you'll find.

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A Magnificent Novel

Lords of Discipline(1986). Pat Conroy's Fourth Novel.

In the American south, Pat Conroy is something of a literary hero. Born and raised in coastal South Carolina, Conroy's novels focus on the good and the bad parts about being a southerner, and his works have become legendary in the south. Nonetheless, his novels are bestsellers world over, and his books frequent the top of the charts for weeks at a time. After releasing the hit 'The Great Santini', Pat Conroy took a long break to write 'The Lords of Discipline', an almost autobiographical account of Conroy's stay at The Citadel. The book went on to spawn a movie and achieve moderate success, but it's not one of his best known. Since this was my first book by Conroy that I read, I was expecting a good book. So, was I pleased or disappointed with the book? Read on to find out!

Story-

Will McLean has always felt different from everyone around him at The Citadel. His liberal views, his dislike of the traditions of the school, and his bitterness towards his school has always set him apart. Although, because of the fact of his good sense of humor and he's the captain of the basketball team, Will has always been well liked. At the beginning of his senior year, Will is told by the Bear( the disciplinary dean) to watch after a black freshman who is entering the Citadel. The Bear also tells Will to be wary of a secret society known as The Ten, which tortures students until they agree to leave the school. As the year passes, Will slowly relaxes into the college life, doing schoolwork, preparing for exams, but suddenly he is forced into a confrontation that could destroy his friends and cause him to not graduate from college. Will must use all of his courage and cleverness to outsmart his enemies who are trying to run him out of college...

Writing-

Pat Conroy is a masterful storyteller, and 'The Lords of Discipline' really proved this to me. This book, from start to finish, was a breeze. I read it every chance I had... in the car, at night, during class... I just found the book to be, quite frankly, one of the best books I'd ever read. Conroy's story is so believable and seemingly real because he actually experienced many of the things he chronicled in this novel in the first place. I don't have much more to say... this book was great.

Overall, 'The Lords of Discipline' really surprised me. It was a superb novel, and kept me reading all day just to find out the end. I really think this book is a good choice for anyone trying to get into Pat Conroy or someone looking for a good drama/suspense/military novel. It's great... nothing more to say!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO FANS OF PAT CONROY, DRAMA NOVELS, AND CITADEL GRADUATES! A GREAT NOVEL... SHOULDN'T BE MISSED!

Also Recommended-

My Boo- Pat Conroy
The Hunt For Red October- Tom Clancy
The Pelican Brief- John Grisham

Thanks For Reading!

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What a treat!

I've loved all of Pat Conroy's other books, so I can't believe I waited until recently to read Lords of Discipline. I guess the military theme put me off for awhile. However, after visiting The Citadel in Charleston a couple of years ago, I got curious about Conroy's perception of this school. Well, I loved this book! There were so many different plots and sub- plots; and throughout, there was Pat Conroy's wonderfully poetic writing. I revisited Charleston through his words, and now I want to rush back there to see the things we missed the first time. I was shocked at the treatment of Plebes at the Carolina Military Institute, and I imagine most of it is fact. It was really rather disturbing, and so I cheered at the times in the book when the Plebes scored small victories over their tormentors. I felt almost lonely when the book was done, as I missed being in the "world" and with the characters in this book. I guess I'll have to read it again.

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A beautifully written book

If there is a more elloquent writer out there, someone please point him out to me. The book is beautifully written, with a well a constructed plot, and and deep character development. I found myself constantly envious of Pat Conroy's talent as I moved through the pages. You will find yourself quickly connected to the lead character, and from that point on this book is a page turner. I would call this work a "must-read" and give it the highest possible review.

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