Beach Music by Pat Conroy

Jack McCall, an American living in Rome with his young daughter, is trying to find peace after the recent trauma of his wife's suicide. But his search for solitude is disturbed when a telegram from a family member summons Jack back to South Carolina to be with his ailing mother. He begins to explore his past and all its demons, as well as a new mystery that his sister-in-law and two school friends invite him to explore. They want Jack's help in tracking down another classmate who went underground as a Vietnam protester and never resurfaced. As Jack begins a journey that encompasses the past and the present in both Europe and the American South, he also begins a quest that will lead him to shocking truths -- and ultimately to catharsis, acceptance and maturity."

This is one of the most emotional book I have ever read, this book had me giggling one minute and teary eyed the next. It is a tragic and beautiful love story between a young boy, his friends and the south that hold nothing but heartache and hurt for him. He loose his best friends to Vietnam and betrayal and the love of his life to suicide. He comes back to sit by the death bead of his ailing mother, to come to terms with his demons from the past, his abusive and alcoholic father, his emotionally demanding mother the town that he holds so much contempt for.

Some of the stories he was told of his mothers past, the past of his mother and father in law left me feeling sick to my stomach and very angry. I can deal with a lot of thing but nothing is more ugly and revolting to me than the way that the Nazi's treated the Jews, The Complete Degradation and slaughter of these religious people. The stories of his in-laws life during WW2 are some of the ugliest and heartbreaking I have ever read.

This books is very long and there is a lot of back and forth, but I think that it is worth reading. You can't help but fall in love with all of the characters in the book, even the scoundrel. If you like drama's you should give this book a chance!