The very massiveness of Conroy's novel, at more than 500 pages, offers a tremendous focus for discussion. Within those pages exist not only Tom Wingo's story in the present, but also a multitude of tales from his past. His fiction reflects his fascination with the capabilities humans have to mask their internal struggles. The crippling mental and physical effects of emotional abuse supply a geography of the body which contrasts beautifully with the magnificent setting of the coastal Southern region. The setting becomes a character itself, supporting Tom's opening statement that "My wound is geography."

The opportunity to compare Conroy's novel with other Southern favorites should afford a basis for lively interaction among readers. A discussion group might glance at the characterizations and themes found in wellknown Southern masterpieces such as Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) and William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury (1929). While Conroy's...