Preview
  • Beach Music

  • A Novel
  • By: Pat Conroy
  • Narrated by: Peter MacNicol
  • Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (271 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Beach Music

By: Pat Conroy
Narrated by: Peter MacNicol
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.46

Buy for $13.46

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

From the contemporary ruins of the American South to the ancient ruins of Rome, and from the unutterable horrors of the Holocaust to the lingering trauma of Vietnam, Beach Music sings with life's pain and glory. Jack McCall, an American expatriate in Rome with his young daughter, is trying to find some peace after his wife's suicide. But his solitude is disturbed by the appearance of his sister-in-law, who begs him to return home. And once there, he finds himself drawn into a painful, intimate search for the one haunting secret in his family's past that can heal his anguished heart.
©1995 Pat Conroy (P)1995 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, a Division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Beach Music

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    166
  • 4 Stars
    62
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    15
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    96
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    99
  • 4 Stars
    18
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pat Conroy is a mad southern genius!

The only thing lacking in this recording is a narrator with a rich rolling southern drawal. Pats words tortured him as much as they freed him. i cannot wait to see him again on the other side. we love you Pat. Im so sorry you were so haunted by the stories that enveloped your existence. we miss you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

My favorite book of all time...

I dont say that lightly, and Im not usually drawn to this genre of literature and by that I mean I usually am reading murder mysteries. But this book was written with such lyrical wording, it was like the words danced off the page into my mind. Ive read it several times and after you listen to it, you owe it to yourself to actually read it. You'll see what I mean when you do.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of ALL TIME FAVORITES

Where does Beach Music rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 5 EVER and I've listen to over 100 audio books I started to listen to the other version of Beach Music and was sadly disappointed so glad I found the Peter MacNicol version

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

YES

Any additional comments?

It is a time period in history you rarely even hear and very on point

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

One of our all time favorites

Great from beginning to end, the ability of the reader was amazing. Ranks right up there with Harry Potter and MEG by Steve Alten. Everyone in the family enjoyed it and made for one of our best vacation audio book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my favorite Conroy books..

I love this book. I read the book but wanted to hear it again on Audible. I enjoyed all of Pat Conroy’s books. And I liked hearing this one being read to me as I crocheted.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome

As a narrator, Peter MacNicol has ruined me. He is the measuring stick for all other narrators. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this audiobook considering it was abridged. Beautiful imagery, honest characters and a powerful story of youth, confronting, and, ultimatly accepting your past, and the mellowing of age. Great read/listen and I highly recommend it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best stories ever told

Probably the best story in modern literature of this era. I've read this in hard copy and listened to the abridged and unabridged audio versions. While the unabridged is best, you certainly aren't cheated by the abridged. I love good fiction, mystery and suspense mostly, but I happened onto this book by accident and it was divine. Definitely recommend to any reader.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous!!!!!!!!!

This is my favorite book in the whole world! I have read it 3 times now and enjoy it more every time!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great summer read

This is my third time reading this book, it is just a good the third time. Great story and interesting characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

About love in a whole new perspective: action

The author’s use of figurative language and nature themes and moods makes for the most magnificent book I’ve listened to ever. McNichol’s character depictions aided my dive into the story. While the use of the holocaust to illustrate true suffering and tragedy of an entire world population , if felt unnecessary in this story to depict family struggles, acceptance and reconciliation. It’s a tired theme for me, but of course I respect it. That’s the only flaw I see in this story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!