The Great Santini — Pat Conroy

Step into the powerhouse life of Bull Meecham. He's all Marine … fighter pilot, king of the clouds, and absolute ruler of his family. Lillian is his wife … beautiful, southern-bred, with a core of velvet steel. Without her cool head, her kids would be in real trouble. Ben is the oldest, a born athlete whose best never satisfies the big man. Ben's got to stand up, even fight back, against a father who doesn't give up … not to his men, not to his wife, and certainly not to his son. Bull Meecham is undoubtedly Pat Conroy's most explosive character … a man you should hate, but a man you will love.