Beach Music forever changed my views on so many things. I wept with Jack, Jordan, Max the great Jew etc... I've read it several times now and can't get enough of reading it over and over again. Prior to reading any of Pat Conroy's work, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry was my all time favorite but Beach Music just got me. Gus McCrae couldn't do anything to stop it. I still love McMurtry since their style is totally different but Pat Conroy's now the author of my all time favorite book! Second best,IMO out of Conroy's work is the Prince Of Tides :) 
 First read in 2005 
 This isn't a proper review. I copy pasted it from one of the discussions here and this was my answer as to which of Pat Conroy is my favorite.