The Great Santini

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 in--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.