The Great Santini

Lieutenant Colonel Wilbur 'Bull' Meechum, a.k.a. 'The Great Santini,' is 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, the 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. Based on the author's own childhood experiences growing up in a military family, this is the story of a boy's determination to be himself, whatever that may be.