Michael Roye Bennett: A Charleston Story

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By William Reimers

W. Thomas McQueeney's Michael Roye Bennett: A Charleston Story is a complete and personal account of Charleston. It discusses culture, history, and thinking about things. You can hear and smell the streets, making you feel as if you're actually in the book. When you go for a walk with the author, you will learn about the city's history and details that you would not have known otherwise.

The book evokes nostalgia, curiosity, and admiration on both an emotional and intellectual level. Thomas encourages readers to think about how their lives connect to the community and history. This provides a vivid picture of what it means to be human. The themes of identity, legacy, and finding a balance between tradition and change are universal. They help us understand how each of us responds to the world we live in.

McQueeney's writing is lovely, but not overly so. She skillfully blends personal stories, historical context, and insightful commentary in an engaging and organic manner. Each chapter builds on the previous one, providing readers with new ideas of their own. The structure is effective. His ability to make commonplace locations, such as a market or a peaceful street corner, appear lovely with poetic clarity is one of his most remarkable qualities.

Some readers who want a fast-paced plot might find the book's reflective pacing slower than they thought it would be. But this is what makes the book deep and interesting. The close-ups of locals, the stories of important historical events, and the scenes that show how Charleston's unique rhythms work are some of the most memorable parts.

Michael Roye Bennett: A Charleston Story is a celebration of place, memory, and the bonds between people. You should look at the world and the stories that shape it. This picture not only shows a city, but it also serves as a reminder of that. This is an engrossing and unforgettable book for anyone who appreciates history, culture, or introspection.

About the Author 

W. Thomas McQueeney

W. Thomas McQueeney (b. 1952) from Charleston, South Carolina, is a self-described 'Child of the Pluff Mud.' One of nine children, he graduated from The Citadel with a degree in English in 1974. He is one of a school record six siblings to have graduated from this southern military college. His professional career is in business, but McQueeney has written for magazines and newspapers as a sideline over his career. He is a frequent contributor to 'The Lowcountry Sun' and has written two books about the distinguished people of Charleston. 'The Rise of Charleston' was published in 2011 and 'Sunsets Over Charleston' is an October 2012 publication. The two books are similar in format, both extolling the insights of the people who were most responsible for Charleston's emergence to the world stage through introspective and often humorous interviews. McQueeney added "Holy Waters of Charleston" in 2015, and his compilation of verse coupled with his mother's distinctive art in "At First Averse and then Another," in 2016. He has completed a humorous sports-related book, "Around in Circles," due out in early 2017.

McQueeney is married with four children and four grandchildren. He resides in Mt. Pleasant, SC. He was presented with the 'Order of the Palmetto' in 2009, the state's highest award accorded a citizen, and is in The Citadel's Athletic Hall of Fame. He chaired the $44.5 million renovation of Johnson Hagood Stadium and served six years on The Citadel's Board of Visitors. He was named the Southern Conference Distinguished Alumni in 2006 and as the recipient of the Ashton T. Phillips Community Service Award in 2012. He serves on the Board of Directors of Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital. Included in his hobbies are photography, golf, and the visual arts. He is an accomplished artist.