“Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry
I wrote already here on how I enjoyed reading Lonesome Dove. It’s book that’s sat on my shelves the longest unread since the mid-90’s. Yet I never stopped hoping I would read it, and this month I finally did.
Post Civil War, two former Texas rangers lead a cattle train north, and cross paths with many and various people. It’s easy for me to see why so many people love this book, as several people, some strangers, shared they did when they saw me reading it. It’s huge, with a giant cast of characters who are complex and engaging, which makes it all the more upsetting when bad things happen to them, as was wont to happen back then in the West. Yet for all the tears I cried over these characters, I wouldn’t take back one.
I loved the experience of reading this book and resented when life interfered with that. I remember feeling similarly when I read A Suitable Boy years ago, another book a friend had recommended highly. Lonesome Dove has that same epic, sprawling, populous, blanket-i-ness that I just want to wrap myself up in, and not crawl out of when I’m done.
This was a great book to take on a trip and not worry I’d finish it while I was gone. I look forward to renting the mini series.
Edited to add: What got me thinking about the book was Rosecrans Baldwin’s piece on it at The Millions:
The novel is excellent, sustained with constant style, and its dramatic excellence increases, withholding and rewarding, as the cowboys move their cattle north. Even the ending fits together. It’s not incredibly deep. But it’s deep enough. And I couldn’t remember the last time I was similarly floored by a long, dramatic, entertaining literary novel.
January 28th, 2012 at 9:21 am
I remember this one. I saw the miniseries first and then had to read the book. It is wonderful.