Comanche Moon is almost as good as Lonesome Dove! It is a prequel of Gus and Call as Texas rangers. Dead man's Walk is when they were very young. And Streets of Loredo is a sequel to Lonesome Dove staring Woodrow Call. it is also super tense.
SPOIILER ALERT: One of the most crushing parts of any book I have read is at the end of the book when Call is leaving and all Newt wants is for Call to tell him that he was his dad - but he never did. That was crushing! I wanted so much to hear Call say he was proud of him and he was sorry for not telling him sooner 😢
It’s amazing how much this book holds up over time. It’s so outside of so many peoples genres, but I don’t know anyone who’s read it and not loved it. The characters and their relationships are “all the feels”. It’s beautifully woven together and also takes place in such a beautiful vast landscape.
I don't see the book as dark so much as real. Unlike many fantasy novels that are proclaimed realistic because they're unrelentingly dark, Lonesome Dove is the mix that you see in a tough life. There's love, laughter, good and bad decisions and results, good and bad acting people, things that make you happy and a lot that makes you sad, and especially nature just pounding at man unaware of our presence. But there's also a striving to go on that made it possible to conquer the West. It's an amazing story.
I finished it earlier this year. It definitely stays with you. I hesitate to read the other books because it's such a perfect story on its own. I'm with you, too. I could have just read a whole book about them hanging around Lonesome Dove.
The fight scene between the bull and the bear in Lonesome Dove is, hands down, one of the best pieces of writing I've ever read.The only competition might be the bear chase in The North Water. Coincidentally, two hyper-violent scenes with bears.
Reading it now and hoping to finish it before your stream. I am absolutely loving it, I'm not sure I've read a better character author than Larry McMurtry. Also having lived way down South on the Texas border and now living right next to Montana I can relate a bit to the characters. His description of Southern Texas brought me back there in my mind. It's really been a treat to read.
I was in a similar boat. I’ve loved the mini series for years and decided to read it. My plan was to spread it out over the summer though, like a journey. There are about 100 chapters and I was going to do a chapter a day. That was two weeks ago and I just finished it this morning 😂. I think I had finished part one the first week and then the family went to the beach for a week. I spent some much time on the balcony reading this and staring out over the ocean and beach. One of my greatest reading experiences ever. And then I finished the last chapter on my front porch here in Tennessee (shout out to fellow Tennessean Gus) and it felt like a very fitting way to finish it. I’ve tried, I can’t really get into fantasy. I will say that any person that doesn’t want to try something like a western with such a large book, you may want to try Mcmurtys book Leaving Cheyenne. It’s about 300 pages and starts in 1920s and has a very similar feel to Dove with themes of friendship, slice of life, and pains and sorrows of life. If you loved Dove I think you will really enjoy Cheyenne as well if you know it’s not an epic read.
I remember watching the series as a kid, when my parents recorded it onto VHS when it aired, and thinking it was great. I finally got around to reading it last year and it blew me away. It is definitely in my top 5 all time books. Glad you read it and felt similar.
Finally got to reading this after seeing you hype it up so much, and by god were you right. I've been sat here not knowing what to do with myself after the emotional battering the last 200 odd pages gave me - incredible writing
My best friend was BEGGING me to read this for so long but I also kept refusing because I don't like Westerns. I finally picked it up a couple years ago and was blown away. I fully agree that it does not at all romanticize the time period - that and the connection I felt with the characters are the main reasons I loved it so much.
I read this earlier this year. As a native Texan and landowner, I really appreciated how authentic this book is. I’ve owned horses and my grandfather was a cattle rancher. This was done very well. It did break me though. It took me a couple months to decide I loved it.
You know you should make a book top ten video regardless of genre and without the "there can be only one per author rule". Obviously, Lonesome Dove is going to be on that list for you, but I'm anxious to see where Shogun, the Godfather, and It would rate. Keep up the great work.
Imagine: It’s 1985 and Lonesome Dove is the first Western you’ve ever read. There’s no internet, no RU-vid, and you’re junkie-jonesing for another epic Western fix. This craving leads you to Waldenbooks at the mall. And you come up on another new Western. Blood Meridian. Eureka! you think. Another stirring and heroic saga of the old West …
Call is one of the most complex characters I’ve read. I didn’t like him at first but he really grew on me over the course of the book. Also now I always think of Montana as Montany
This book is amazing. The others in the series are also quite good, but Lonesome Dove was my favorite. It’s so hard to pick a favorite character, but I loved Gus. Larry McMurtry also wrote another western series called the Berrybender Series, which is also quite good, but not at the same level as Lonesome Dove. Thanks so much for sharing Mike.❤
This book is, in a sense, "The Book of Life", as it sweeps through the whole of human existence and manage to paint an astonishing picture of it; I feel a certain confidence when saying it it SO good that you could actually send it to outer space with the Voyager spacecraft, as a representation of what it is to be a human being. It is really that good a book.
Wow Mike just wanted to say thanks for doing this review. I would have never read a western novel but I usually agree with your takes and ratings. I LOVED this book. Had no idea that a western would have such amazing and well written characters.
Fantastic review, thanks, Mike! You could talk for a full day about the book - I'm never going to forget one particular scene...I hope I never encounter river snakes OMG that was brutal!
Blue Duck is an all time favorite villain of mine. I read Lonesome Dove around the time that the TV movie came out. Which, incidentally is one of the best movie adaptation of any book that I have read. Gus is my favorite character in both the book and movie. Of course , the movie presentation of Gus is helped by being played by Robert Duvall. Another favorite of mine. In short an all time favorite of mine in both book and movie.
As someone who recently read Blood Meridian for the first time, which although wonderfully written and thought-provoking, was admittedly a struggle for me due to the challenging prose and lack of attention to characters, I'm excited to read Lonesome Dove this year. From your review, it would seem that this is exactly what I'm looking for in the Western genre. On a side note, I saw in a video Stephen King say that this is his favourite novel which is another reason I must read this.
Blood Meridian was my absolute favorite novel of all time until I read Lonesome Dove. I didn’t think anything could surpass Blood Meridian as McCarthy is one of my favorite writers. This book smashed it out of the park. I cannot gush enough about it
I read this last month, and it's my first 5 star of the year. I also said it was gonna be a standalone. I bought the rest of the books as soon as I finished. Plus I think king and Durfee said one of the prequel books is there favorite book of all time.
Yes! It is a masterpiece. Loved it. Just would like to add that I loved that McMurtry did not shy away from depicting the misogyny and racism of the time. At the same time I can appreciate he kind of compensated for that within the possibilities by making many of the female characters be powerful, independent and/or dominating most men in day-to-day interaction. Similarly, the black person in the crew is one of the most competent and acknowledged people in the crew by anybody with a good eye.
I didn’t read the book but saw the mini series in 1989 and was hooked. In 1994 there was a sequel not written by McMurtry followed up with two TV series focused on Newt. Then the McMurtry sequel Streets of Laredo. After seeing “ Laredo “ and reading the book I had to walk away from the whole Lonesome Dove story because it was too heartbreaking. I picked it up again 20 years later. Interesting how growing older helped me understand the difference between the closure Hollywood gives and the reality that McMurtry wrote with. The whole saga is heartbreaking but worth watching and reading.
My friend got me into these books over the past year or so. I listened to them on audible. I started with the prequils first. I'm planning to read or listen to them again. Never thought I'd love a western book .
Lonesome Dove is right up there with The Lord of the Rings for my favorite novel of all time. I've been working on McMurtry's entire bibliography & have now read about 80% of his books. Lonesome Dove is his masterpiece, but there's plenty to like in all of his books.
I am currently reading this book because of Michael K Vaughn and his June on the Range project. I am loving it, I feel like it is transporting me into another time.
I was given this book a Christmas present in 85. Didn’t read it until memorial weekend. It is a great American classic. BTW his son James is an amazing artist.
I was lucky with this book. On a trip flying to see my brother I noticed between changing planes and during flights four people reading this book. It’s was like Slaughter House Five, something you rarely see is a ground swell for a book. So yes, picked it up and loved it.
K, so always a big reader & tried this novel twice - 1st time, as you remarked, v. slow beginning & gave up, but at the urging/insistence of a great friend, gave it another try. Result, loved it & yes, the miniseries was a fairly good adaptation. Later on life, introduced the audio version to my husband & we listened as we drove from New Mexico to Nevada & made a fan of him as well. Fantastic & so deserving of the PP. Absolutely worth the time & effort & am now inspired to reread again - Thanks Mike@
Lonesome Dove is my 2nd favorite book of all time, behind only Dune. I can't think of anything to say about this book that hasn't already been said before. It's a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned. And you're right Mike, it's very quotable.
It's funny. I've never had the slightest interest in reading this book. However, this video has definitely changed that. You have convinced me to try it! Who knows when I will actually get to it, but I will read it someday. Thanks for sharing!
I haven't read this book yet, but I still remember the miniseries that they showed us in seventh grade as part of Texas History class. It made such a big impression on me that i remember quite a bit of it, and seventh grade was in the late 1980s. Great story in both formats.
I have never heard anyone say anything bad about Lonesome Dove. I have no interests in westerns but the reviews make me wonder if it is as good as everyone says it is. I definitely want to read it.
@@mikesbookreviews I love your channel and listen often. Also, if you haven't yet, The Last Picture Show is well worth reading, although it's different; but I'm reading the sequel called Texasville and it's incredible.
A suggestion to folks picking up this book, unless it is a pre-2010 edition, do NOT read the preface. In one of the paragraphs, it summarizes the entire story. Am not sure why McMurtry felt the need to do that or how it got past editors. IMO, it's a spoiler and should be avoided entirely. I would recommend the entire series, though--they are all excellent.
Hey picked this up other day after seeing your review….westerns are not normally my bag but man…..really enjoying the hell out of this from what I’ve read so far…..cheers for a great non spoiler review good sir.
I really enjoyed the other books, And , ,Comanche moon is definitely my second favorite. The character work and all his books stay the same it's great .
I’ve never been into westerns. The only thing close I have read would be Dark Tower or Hank the cowdog as a kid lol, however I picked up Lonesome Dove on Mikes recommendation and I’m mystified by how much I’m liking this book!
I’ve read all of the Lonesome Dove books. The original is so great, none of the sequels quite compare. Comanche Moon was the best prequel, although Dead Man’s Walk was interesting. The direct sequel Streets of Laredo was ok, but the lack of certain characters felt like a gap for me. Like you said, there’s a high body count in the original book! One of my favorite parts in Lonesome Dove was the ending, when a certain character has to fulfill a promise to a friend, saying something like “I’m going to be damn sure more careful about what I promised in the future”. My ex-wife watched the mini-series with me years ago. She doesn’t like westerns but she was riveted from start to finish. She wanted to name our first-born child “Gus”. I thought she was joking when she first suggested it, but she wasn’t cracking a smile. It took a bit to talk her out of it! Your review makes me want to read it again. Definitely one of the finest books ever written.
I have read it and I can't wait for the discussion on it. One of my all time favorites. I saw the mini series first when it came out. My friends and I loved it. It was a huge hit on tv. I read the book afterwards and I 💯 agree with your thoughts on it. You expressed all that's great about it better than I could.
I remember this being one of Joe Abercrombie’s favorite books. Do you think you’ll also read Civil War, a Narrative by Shelby Foote? I believe he mentioned that one as well during a video called Shelfie.
I cannot wait for the group discussion. I might try to re-read it again. I read this book after the miniseries. I kept wishing that some of the outcomes were different too. Gus is my favorite character..
As much as I like both the show and the movie, I've never thought it was as great as most people who love it do. McMurtry, like many long form authors, had his indulgences that didn't really go anywhere. That said, it's still really good and enjoyed it. His decision with Newt seemed like an afterthought. Them again, young people don't do well in this series of books.
I have it for many years but since you loved it and after reading and watching some reviews and will start it tonight. Finished Wuthering Heights last night so i need a change of setting.
The same for me. Tho I’m loving the book. A friend gave it to me a few days ago for my birthday after I’d expressed an interest. I knew a little of the story, of course, but I wish I had saved the prologue for last.
excited for the group spoiler talk. I have thoughts about one of the MC's I'm sure you'll discuss. I agree, I'm hard-pressed to think of 10 books that I would consider "better" than this one. Lucky timing we both read it simultaneously. I really thought "Swan Song" was a lock for my book of the year, but then this happened.
Just finished it a couple days ago. Have wanted to read it since 1987. Took me a month & a half to read. I think my favorite chapter is 37, about Roscoe & Louisa. (I read it on Kindle, although it's too expensive.)
Maybe someone with a great memory can help me out...there was a line in the chapter where Call gives Newt his horse, gun, etc to head back to Texas and the lines says that Pea Eye is confused why Call was giving him all those things and that he forgot the mystery of the "ax and what he was told when he retrieved it." Whatever that's describing must've clued him into Newt being Call's son but I have no memory of that in the book. Anyone else?
