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Review
“Everything about Lonesome Dove feels true . . . These are real people, and they are still larger than life.”—Nicholas Lemann, The New York Times Book Review
“Lonesome Dove is Larry McMurtry’s loftiest novel."—Los Angeles Times
"A marvelous novel . . . moves with joyous energy . . . amply imagined and crisply, lovingly written. I haven't enjoyed a book more this year . . . a joyous epic."--Newsweek
"The finest novel that McMurtry has yet accomplished . . . Lonesome Dove has all the action anyone could possibly imagine . . . [and] both in general and in details, the authority of exact authenticity . . . superb."--Chicago Tribune
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Most helpful customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
This book is not a western, it's a romance novel.,
By
This review is from: Lonesome Dove (Mass Market Paperback)
This book is well-written and (many of the) characters are engagingly drawn. I can say that for it.Beyond that it falls short. I picked this book up looking for an enjoyable genre western to read, or alternatively, something to that had taken the western genre and done something interesting or novel with it. What I found was a book where the author had taken the western genre and turned it into a romance novel. To me, that wasn't interesting. It's hard to explain why I didn't like this book without using plot spoilers, because what I primarily didn't like was the structure of the plot, but I'll try. To begin with, it wasn't a "western" in the sense of, say, Shane or The Virginian. I can't really explain why without going into detailed plot spoilers, but just as one example, there are probably 6 pages of "action" in the entire book; in contrast, it seems like every male character has at least one scene where they go off by themselves and have a good cry. If you're looking for a "classic western," look elsewhere. Secondly, what it actually *is*, is a romance novel. The story largely revolves around, and is driven by, the romantic hopes and desires of the female 'whore with a heart of gold" character. The cattle drive that provides the putative subject of the book is merely a backdrop against which her story plays out. If that interests you, you'll like the book. If it doesn't, you won't. Thirdly, while the two lead male characters are very well drawn, the remainder fall significantly short. As other reviewers have mentioned, it would be hard for the character of "deets" to be more stereotypical (Do a websearch for Spike Lee's comments on "magical" black stereotyping and you'll have a 100% spot-on depiction of this character). The various villains and supporting cast don't fare much better. Fourthly, the overall tone of the book is, for lack of a better term, anti-climactic. Upon finishing this book, I found myself wondering why any of the characters had bothered -- and, for that matter, why I had, or why the author had. I don't see a point in literature that tells people to give up and not bother; I especially don't want to read that sort of pseudo-"realism" when I'm looking for a western, ie, a genre that is fundamentally about the validity of achievement and effort and growth. So all in all, despite all the positive reviews, I would advise against reading this book if you're looking for a "western" in any traditional sense. Read Shane or The Virginian instead. Otherwise, well, it's technically well executed. If you like romance novels you would probably love this book, because it's the same thing, done with more than average skill.
5.0 out of 5 stars
How the West was really won,
By
This review is from: Lonesome Dove (Hardcover)
I can understand why so many authors of westerns romanticize and distort history; it takes real talent - the kind that McMurtry possesses - to write a realistic, accurate and enthralling story. It's amazing how much I cared about Gus and Call, an inarticulate odd couple on a long cattle drive. What was it really like in the Old West? McMurtry's only agenda is to tell it like it was, and to tell it well. Dive into this fat story, and learn a lot about yourself and other people on the way.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even this Mystery Fan LOVED it!,
By Bridge (Irvine, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Lonesome Dove (Mass Market Paperback)
One night, having finished my latest murder mystery, upon which I feast daily, I had nothing else to read. My husband, of much higher standards in the fare he reads (mostly non-fiction & biographies) told me I ought to expand my horizons and try Lonesome Dove. "It won the Pulitzer Prize." he stated. I was not impressed. Frustrated that so "little" was happening initially, I plowed on. Now, I'm almost done, staying up late each night to keep my eyes open & read just one more page before falling asleep. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book, even to you mystery lovers out there! The story is rich, sad, happy & moving. I'll be picking up more written by this talented author! :)
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