Matt’s review of Lonesome Dove > Likes and Comments
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LETS SEE THE REVIEW
Worth the wait, Matt. Thanks!
"...we are here to learn how to live from Augustus McCrae... He teaches us...how to live each day with joy, taking pleasure in the smallest things, and loving the smallest things so much that they become life’s very meaning."
Well said! This is my favorite McMurtry. And you have distilled why I, too, will continue to come back to it.
Tremendous review, Matt! Lonesome Dove is also one of my favorite novels, and you have succeeded in capturing its vital essence much more eloquently than I could have done. I'll be buying a copy of Philip Meyer's The Son, as well.
Fantastic review. Have you read the entire series? Lonesome Dove is clearly the standout, but I think overall they’re even better than the sum of their parts. Streets of Laredo in particular is probably the weakest, but then he just caps it off with the last 30-odd pages which are an absolutely perfect coda to the entire series.
Blair wrote: "Wow, this is an excellent review!!"
HBalikov wrote: "Worth the wait, Matt. Thanks!"
Thanks!
Kiekiat wrote: "Tremendous review, Matt! Lonesome Dove is also one of my favorite novels, and you have succeeded in capturing its vital essence much more eloquently than I could have done. I'll be buying a copy of..."
I don't usually guarantee books, but I guarantee The Son! It is the only thing I have ever picked for book club that has been greeted with unanimous approval (and I have a prickly book club).
Mitchell wrote: "Fantastic review. Have you read the entire series? Lonesome Dove is clearly the standout, but I think overall they’re even better than the sum of their parts. Streets of Laredo in particular is pro..."
Thanks, Mitchell!
I have read the whole series, but other than Lonesome Dove, it has been a long, long time. I only have vague recollections, aided by the fact that I recently caught a replay of the Dead Man's Walk miniseries on a boutique cable channel that seems to traffic in dated television shows.
My impressions are not good (or it's more fair to say, I wasn't blown away), but I think it's time to reread them. I totally remember feeling that the end of Streets of Laredo was powerful. I think that's going to be the next on my list.
Your review makes me want to read this again! This is among my all time favorite books. Your review is perfect. I read that Larry McMurtry originally wrote this as a screenplay which he shopped around Hollywood in the 60's, with no takers. He then developed it into a Pulitzer Prize winning novel which was adapted to a television mini series with an outstanding acting ensemble including Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, Rick Schroder, Diane Lane, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover, Chris Cooper, Robert Ulrich, D.B. Sweeney, Glenne Headley, and even Steve Buscemi. I first saw the mini-series, then read the book, which was made all the better because of the ready made cast in my head. I can't separate Augustus McCrae from Robert Duvall's perfect portrayal, nor any of the other characters in McMurtry's sweeping epic from their television counterparts. It's one of the few stories whose big screen adaptation was so well done as to do appropriate justice to the book.
Ruchama wrote: "Your review makes me want to read this again! This is among my all time favorite books. Your review is perfect. I read that Larry McMurtry originally wrote this as a screenplay which he shopped aro..."
I absolutely LOVE the miniseries! Duvall’s interpretation of McRae is one of the few things in life that are perfect. And Tommy Lee is great, especially since he has to play straight man to Gus. Also...
(view spoiler)
The best work either of these Academy Award winners have ever done.
I so loved this book that it’s spoiled me for most other books in this genre. I loathed The Son primarily because it wasn’t Lonesome Dove, an expectation I had based on all the enthusiastic blurbs on the back cover comparing it as such. However, you write a very fine review and I’ve been enjoying them immensely.
Great review! I just read this for either the first or second time and loved it too. One question though, Brokeback Mountain was a short story by Annie Proulx. What did McMurtry have to do with that?
Let me add to the Kudos. That is a fabulous review.
A giant I haven't yet read, alas, but certainly an artist whom everyone has encountered; in my case, through his classic-film screenplays. A great loss for literature.
Evan wrote: "A giant I haven't yet read, alas, but certainly an artist whom everyone has encountered; in my case, through his classic-film screenplays. A great loss for literature."
Truly. You have a lot to look forward to, his canon is incredibly varied.
Matt, just reading your review has got me choked up -- literally -- with all these rich memories: the story, the drama, the unforgettable characters. Especially Gus, who is my all-time favorite character of any novel. My second time to watch the TV series was on a DVD last year, so the story is, again, in my recent memory. Perhaps it's finally time to read the book.
Awesome review, I too struggle to capture the books I love the most, fearing I will fail utterly
Casey wrote: "Matt, just reading your review has got me choked up -- literally -- with all these rich memories: the story, the drama, the unforgettable characters. Especially Gus, who is my all-time favorite cha..."
You should! I also love the show, and it really does the book justice, but even a miniseries doesn't have enough time to give every character their due.
Ned wrote: "Awesome review, I too struggle to capture the books I love the most, fearing I will fail utterly"
Thanks, Ned!
Beautiful review. I had the same reaction to the book. Time to revisit and re-read one more time.
Well goddamn it Matt, that was a fine, fine review of a fine, fine book. Keep on cowboyin'! Yee haw!
I waited to read your review until I had finished novel myself . WoW! You encapsulated so many of the emotions that ran through me . And i will continue to ponder when reflecting on this epic story .
Thank you for sharing your thoughts .
I don't know why I haven't read this book before. Doesn't matter though, because it is timeless. Your review is the absolute best here.
Magnificent review for—quite possibly—the best book many of us have ever read, Matt. And, the irony & mystery of it all is that McMurtry could never understand why this was such a beloved novel among.
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Worth the wait, Matt. Thanks!
"...we are here to learn how to live from Augustus McCrae... He teaches us...how to live each day with joy, taking pleasure in the smallest things, and loving the smallest things so much that they become life’s very meaning."Well said! This is my favorite McMurtry. And you have distilled why I, too, will continue to come back to it.
Tremendous review, Matt! Lonesome Dove is also one of my favorite novels, and you have succeeded in capturing its vital essence much more eloquently than I could have done. I'll be buying a copy of Philip Meyer's The Son, as well.
Fantastic review. Have you read the entire series? Lonesome Dove is clearly the standout, but I think overall they’re even better than the sum of their parts. Streets of Laredo in particular is probably the weakest, but then he just caps it off with the last 30-odd pages which are an absolutely perfect coda to the entire series.
Blair wrote: "Wow, this is an excellent review!!"HBalikov wrote: "Worth the wait, Matt. Thanks!"
Thanks!
Kiekiat wrote: "Tremendous review, Matt! Lonesome Dove is also one of my favorite novels, and you have succeeded in capturing its vital essence much more eloquently than I could have done. I'll be buying a copy of..."I don't usually guarantee books, but I guarantee The Son! It is the only thing I have ever picked for book club that has been greeted with unanimous approval (and I have a prickly book club).
Mitchell wrote: "Fantastic review. Have you read the entire series? Lonesome Dove is clearly the standout, but I think overall they’re even better than the sum of their parts. Streets of Laredo in particular is pro..."Thanks, Mitchell!
I have read the whole series, but other than Lonesome Dove, it has been a long, long time. I only have vague recollections, aided by the fact that I recently caught a replay of the Dead Man's Walk miniseries on a boutique cable channel that seems to traffic in dated television shows.
My impressions are not good (or it's more fair to say, I wasn't blown away), but I think it's time to reread them. I totally remember feeling that the end of Streets of Laredo was powerful. I think that's going to be the next on my list.
Your review makes me want to read this again! This is among my all time favorite books. Your review is perfect. I read that Larry McMurtry originally wrote this as a screenplay which he shopped around Hollywood in the 60's, with no takers. He then developed it into a Pulitzer Prize winning novel which was adapted to a television mini series with an outstanding acting ensemble including Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, Rick Schroder, Diane Lane, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover, Chris Cooper, Robert Ulrich, D.B. Sweeney, Glenne Headley, and even Steve Buscemi. I first saw the mini-series, then read the book, which was made all the better because of the ready made cast in my head. I can't separate Augustus McCrae from Robert Duvall's perfect portrayal, nor any of the other characters in McMurtry's sweeping epic from their television counterparts. It's one of the few stories whose big screen adaptation was so well done as to do appropriate justice to the book.
Ruchama wrote: "Your review makes me want to read this again! This is among my all time favorite books. Your review is perfect. I read that Larry McMurtry originally wrote this as a screenplay which he shopped aro..."I absolutely LOVE the miniseries! Duvall’s interpretation of McRae is one of the few things in life that are perfect. And Tommy Lee is great, especially since he has to play straight man to Gus. Also...
(view spoiler)
The best work either of these Academy Award winners have ever done.
I so loved this book that it’s spoiled me for most other books in this genre. I loathed The Son primarily because it wasn’t Lonesome Dove, an expectation I had based on all the enthusiastic blurbs on the back cover comparing it as such. However, you write a very fine review and I’ve been enjoying them immensely.
Great review! I just read this for either the first or second time and loved it too. One question though, Brokeback Mountain was a short story by Annie Proulx. What did McMurtry have to do with that?
Let me add to the Kudos. That is a fabulous review.
A giant I haven't yet read, alas, but certainly an artist whom everyone has encountered; in my case, through his classic-film screenplays. A great loss for literature.
Evan wrote: "A giant I haven't yet read, alas, but certainly an artist whom everyone has encountered; in my case, through his classic-film screenplays. A great loss for literature."Truly. You have a lot to look forward to, his canon is incredibly varied.
Matt, just reading your review has got me choked up -- literally -- with all these rich memories: the story, the drama, the unforgettable characters. Especially Gus, who is my all-time favorite character of any novel. My second time to watch the TV series was on a DVD last year, so the story is, again, in my recent memory. Perhaps it's finally time to read the book.
Awesome review, I too struggle to capture the books I love the most, fearing I will fail utterly
Casey wrote: "Matt, just reading your review has got me choked up -- literally -- with all these rich memories: the story, the drama, the unforgettable characters. Especially Gus, who is my all-time favorite cha..."You should! I also love the show, and it really does the book justice, but even a miniseries doesn't have enough time to give every character their due.
Ned wrote: "Awesome review, I too struggle to capture the books I love the most, fearing I will fail utterly"Thanks, Ned!
Beautiful review. I had the same reaction to the book. Time to revisit and re-read one more time.
Well goddamn it Matt, that was a fine, fine review of a fine, fine book. Keep on cowboyin'! Yee haw!
I waited to read your review until I had finished novel myself . WoW! You encapsulated so many of the emotions that ran through me . And i will continue to ponder when reflecting on this epic story . Thank you for sharing your thoughts .
I don't know why I haven't read this book before. Doesn't matter though, because it is timeless. Your review is the absolute best here.
Magnificent review for—quite possibly—the best book many of us have ever read, Matt. And, the irony & mystery of it all is that McMurtry could never understand why this was such a beloved novel among.