On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

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I read this with the group 3 years ago, so won't reread it this time. I have Commanche Moon on my shelf, about Gus and Call in their younger years. It's a chunkster too, so I'm hoping to read that one in August as a companion novel. For those of you coming to Lonesome Dove for the first time, what a treat you have in store!

I also will not do reread but like diane said, what a treat for first time readers.

As long as it was, I didn’t want it to end. Have fun with this one.

I loved the book and reading with the group last time. Enjoy.

I read this book a few years ago

A wonderful book, Larry McMurtry at his very best.

The threads from the read 3 years ago are very good with tons of discussion. Worth a look through for anyone interested.

Lori wrote: "The threads from the read 3 years ago are very good with tons of discussion. Worth a look through for anyone interested."

I'll add the links to that in the near future, unless someone beats me to it.

It was one of our better discussions, as everyone was so invested in the story.

I will also being following discussions on this but have recently reread so I won't be reading again.

I’m 12% of the way in. A doorstop for sure, but very entertaining so far! Glad to be reading it!

It gets better and better Carol.

I'm up to the beginning of Part 2. Kind of jarring how we have a new focus and entirely new cast of characters. Part 1 was interesting, quite a few characters to keep track of, but there are some notable ones. Interested to see where things are going from here. So this book will be both for August and September?

That's right Franky. No need to rush, unless you just get to a part where it's difficult to put down!

Hi, count me in! I have been wanting to read Lonesome Dove for quite some time.

Good to have an excuse Jayne. It's on my all time favorite list.

I picked Commanche Moon off my shelf this morning to read as a companion to Lonesome Dove. It's actually the fourth book McMurtry wrote in this series, but predates the action in Lonesome Dove by about 20 years. Gus and Call are middle aged here. Same humor and personalities, and I am thoroughly enjoying my return trip to the wild west at only 40 pages in.

That sounds good, Diane. Augustus McCrae is probably one of my favorite all time characters. More please. Ahhh, one of these days.

I'm thoroughly enjoying it Terry. Gus and Call are just the same, and it gives a little background on Gus and Clara's relationship. Not as good as Lonesome Dove, because nothing could be.

I read Lonesome Dove years ago, decided to give it a 2nd go but couldn’t find my copy. Listening to it on Libby. Lee Horsley is the reader and he has Gus talking loud which at first got on my nerves but finally at about 12 hrs in, I am enjoying it. 😂

Other than the fact that I get too distracted when listening to audio books, I know that the narrator can make a difference in enjoyment of a book, either way.

I’m 43% of the way through and thoroughly enjoying this! Wish the demands of life didn’t keep interrupting my reading!

That's how I was Carol. Just wanted to read and read!

I love this book. The characters are so well written. The mini series was great as well.

I'm glad you got a chance to read it Joseph. Its a book to get lost in, in a good way.

I’m only at the 30 percent mark, but I am really enjoying it. I keep thinking about the fact that Blood Meridian (which I read earlier this year) was also published in 1985. Lonesome Dove was a best seller and Blood Meridian was initially a sales flop. Together, they have led me to a lot of thinking about the U.S-Mexico borderlands in the late 1800s.

So, I was the one that recommended this for the poll and I'm only about 15 percent through at this point. I think my main issue is that I saw the mini-series as a kid and thinking of Duvall, Jones, Glover, Urich and Schroeder while reading has caused a huge distraction. If I could get that out of my head, I think I'll be ok.

Josh, I also saw the mini-series first, but it was so excellently cast that I found it helpful in reading the book. I could never see anyone as Gus but Robert Duval.

I am loving this book and even bought a copy for my son. Thank you for the recommendation because I wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise. I’m about 2/3 way through.

You are spreading the joy, Darla.

I’m still reading Lonesome Dove. I am at the 70% mark on my ebook. Once I finish, I look forward to checking the Final Impressions thread. I’ve been reading Southern Lit for decades, but have only recently turned my attention to the Western borderlands and the American Southwest. I’ve been reading Lonesome Dove as an ebook, but was lucky to find an awesome used hardback copy last week. I had seen physical copies before, but they were not as nice as this one. This one does not have teeny tiny print! And it has a Borders barcode sticker on the back :) The bookstore owner told me that copies of LD never last long on the shelf.