Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Reviewed by Ambrea

Woodrow Call and August “Gus” McCrae are former Rangers turned cattlemen.  They spend their days in the dusty, dry little town of Lonesome Dove, struggling to make a living with the help of Joshua Deets, Pea Eye, and Newt Dobbs.  But when old Ranger buddy—and general troublemaker—Jake Spoon shows up and convinces Call of the great opportunities that await them in Montana, he spurs a journey that is truly epic in scope.  With their horses turned north and a few thousand head of cattle at their back, Call and Gus are set on settling in the furthest reaches of Montana—and they’ll encounter some of the deadliest foes in the West to get there.

I read Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry as part of the Great American Novel Book Club (which meets on the final Friday of the month at 6:30 p.m.).  Honestly, I was a little hesitant to tackle McMurtry’s classic western at first.  The book is huge in every sense of the word—I think my particular copy weighed in at over 900 pages—and it’s dense.  Just the sheer size of it was daunting, but knowing it carried so many stories and covered so much distance, it felt overwhelming.

But I can honestly say I’m glad I read it.

Lonesome Dove is one of those rare books that pulls me in and doesn’t let me go.  The characters are well developed, the language is honest and raw and captivating, and the stories are absolutely fascinating.  While I would find my attention wavering from chapter to chapter—I constantly wanted to learn more about Call and Gus, when it switched to different characters, and then I wanted to hear about the fate of other characters, like Roscoe, Janey, and July Jones, when it finally switched back to Call and Gus.  I was never quite satisfied—I truly enjoyed reading Lonesome Dove.

In many ways, it’s a beautiful story.  It offers a glimpse into the rugged, wild landscape of the west; it takes on difficult topics and it shows the best and worst sides of life; it shows human suffering, but also triumph; it’s about survival, adventure, love and life—and yet it features human failure and tragedy, too.  It’s complex and heart-wrenching and exhilarating.  Lonesome Dove, even when it breaks your heart, is truly captivating.

However, I will note that Lonesome Dove is also intensely violent and, when it comes to traumatizing readers, entirely unrepentant.  People die in horribly gruesome ways, especially when Blue Duck is involved, and I’ll admit I had a difficult time getting past a certain chapter after one of my favorite characters was killed.  If you do undertake Lonesome Dove, I recommend focusing on the good things—like Deets being such a wonderful person and friend; the good humor and determination of Clara, and the birth of Martin; Newt’s growing independence and skill as a cattleman; the loyalty and friendship of Call and Gus.

These things will help you make it through the darkest moments.

Nevermore: Wyatt Earp, Nathan Beford Forrest, King Edward VII, Kurt Vonnegut, and Brandon Sanderson

The Last Kind Words Saloon by Larry McMurtry is his first novel in five years.  The saloon of the title is owned by Virgil and Warren Earp.  Their brother, Wyatt, and his buddy Doc Holliday are on hand, having finished a brief stint in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.  Other historical notables drop by, including Quannah Parker and Buffalo Bill, but the book reads more like a farce than a western.  Part of the plot involves an English lord who turns up with his mistress and entourage and teams up with Charlie Goodnight to start an enormous cattle ranch. Our reviewer said, “It’s funny but it’s not Lonesome Dove. I could imagine it as a Broadway musical.”  It’s a quick read, and it is recommended—just be aware this isn’t a book to judge by its cover.

Next up was a nonfiction book about the Civil War.  The River Was Dyed with Blood:  Nathan Bedford Forrest and Fort Pillow was written by Brian Steel Wills, a former professor at the University of Virginia at Wise, and is teaching at Kennesaw State University.  Forrest was a self-made man, a self-taught commander, and a fascinating character.  This book focuses on the events at Fort Pillow, where Forrest’s troops killed most of the Union soldiers, including those attempting to surrender.  Our reader says that Forrest could easily be described as both a saint and a devil, depending on who was doing the describing.  The book is quite readable.

Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut was praised by our next reviewer who found it very interesting, especially if you like science fiction. A young man named Joshua decides he wants to write about the day the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.  He decides to interview one of the scientists responsible, and his quest leads him to an island and a new religion which boasts that it is based on lies. This is considered one of Vonnegut’s best, a satirical, funny, and absurd look at religion, politics, and society.

The Heir Apparent:  A Life of Edward VII, the Playboy Prince by Jane Ridley is, as the title indicates, a life of Britain’s King Edward VII, who began his rather short reign after the death of his mother Queen Victoria.  Our reader said it could have been subtitled “How NOT to Raise a Child.”  Bertie, as he was called, spent most of his adult life with very little to do, as his mother felt he was not mature enough to handle anything of importance.  That included anything to do with government duties. He ascended the throne at the age of 59 and reigned for less than a decade, but according to some he set the standard for the modern monarchy.  Of course, to many he’s primarily known for his womanizing, high living, gambling, and fashion. This biography is well done, being both enlightening and entertaining.

Finally, a new member is reading the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson. Set in a world covered in ash, a tyrant has ruled for a thousand years.  He created a world with vast class divisions, from the nobility to the lowly skaa who serve as slaves.  As the series begins, a half-skaa Kelsior has survived the Dark Lord’s most brutal prison and is now scheming for a way to bring him down.  Our reviewer described it as an epic fantasy and a “keeper kind of a book.”  He hasn’t finished it yet but is finding it interesting so far. There are three books in the basic series but Sanderson has recently written a book set in the same world, but three hundred years later.

Looking Ahead to Summer: Mockingbirds, Cuckoos, and More

Every few days, it seems, we get just a taste of spring—and then the cold and the wet and the winds pick up again, so that it’s back to winter coats, hats, and gloves.  Still, that little bit of warmth gives us hope for the summer, when the livin’ is easy and there’s a boatload of new books from the publishers for beach reading.  All the usual names are there—Janet Evanovich, James Patterson, Stephen King, Nora Roberts, James Patterson, Dorthea Benton Frank, and James Patterson-- but here are some titles which caught my eye:

The Mockingbird Next Door by Marja Mills is due out in July.  Did everybody automatically think of Harper Lee when you saw the title?  Since her iconic book To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee virtually owns the word in a literary sense, and yes, this is about Harper Lee.  Mills was a journalist for the Chicago Tribune who wanted to get the interview of a lifetime:  to talk to the reclusive author.  Many journalists have tried and failed; Marja claims to have befriended Lee and her sister and promises to reveal why Harper Lee never wrote another book. There was a bit of controversy when the book was first announced, with a statement being issued that the Lee sisters did NOT cooperate with any book.  This was followed by a statement disavowing the denial.  I have to admit, this makes me very curious about this book—and I would love to know what Harper Lee thinks of it, too.

Thriller fans have a new Brad Thor book to look forward to this summer, but I can’t tell you the title.  Apparently, it’s really hush-hush.  It’s still listed as Untitled Thriller #13.  Unless, of course, that really IS the title…

Opinion was divided about The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith.  Some thought it was a perfectly adequate mystery, others thought it good, and another faction found it rather dull.  Then it was revealed that “Robert Galbraith” was really J.K. Rowling and opinions immediately polarized.  It was dreadful, it was wonderful, it was the best, it was the worst.  Some of the reviewers actually went to the trouble of reading the book, but I’m not sure how many.  Anyway, for those who honestly liked it no matter who wrote it, there is a second Cormoran Strike book due out in June. The title is The Silkworm.

We’ve had people on reserve for Greg Iles’ book The Bone Tree for well over a year now.  (Actually, I think it’s closer to two years, but let’s not quibble.) After the title was announced, Iles was badly injured in a traffic accident in 2011.  The publication date kept being pushed back.  Now comes word that Iles’ next book is Natchez Burning, the first book in a trilogy; The Bone Tree is listed as the second volume in the series, with Unwritten Laws as the final book.  The trilogy features Penn Cage, the prosecutor from several previous books, including The Devil’s Punchbowl.

Speaking of waiting, it’s been five years since Larry McMurtry’s last book, so fans are more than ready for The Last Kind Words Saloon. An English lord comes to the West to start a cattle ranch.  There are appearances by Wyatt Earp, the Clantons, and Doc Holliday, so it sounds as if it should be a lively convergence.

And I was not exaggerating about James Patterson:  he has books scheduled for March (NYPD Red 2), May (Unlucky 13), June (Invisible), and August (Private Down Under.)

Happy reading!

Boone's Lick by Larry McMurtry

 
Reviewed by Nancy

No one writes about the West like Larry McMurtry. Please do not mistake me. The novel Boone’s Lick is not a Western in the traditional sense. This is not a cardboard epic of cattle drives, old time bank robberies, good guys in white hats, and bad guys in black hats with a lot of fancy horse riding and pistol twirling thrown in.

I don’t know what the frontier was like in the 1860’s, but I think Larry McMurtry’s take on things is a lot of fun. A native Texan, he grew up listening to tales of the old west as told by his father and uncles who were ranchers. It seems possible this has given him insights as to what it was really like. Boone’s Lick is set in the hungry years immediately following the Civil War, and relates the adventures of the Cecil family as told by Shay Cecil, son of Mary Margaret and Dick Cecil, and nephew of Seth Cecil.

The action in the narrative is centered on a journey undertaken by most of the Cecil clan. Dick Cecil has fallen into the habit of working in the Western Territories and only returning home every year or so to visit  Boone’s Lick, Missouri, where his wife and children live with his brother, Seth.

After sixteen years his wife, Mary Margaret, tires of this arrangement. She announces to the family that they are embarking on a journey to find their father.  They tie everything they can use onto the wagon, harness the mules and set off. Of course, when they set out they are not sure exactly where they are going, as they are not sure exactly where Dick Cecil is. That turns out to be Wyoming, probably a thousand miles from Boone’s Lick, Missouri.

Furthermore, Mary Margaret is the only member of the group who knows exactly why they are going. Is the purpose of this journey to reunite husband and family, or hmmmmm… something else?

The band of travelers includes Mary Margaret, Uncle Seth, Shay, Shay’s siblings G.T. and Neva, Granpa Crackenthorpe, and Mary Margaret’s half sister, Rose. On the first day of the journey the group encounters an Indian named Charlie Seven Days who is traveling in the same direction as they are.  He joins the group to function as a guide. Also on the first day they encounter a barefoot French priest, Pere Villy. Traveling barefoot, Pere Villy has just stepped on tacks scattered in the road by some thoughtless unknown individual. He accepts a ride on the wagon, and guess what? He joins the group, too.

There are many adventures along the way as the Cecil clan journeys up river by boat and then west by wagon. This is definitely a novel worth reading. There is an appearance early in the narrative by Wild Bill Hickok, and a gun battle you will remember not for its bloody fierceness, but more for its hilarity.

Please, please, please, if you’ve got the time, and even if you think you don’t give a fig about reading about the West in 1860, read this book. Give McMurtry a chance.

Nevermore: Fiction

Canada is the new novel from Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Ford, best known for his Bascombe trilogy.   Dell Parsons is still a teenager when his parents are caught robbing a bank.  His twin sister Berner runs away, while Dell hides out in a Canadian hunting lodge with an American who is supposed to be a family friend but who has a violent streak. The story is told in retrospect by an adult Dell.  Our reviewer was unimpressed by the mushy story line and unsympathetic characters.

On the other hand, The Good Father by Noah Hawley won high marks.  Our reviewer called it beautifully written and thought provoking. Dr. Paul Allen is a successful Manhattan rheumatologist with a happy marriage and twin sons.  He’s made a career out of caring for difficult patients and solving their problems.  Life is good.  Then a presidential candidate is assassinated, and Dr. Allen finds the Secret Service at his door.  They tell him that his son Daniel, a product of his first marriage, is the murderer. Unable to believe it, Dr. Allen sets out to try to piece together what really happened.

Two of Larry McMurtry’s early books came up for discussion.  Horseman, Pass By was considered quite a revelation when it was first published in 1961.  It was an unsentimental look at the clash between the old Western values and a changing landscape.  The book was the basis for the classic movie, “Hud.”  All My Friends Are Going to be Strangers  It’s the story of a young writer who leaves Texas and heads for California, chasing a dream of fame and fortune.  One reviewer found it delightful, evoking the late 60s era and featuring unforgettable characters (some of whom turn up in other McMurtry books).  A second reader gave up on it in short order, proving once again that not every book is for every person. came out in 1972, but included some characters from a previous novel.

John Grisham’s Calico Joe has been mentioned in several meetings.  Most of our reviewers have been surprised at how much they enjoyed this atypical Grisham novel.  Instead of a courtroom drama, this novel is rooted in baseball.  Joe Castle is a young player from Arkansas who bursts into the big leagues as an amazing batter in a sports version of a Cinderella story. The crowds adore him, dubbing him Calico Joe after his hometown.  Then he faces pitcher Warren Tracey, an angry, hard-drinking man who throws one pitch that changes both their lives.  The story is told by Tracey’s son Paul, who was 11 years old at the time of the pitch; thirty years later, Paul is seeking some sort of closure to the story.  Grisham’s novel echoes the real story of Carl Mays and Roy Chapman.  This isn’t a book just for baseball fans; it’s for anyone who enjoys a good story.