Quick note on your Chuck Norris retrospective: Scott Adkins is English, not American.
Fun read. As a child, my friends and I like the MIA movies, part of that 80s Vietnam Vengeance subgenre, along with Rambo II and Uncommon Valor (with Gene Hackman).
Larry McMurtry is one of my favs. His prose reads like fine literature and pulp fiction simultaneously. Lonesome Dove was his Everest and his other westerns are worth checking out especially the Berrybender series. On a side note I remember when he owned a used bookstore in DC in Georgetown.
Thank you for this. I discovered McMurtry during high school, with All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers. It really spoke to me at that time in my life. I regret that, living near DC, I did not realize that at that time he ran a DC bookstore that I could have visited. I really like his books from this period, including Moving On and Terms of Endearment and of course the Last Picture Show. I also really liked Lonesome Dove but could not really connect with many of his later novels, although I really enjoyed his essays.
I never knew Hud was based on a McMurtry novel. I have only seen the movie once, many years ago, but I do remember a scene in the bunkhouse with Newman and Neal. It was one of the steamiest non-physical sex scenes ever.
I seem to make my audio book choices from Libby through articles I read. I just borrowed McMurtry's Telegraph Days. Out of 13 of his books on Libby, it was the only one available. Thanks.
> Lonesome Dove’s depiction of life on the trail calls to many of us... <
Yes, and for several reasons, I think. And for at least one reason not here clearly articulated.
And that is that while the main characters and others on the drive are tough and determined in the face of physical hardships, brave in the face of dangers and bonded to each other in ways enviable to people in this modern age of increasing individual isolation and lives bereft of genuine, long-lasting friendships, they also have a more intangible but likely even more important characteristic so lacking in the lives of many visible in the public eye these past couple of decades: a sense of honor.
Which flawed and imperfect at times though it may be, at least that sense exists, it's there to be imperfect and flawed and envied all at once and to be worn with the natural ease of drawing breath, its fit as finely tailored to McMurtry's imperfect heroes as any high dollar suit fit for a banker or lawyer.
And with so little genuine honor being visible in the world on a daily basis in real life, I believe people are drawn to this fictional version, often without even knowing why.
My grandfather also did trail drives. He remembered hiding under the table during the range wars.
He ended up being a surveyor for the Brazos.
I would sit on his knee for hours listening to his cowboy songs. One was a very sad song about the Sioux Indians. He would always have a tear on his cheek at the end of the song.
Very thoughtful reflection on Lonesome Dove, one of my favorite books of all time. I've only read it twice and am due for a third reading soon. The TV version is a decent adaptation because of the wonderful acting and worth watching, but McMurtry's prose is tenderly sad and sweet, and the images he painted have stuck with me for years. Thanks, Sonny!
Since I never actually watched Lonesome Dove, and after reading a good portion of the story, I stopped reading and will return after I actually watch starting this evening. SONNY'S word is good enough to make me realize I have missed out on something.
Both the book and the miniseries are excellent but the book does capture the grit and grimness of the 1870’s-early 1880’s in Texas and on the cattle drives(which occupied a brief period post Civil War before the railroads expanded). Although the plot and setting are fictional, the cowboys are inspired by Charlie Goodnight, Oliver Loving, and their cowhand Boze Ikard.
The first part of the book is colorful characters and stunning weird deaths and moving on. The last part of the book is amazingly deep and thought provoking. Do not read the sequel, just don’t do that to yourself. I’m not sure what McMurtry was thinking. The prequels were obvious cash grabs. The sequel was awful and made no sense.
"Lonesome Dove" was a beautiful love letter to the West of long ago. Romantic and brutal at the same time. When you grow up in the wide-open West, you appreciate McMurtry's ability to express the complicated feelings we have for the land, the people, and the critters that inhabit it.
"The Last Picture Show", followed years later by "Texasville," was understood by anyone that grew up in a small town. Was he telling tales out of school? Sure, but they were true.
I never read "Lonesome Dove," but I have viewed the mini-series multiple times.
Bill Wittliff's co-scriptwriting with book author Larry McMurtry was fantastic. Made sense that two Texans could create a period piece to embody that post-Civil War period. As an Easterner, I appreciate the reality they seemed to bring to the period, along with the directors and the cinematographers.
I was inundated with 1/2 hour western TV shows during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
My father, a WW2 combat veteran (33-years old when drafted) of the European campaign, was fond of "Maverick" and "Have Gun Will Travel." I realized as an adult that the attraction was the intellectual perspective of those shows.
Therefore, I wasn't a major fan of western genre movies as a kid and thereafter.
[BTW - Pops said that the most realistic WW2 movie was Saving Private Ryan, most of the others filmed during the war were propagandistic or afterwards rationalizations of America's "greatism.".
I watch the series every few years for the acting, scripting, cinematography, and seeming reality of its period.
BTW - connection of Val Kilmer and Lonesome Dove. Val was fantastic as the kidnapped Texas governor, overweight, in a pit, dealing with scorpions.
One of my three favorite books. Thank you for the article, Sonny! For me, Gus and Call are people trying to stay relevant, fighting and scrapping for continued relevance, in a world which views them as less so every day and scoffs at or ignores them while the country barrels ever forward. I don’t think a day goes by where something about that story doesn’t cross my mind.
We all have to do more than just try and get through the territory. Just ask Jake Spoon!
Quick note on your Chuck Norris retrospective: Scott Adkins is English, not American.
Fun read. As a child, my friends and I like the MIA movies, part of that 80s Vietnam Vengeance subgenre, along with Rambo II and Uncommon Valor (with Gene Hackman).
Larry McMurtry is one of my favs. His prose reads like fine literature and pulp fiction simultaneously. Lonesome Dove was his Everest and his other westerns are worth checking out especially the Berrybender series. On a side note I remember when he owned a used bookstore in DC in Georgetown.
Thank you for this. I discovered McMurtry during high school, with All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers. It really spoke to me at that time in my life. I regret that, living near DC, I did not realize that at that time he ran a DC bookstore that I could have visited. I really like his books from this period, including Moving On and Terms of Endearment and of course the Last Picture Show. I also really liked Lonesome Dove but could not really connect with many of his later novels, although I really enjoyed his essays.
I never knew Hud was based on a McMurtry novel. I have only seen the movie once, many years ago, but I do remember a scene in the bunkhouse with Newman and Neal. It was one of the steamiest non-physical sex scenes ever.
I seem to make my audio book choices from Libby through articles I read. I just borrowed McMurtry's Telegraph Days. Out of 13 of his books on Libby, it was the only one available. Thanks.
> Lonesome Dove’s depiction of life on the trail calls to many of us... <
Yes, and for several reasons, I think. And for at least one reason not here clearly articulated.
And that is that while the main characters and others on the drive are tough and determined in the face of physical hardships, brave in the face of dangers and bonded to each other in ways enviable to people in this modern age of increasing individual isolation and lives bereft of genuine, long-lasting friendships, they also have a more intangible but likely even more important characteristic so lacking in the lives of many visible in the public eye these past couple of decades: a sense of honor.
Which flawed and imperfect at times though it may be, at least that sense exists, it's there to be imperfect and flawed and envied all at once and to be worn with the natural ease of drawing breath, its fit as finely tailored to McMurtry's imperfect heroes as any high dollar suit fit for a banker or lawyer.
And with so little genuine honor being visible in the world on a daily basis in real life, I believe people are drawn to this fictional version, often without even knowing why.
If any actor is to be resurrected, I would prefer that it be Humphrey Bogart.
Thanks for 'shout outs' to two favorites, Lonesome Dove and Heat. Great stories.
My grandfather also did trail drives. He remembered hiding under the table during the range wars.
He ended up being a surveyor for the Brazos.
I would sit on his knee for hours listening to his cowboy songs. One was a very sad song about the Sioux Indians. He would always have a tear on his cheek at the end of the song.
Just wanted to say
Sorry Sonny, could not even begin to WANT to read about C Norris, some of the TV stuff was
meh, okay, I guess. After losing Duvall, well can't even go there.
Very thoughtful reflection on Lonesome Dove, one of my favorite books of all time. I've only read it twice and am due for a third reading soon. The TV version is a decent adaptation because of the wonderful acting and worth watching, but McMurtry's prose is tenderly sad and sweet, and the images he painted have stuck with me for years. Thanks, Sonny!
Since I never actually watched Lonesome Dove, and after reading a good portion of the story, I stopped reading and will return after I actually watch starting this evening. SONNY'S word is good enough to make me realize I have missed out on something.
Both the book and the miniseries are excellent but the book does capture the grit and grimness of the 1870’s-early 1880’s in Texas and on the cattle drives(which occupied a brief period post Civil War before the railroads expanded). Although the plot and setting are fictional, the cowboys are inspired by Charlie Goodnight, Oliver Loving, and their cowhand Boze Ikard.
The first part of the book is colorful characters and stunning weird deaths and moving on. The last part of the book is amazingly deep and thought provoking. Do not read the sequel, just don’t do that to yourself. I’m not sure what McMurtry was thinking. The prequels were obvious cash grabs. The sequel was awful and made no sense.
Don’t watch it - listen to the audiobook! It’s so good!
I will do that as well
Many people are saying!
"Lonesome Dove" was a beautiful love letter to the West of long ago. Romantic and brutal at the same time. When you grow up in the wide-open West, you appreciate McMurtry's ability to express the complicated feelings we have for the land, the people, and the critters that inhabit it.
"The Last Picture Show", followed years later by "Texasville," was understood by anyone that grew up in a small town. Was he telling tales out of school? Sure, but they were true.
Absolute masterful storytelling.
I truly enjoyed Texasville ( and Duan'es depressed )
I never read "Lonesome Dove," but I have viewed the mini-series multiple times.
Bill Wittliff's co-scriptwriting with book author Larry McMurtry was fantastic. Made sense that two Texans could create a period piece to embody that post-Civil War period. As an Easterner, I appreciate the reality they seemed to bring to the period, along with the directors and the cinematographers.
I was inundated with 1/2 hour western TV shows during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
My father, a WW2 combat veteran (33-years old when drafted) of the European campaign, was fond of "Maverick" and "Have Gun Will Travel." I realized as an adult that the attraction was the intellectual perspective of those shows.
Therefore, I wasn't a major fan of western genre movies as a kid and thereafter.
[BTW - Pops said that the most realistic WW2 movie was Saving Private Ryan, most of the others filmed during the war were propagandistic or afterwards rationalizations of America's "greatism.".
I watch the series every few years for the acting, scripting, cinematography, and seeming reality of its period.
BTW - connection of Val Kilmer and Lonesome Dove. Val was fantastic as the kidnapped Texas governor, overweight, in a pit, dealing with scorpions.
Val Kilmer. Tombstone. AI will NEVER
One of my three favorite books. Thank you for the article, Sonny! For me, Gus and Call are people trying to stay relevant, fighting and scrapping for continued relevance, in a world which views them as less so every day and scoffs at or ignores them while the country barrels ever forward. I don’t think a day goes by where something about that story doesn’t cross my mind.
We all have to do more than just try and get through the territory. Just ask Jake Spoon!