r/LonesomeDove

I am recently reminded of how disappointed I was with the actor that played Blue Duck in the series. In the book he seemed larger than life.

I just finished Bret Hart’s book and he mentioned being in the Lonesome Dove series. apparently it only ran for one season. anyone remember it?

I’ve seen the miniseries more times than I can count. Finally reading the book. I just read chapter 75 where we finally meet Clara. I found it to be probably the most beautifully written chapter in the book so far. Not that it portrayed anything beautiful, but he wrote about hardships in such a profound way. I think this is also, for me, probably the first time I noticed a real major difference between the series and the book. The series kind of depicts Clara and Bob as successful horse traders who, other than Bob’s injury and the deaths of their sons which is glossed over, have been immune from hardships. The birth of Ellie’s son provides a wonderful contrast to the hardships she and Bob have faced in their life in Nebraska. McMurtry’s writing and story telling in that chapter is top notch

Maybe this will be made clear in second half but I am now past the introduction of Blue Duck and Gus promises to buy Lorena a rail ticket to SF and they guys went for drinks at the saloon in SA. They didn’t exactly have CC’s back then and it would be easy for all their saving to be pilfered, no?

Hi guys!

I’m about to start lonesome dove for the first time, and I’m really excited! As a new parent, I don’t have a lot of time and so I really want to treat this as self care. As part of that I was thinking I might get a nice bottle of liquor to sip on while I read. I’d assume that would be bourbon or whiskey but I guess not knowing the setting super well that could also be tequila. When I think cowboys, I think both. What would you recommend? Any cocktails that fit the vibe? I like everything so no issues there.

I’m celebrating by watching the original with my beautiful wife and my dog Augustus “Gus” McCrae.
Stay safe and enjoy the holiday!

Just finished my re-read of “Lonesome Dove.” It’s been at least 25 years… so practically a new book for me. Absolutely loved it. I’m a bit of a wreck now done. I needed to come here to this subreddit to chill out. Phew. What a great book. Thank you.

I know this isn't exactly a new take here but wow. What an absolute experience. It's been 48 hours and I'm still thinking about.. well all of it. The pure poetry, the characters. I genuinely don't know if I can ever love another book again but the urge to read is in my bones but what the hell could I possibly read after this?

What else out there could even come close to

the poetic prose?

the rich characters?

emotional highs and the emotional lows?

The only book that's come close to me is Shogun and even that paled in comparison. But I'll take any and all suggestions you got, regardless of genre.

I own the ebook version of Lonesome Dove as well as the Will Patton version of the audiobook. Ideally I would listen and read at the same time, but given the length of the book, don't think that will be very practical. Any recommendations as to which version would be the best method for my first "read"?

Would you like to see a remake of Lonesome Dove or would be against it?

If you’d like a remake what do you think should be done differently concerning characters, scenes, plots and so on.

I’m halfway through Dead Man’s Walk and there is a distinct section where it mentions Call being enamoured by a girl “no older than 12”.
Given I’ve just come off Streets of Laredo where I had initially being suspicious of the way Call was written to have an affinity with Theresa, I’m now even more convinced that McMurtry is suggesting Call likes… little girls? 🤔

How am I meant to interpret it otherwise? Help me out here.

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This was never on my radar but have read so many raves about it, I want to read it. When I went to audible, I found out it’s part of a saga. Is this ok as a stand alone?

I thought this was one of the most powerful parts of the book. Going for help and ending up walking, barefoot, for countless miles, being completely alone and exposed, no supplies…and feeling the spirit of Deets just when he couldn’t go further.

How did this part land on you?

On my second reading. In many of the conversations, McMurtry’s narrararor switches our protagonists names. I wonder if this was based on context or just arbitrary?

This contains a major spoiler for Streets of Laredo***

I am about halfway through the book, now. I have really enjoyed the journey, it is great getting to see Famous Shoes, again, and I love the pace McMurtry sets with this one. Also, all of the interiority of each character is well crafted, and I like that Gus lives on in the spirit and mind of Call. I find myself at times wondering to myself, what would Gus do or say in this situation? He is still very much present, in my reading experience.

Anyways, I just read chapter six of part II, and when I got to the line,

What it had turned out to be, in the course of a few minutes, was the last morning of her life.

I really wanted to not read what was coming for poor little Doobie Plunkert. I really hope that sonofabitch Bob Jekyll gets his comeuppance, but with her having killed herself, in what to my mind is one of the worst imaginable ways you could do it, I fear no retribution will be served.

That entire chapter was some cold blooded shit. It’s especially effective because of where it happens in the book, having just had the catharsis of Call essentially killing sheriff of Presidio, Joe Doniphan. You’ve got a sheriff a chapter or two later who rapes the wife of his old deputy, who goes on to kill herself by eating rat poison, while her husband is out tracking the villain of the book. The way McMurtry gives me such a visceral reaction to these scenes is fucking wild.

I can totally see why some people really don’t like this book. It is not that it’s poorly written, but that it can feel like a book with no hope. It might be a book with no hope. I don’t know. I haven’t finished it. But I will, and soon. I quite enjoy it, and figure I will continue to do so, to the bloody end.