LONESOME DOVE by Larry McMurtry

Welcome to Page 4 of I Read That Book! On each Page, I’ll tell you a little about a book I read, often in a fun and informal manner, with the hope that you also may become interested enough to read it – or perhaps read it again if you’ve already enjoyed it once. The books I’ll be featuring come from a variety of genres at differing stages of my life, so whether you prefer history, literature, science fiction, or horror, there’s a good chance you’ll get some interesting ideas for your personal “To Be Read” list. Thank you for joining me on this journey as we flip through the pages of some of my favorite books. But before you start reading below, I invite you to grab a cup of your favorite beverage and find a comfortable place to sit, then turn to Page 4.

LONESOME DOVE by Larry McMurtry

Publication Date: 1985

“It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live.” ~ Augustus McCrae

Fans of the 1985 novel by Larry McMurtry (which won a Pulitzer Prize the following year) won’t soon forget Augustus McCrae and his special brand of philosophy. And that same sentiment goes for his longtime friend and business partner, Woodrow F. Call, who may not speak as often, but he’s still one of the strongest forces in American literature.

For some, the thought of reading a Western isn’t appealing, and if that’s you, LONESOME DOVE probably doesn’t reside on your bookshelves. But this adventure is bigger than simply applying a genre label to it. The novel is an epic tour-de-force in the tradition of Homer’s Odyssey (okay, maybe Greek classics aren’t your thing…in that case, I’ll compare it to something a little more modern that you may have read…Stephen King’s The Stand), filled with characters you’ll not soon forget. Gus, Call, Newt, Deets, Lorena, and others from the Hat Creek Cattle Company set out on a cattle drive from their home in Lonesome Dove, Texas, a small town on the Mexican border, with the goal of establishing the first cattle ranch in Montana.

One character is running from the law, some are searching for love, and others see this as their last, best opportunity to be a part of something grand. All the while, they battle the forces of both man and nature as they continue to move north, no matter the cost.

By now it should be obvious that I’m passionate about this book. I’ve both read it and listened to it on Audible, and I’m a big fan of the television mini-series, which I’ve probably watched too many times (as if that’s possible). If you’re considering reading Lonesome Dove and have never watched the series, it wouldn’t hurt one bit to experience the show first. It’s an enjoyable experience to read the book and picture the wonderful actors in your mind.

Remember the quote from above? It’s not exactly the same in the mini-series, but it’s close, and you can really get a feel for this epic adventure after watching this brief clip.

The musical score of a film has the potential to bring a story to life in an unforgettable way, and that’s exactly what Basil Poledouris achieved with the Lonesome Dove soundtrack, which I’m listening to while writing this. Want to hear it for yourself? Just click the link to enjoy or listen to the main theme below.

And don’t forget to join us here again when I flip to the next Page!

Note: The first 32 pages of I Read This Book! originally appeared on Substack.

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