My thanks to all the readers who have been pushing Lonesome Dove. It’s an amazing book. Every time I picked it up, I felt like I was actually there with the cattle drive.
I’ve noticed that no one seems to recommend his other books. Should I read more Larry McMurtry or just be grateful for this book and move on?
by Same-Blacksmith-5032
9 Comments
Following, curious as well.
Other westerns i loved, True Grit and Sisters Brothers
I am a fan of most of his works. The problem with McMurtry for most readers – you and I included – is starting with Lonesome Dove. It’s difficult to match in so many ways. His other “westerns” feel like shadows of or in some cases, rough drafts of LD; his non-westerns are hit-or-miss on the characters (tough to beat Gus & Call, obviously).
I would recommend taking a break from him and then, if you want a great next LM book, check out Terms of Endearment, The Last Picture Show or Texasville. (It’s not always the case that an author’s best are the ones made into movies but may be the case here). Happy reading
Comanche Moon was my favorite of the other books in the LD universe. Didnt care much for the rest.
Horseman, Pass By and The Last Picture show are both very good novels with even better film adaptations.
I’ve read just about all of Larry McMurtry‘s books. They are all great! I think I’ve only read his western books, though, I didn’t read any of his non-westerns.
I unwittingly read them all in a row because that was the epub I had and honestly regret it. LD would be better as a stand alone. I think he was in a dark place when he wrote the follow ups. They weren’t bad books, I was just disappointed in the way the story went. My two cents anyway.
You absolutely need to read the rest of the series. I started with Dead Man’s Walk instead of Lonesome Dove and I’m glad I did. It only got better as it went on. It did make Streets of Laredo kind of meh. Nonetheless, definitely worth reading.
Yes definitely read the other ones. I read lonesome dove -> Streets of Laredo -> Dead Man’s Walk -> Comanche Moon in that order and I felt it was satisfying reading it in that order. They’re all great and have their own merits
his other books are fine, but LD was his masterpiece. if you graded on a curve, and gave LD an A+, nothing else in the LD series is even above a C+.
McMurtry has written many wonderful books. His greatest Western is Lonesome Dove, but I recommend reading the entire Lonesome Dove series: Streets of Laredo, Dead Man’s Walk and Comanche Moon. There are also great stand-alone Westerns: Zeke and Ned (Cherokee warriors), Anything for Billy (Billy the Kid), Buffalo Girls (Calamity Jane). I also really enjoyed his lighter, more easy going Westerns Boone’s Lick and Telegraph Days. I can’t recommend the Berrybender Narratives, they seem thin and repetitive to me, although I read all four.
Happy reading!