Happy New Year peeps!
It’s my first time reading Lonesome Dove and I’m on page 135. I’ve slowed down a bit because I want to savour each page but can I just say – I did not expect the banter between the boys to be so humorous! Here I am cracking up, as the Irishmen arrive at Lonesome Dove and one of them starts crying. I’m not familiar with Westerns and this iust feels like reading Jane Austen but in a different setting? Was not expecting it to be THIS good… please no spoilers but what do you like the most about this book?
by Natural-Pudding5641
7 Comments
Oh wow, enjoy it! Such a great novel. I love the dialogue and always say it’s not a western! It’s a beautifully written story set in the west.
Definitely a book to take your time with as the most enjoyable aspect was almost just spending time with the characters over the long journey.
I love Lonesome Dove. I think it’s the humor and camaraderie for me, it’s just a very pleasant book (even when unpleasant things happen). This sounds absurd but at times it kind of reminds me of Winnie the Pooh, like especially the part with the door they paint. Just cozy and comforting, even if you wouldn’t think it from the setting and subject matter.
The depth added to the characters is something i havent experienced before. McMurtry wrote the hell out of those cowboys. I liked every one of them.
Enjoy it! Its the easiest 900 pages ive ever read.
The emotional depth is great. There are continued moments of humor throughout the book spaced out perfectly. They give contrast to some of the more serious scenes. I love Louisia, a minor character that makes a brief appearance.
Gus is one of my all time favourite book characters but every single character felt so real. I wanted to savour it but I flew through it. I wish I could read it for the first time all over again. The best book I read in 2025.
I was shocked by the humor in the best way. I will say the middle of the book dragged for me but getting towards the later chapters I absolutely tore through it. Streets of laredo is a whole other thing…