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Summary: LD
Review: Lonesome Dove seemed like a good book. It shows the way the western frontier, was back then. I would have liked it better if I had read more.
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Summary: An excellent adventure
Review: This book came to me highly recommended, and I must say that I wasn't disappointed. The wide variety of characters keeps you interested in the story.Also, Lonesome Dove is the only western I've ever read. I typically read authors like Tom Clancy, or novels from the sci-fi genre.
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Summary: The best book I've ever enjoyed reading
Review: Simply put this book is one of the best western novels ever written. It will be hard to beat! I read the book twice which I've never done before. Unfortunatley the sequels did not come close.
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Summary: It will Live to be a Classic
Review: Lonesome Dove is a rare book - the absolute favorite of anyone who reads it. Whether you are a serious reader who normally eschews novels or a recreational reader who seeks the joy of a great read - this is your book. Lonesome Dove is a no-brainer. This is as good as a book can be. Buy it. Read it. Treasure it.
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Summary: McMurtry's best
Review: My name is James Drury. I played the Virginian on television for nine years. Folks, I have to say this is the best Larry McMurtry has ever written and probably the best he will ever write, as I didn't care tremendously for much of his other stuff. But here we see Gus and Woodrow and Jake and Deets and all the other wonderful, colorful characters who have come to mean so much to us as an American people, not only because of the television portrayal by superb actors, but because of this book. If you haven't read Lonesome Dove, you really need to do yourself the favor. If you noticed, I gave it a rating of five, even though McMurtry stole many of his names for real life people of the old West and fudged on some of his historical dates. It was easy to forget that because of the wonderful dialogue and the emotion he built inside us all, far more than a Louis L'Amour book ever could have. Larry McMurtry, in creating Lonesome Dove, made for us a novel that can be appreciated by all, a novel as good as the best of Elmer Kelton, Elmore Leonard or Kirby Jonas. It is a story we could never forget, even if we tried. It is a novel, like Kelton's, Leonard's, and Jonas', that doesn't have to be read by a Western reader to be enjoyed. It is a novel that will reward readers from all walks of life.
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Summary: An American Epic
Review: Lonesome Dove--the definitive epic of the American West. I finished the book not five hours ago, and since then, I have not been able to concentrate on any other task. It was amazing. Never have I encountered such intriguing characters. The only word of caution I can give, it is sad at times; expect to be upset. But, trust me, it is worth it. While 945 pages might seem foreboding, you will find that it is only sufficient, and McMurtry could have gone on much longer--I wish he had.
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Summary: Tolstoy on the Range
Review: Stay with me here. I'm serious. I think Lonesome Dove can standcomparison to Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace. Of course, I've only read Tolstoy in translation, so chances are I've missed alot, but there is no question that McMurtry creates something here very close to that impossible dream: The Great American Novel. I dont know that any other American writer has ever suceeded on this scale, which is why I go to Tolstoy. McMurtry uses the Western as a starting point, but there is a little of everything here. Surely there has never been another American Western with so many varied characters, both men and and women. McMurtry juggles many different points of view, but manages to give each of his characters a unique voice. Most remarkable of all, I think, are the women in the book, who manage to escape the usual stereotypes of madonna or whore, even though many of them are, quite literally, prostitutes. Lonesome Dove is written in a deceptively simple, unpretentious style. I've just finished reading it for the second time. Despite its length it is really a fast read, since it is one of those books that demands to be taken with you where ever you go until you are done.
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Summary: Simply Amazing
Review: That is the best way to convey the quality of this novel. McMurtry succeeds in writing a wonderfully descriptive novel of the only true American myth -- the cowboy. Americans have always been fascinated with the West. McMurtry realizes this and embraces the world of cattle drives, whores, indians, gunfights, and more. In doing so, he refuses toshow us the picture through rose-colored glasses. Instead he weaves a rich tale with wonderful characters -- who contain vivid human flaws. I can honestly say that this is the single greatest piece of contemporary fiction I have ever read because it captures the spirit of the old West without dilluting it with glorification. There are times when this book and its villains truly frighten you, times when you laugh along with the "good guys", and times when sadness shamelessly sweeps over you. Like all great novels, this books embraces the reader and makes you a part of its world. Even better, that world is the great American horizon -- the land west of the Mississippi. Truly, a great epic novel. If you want to read a tale of American history, full of wonderful characters, drama, comedy, and action, then this is the book for you.
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Summary: Excellent read if you are interested in different cultures
Review: Although many would not classify a western as a "different culture", I found Lonesome Dove to be interesting in the same way that I Claudius or Red Tent -- as a fascinating fictional account that gave life to a different way of life. Lonesome Dove shows the tenderness and brutality of the west during the expansion years of the United States in a way that no history textbook could. Well written, poignant, and fascinating, it's a hard to beat read. I liked the miniseries also (again, like I Claudius). A die-hard fan recommended me this book. I found it hard to start, but also hard to put down once I made it through the first quarter of the book. The journey is completely worthwhile, although if you like pat, American movie-style endings and hate realistic ones, you might not enjoy the conclusion to the book.
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Summary: One of my favorite books of all time
Review: I read Lonesome Dove 10 years ago, and it remains on my list of my five favorite books of all time. The story is crafted so beautifully and the writing is a literary achievement. My only regret is that the book wasn't twice as long. I cared about all of the main characters, and I spent lots of time laughing and even more time crying. I grieved over the loss of one character still and only wish I could read it again without knowing the story. An American masterpiece, to be sure. A "must" for any reader who cares for a grand adventure, spirited characters and a longs for amazing storytelling.
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