Rating: 
Summary: BEST BOOK I EVER READ !!!
Review: DITTO TO ALL THE PREVIOUS REVIEWERS IN REGARDS TO ALL THE PRAISES THIS BOOK RECEIVED. THE THING I FOUND UNIQUE WAS THE AUTHOR'S HUMOR IN DESCRIBING THE THOUGHTS AND LANGUAGE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS. MR MCMURTRY'S AMAZING INSIGHT IN DESCRIBING THE THOUGHTS OF EACH PERSON IN THIS BOOK WILL LEAVE THE READER THINKING FOR A LONG TIME. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK THANK YOU MR MCMURTRY FOR A REVALATORY EXPERIENCE.
Rating:
Summary: 10 stars? The cowboy book that won the Pulitzer
Review: To say Larry McMurtry writes about cowboys is like saying Melville wrote about fish. Only a writer of McMurtry's skill and stature could have written a book about a couple of drunken and inarticulate Texas Rangers turned horse rustlers and have it become, right before your eyes, into an epic, mythic saga of redemption, conviction, friendship, responsibility, and quiet heroism that is impossible to put down. This is a loooong book, too, so saying it's impossible to put down means you're not going to get much sleep once you begin reading. So drink some high-test coffee, fluff up your bed pillows, and settle down for the joy of reading one of the best books ever written about the American West.
Rating:
Summary: absolutely amazing!
Review: I am an avid reader of mostly newer books. After seeing this book on my shelf for the past 15 years I decided it was time to make time for this classic. I am now so glad that I did. What a wonderful story, terrific characters-every part is beautifully written! A real treat to read. Thank you Mr. McMurtry- Lonesome Dove is now at the top of my recommended reading list. I give it 10 stars!
Rating:
Summary: A Great American Epic
Review: Years ago my high school English teacher told me that the world was still waiting for the Great American Epic. Of course, she was wrong, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" had been written over 80 years earlier at that time. It will forever hold that title in American Literature even if some fail to comprehend that fact. However, if my old English teacher ever read "Lonesome Dove", I'll bet she was satisfied that the job had finally been accomplished. This novel has all of the elements of the epic novel and it is uniquely American in its' subject and its' scope. It tells the tale of a journey in the American West of a group of men (cowboys) who travel from the southern end of our country to the northern end. Along the way they encounter great adventures that are uniquely American while also essentially American. The two main heroes lead the way and suffer the fates that often befall men of greatness. The interweaving of characters and events tells the story of America. Such magnitude and such endless excitement and insight comes along rarely in literature so it is no wonder that Larry McMurtry won the Pulitzer Prize for his book. My paperback copy has 945 pages but all I recall is that I couldn't put it down. Many by now have seen the excellent made-for-TV movie but, believe me, the book is so much better.
Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't feel like almost 900 pages
Review: This book was different from about anything I had ever read and I really did enjoy it. I'm usually a biography or a classic literature kind of guy. I guess Lonesome Dove could be considered classic literature, but even putting that aside this was the first western I had ever read.It was a wonderful book. It does start a little slow, but once the Hat Creek outfit leaves for the cattle drive it really takes off. Without revealing too much of the plot, I love the way that McMurtry didn't hesitate to sacrifice two of the book's primary characters. Granted, Deets and Gus make it through most of the book, but McMurtry didn't concern himself with a happy ending or the cowboy riding off into the sunset. And really Deets death is almost symbolic of what cowboys are all about. He doesn't want to drop the baby and in the end he sacrifices himself. The only thing I really didn't like about this book was the ending. Taking Gus back to Texas was fine, but I thought Clara's actions and words when Call left Nebraska were a bit much. I also didn't like the very end. I know it's supposed to symbolize hopelessness that Xavier burnt himself up in the saloon, but it was pretty abrupt and it left you wondering if Call was going to live or die... I'm thinking probably die. I also didn't like the way that Lorena appeared to have just given up on life. And, I thought Clara's act grew a little tired. In fact, the women in general didn't seem to think much of the men in the book. Makes me wonder if McMurtry was trying to tell us something there too that perhaps men are in the business of letting women down more than most men are aware of. Anyway, I really liked the book despite these shortcomings and am now looking forward to the miniseries, which is 6 hours long. Man, that is going to be a fun watch and I think I might even get my girlfriend to sit and watch it with me. She was unimpressed with me the last week or so reading this book every chance that I got.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent
Review: Absolutely magnificent! I read the book because I had the movie, and was brutally FORCED to review it, so I said: Why not read the book too? Anyway, I read the book and absolutely loved it. My attention was kept throughout the book, and after seeing the movie, I could imagine Duvall, Jones and Glover saying their lines in the book. Easily the best western I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: Larry McMurtry captures the spirit of the old west, and the way many of us wish it could be again. The Hat Creek Outfit will make you laugh, cry and want to be a part of the gang. McMurtry's writing brings these characters to life and makes you think twice if they really existed. This book, and saga, should be considered classic works of western fiction. Enjoy the hardships along with the outfit, and remember, they aren't real.
Rating:
Summary: There should be a SIXTH star!
Review: While I haven't always agreed with the folks who hand out the Pulitzer for literature, this time they got it right. There is nothing pretentious or trendy or even unconventional here. Unless you consider brilliance unconventional. This is the best book I have ever read. The characters are earthy and rich, the scope of their adventure is grand and the breadth and depth that McMurtry brings to all of it is unmatched. It is a tired cliche to call something heartwrenching, I know, but this book truly is. You will soar with these characters in their triumphs and mourn pitifully at their losses. Be prepared for a rich and surprising tale that transcends the western genre and enters the realm of truly classic and valuable literature.
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical western!
Review: It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, I was hooked. I'm not sure why it took more than 75 pages to get into it, maybe because I had things going on in my own life that distracted me?, but this book is now one of my all-time favorites. I loved it so much, I am reading all of the books involving the characters. The characters are interesting and quirky, and the story line was not predictable at all. I do not usually read westerns, but this is not your typical western. If you buy this book, be prepared to add it to your all-time favorites list too!
Rating:
Summary: An all time classic
Review: Having read Lonesome Dove several times and being the owner of videos on both Lonesome Dove and Return to Lonesome Dove, I still take tremendous enjoyment in pulling this book out of the bookcase and letting my imagination take me back through the events of the historical setting of this era. Very descriptive and graphically displays the living conditions endured by cowboys young and old.
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