Posted: June 1, 2023
Lonesome Dove
The story is so engaging that you'll actually be happy about the length of the book.
I've heard Lonesome Dove referred to as "The best western ever written". I wouldn't know, because this is the only western novel I've ever read to date. The closest thing that I've read would be Hanta Yo which I don't consider a western novel since it focused on the Native American experience rather than the "cowboy romance" that is the usual grist of the western writer's mill.
Nonetheless, Lonesome Dove is one of the best novels I've ever read. I put off reading it for some time because I was intimidated by its length. But once I tucked into it, the quality of the story hooked me and kept me reading up to the last page.
What an adventure, what an incredible, amazing adventure!
The primary activity in Lonesome Dove is about what cowboys where meant to do. Not engage in shoot outs at high noon, nor hanging around the tavern drinking and gambling (although there's plenty of that in Lonesome Dove), it's about herding cattle. And here the lucky reader gets to tag along on a three-thousand mile cattle run from Lonesome Dove, Texas - near the Mexican border - all the way to Montana.
Along the way anything and everything happens: Indian fights, encounters with friendly Indians, run-ins with bandits and outlaws, struggles against weather. Everything - including an epic battle between a bear and a bull. It is very well written and utterly immersive. The characters are engrossing, the plot and subplots keep one reading.
Lonesome Dove comes in with a massive amount of hype and it deserves every ounce of it. I've never heard or read anybody give this book a negative review. I may not know anything about the Western genre but I know a good story when I read one. This one is a page-turning gem; don't be intimidated by its size. Not only does McMurtry provide a nice build up but the ending is perfect. I found the last chapters to be cathartic; the perfect end to a big adventure.