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Year Published: 1985
Length: 945
Genre: Western
Merut's Grade: A
I know. For the amount of reading I have been doing, I should be posting more often. Since last August, I have read Twilight (the series), The Constant Princess, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Other Queen, Dracula, A World without End, among others. For the most part I have been in a reading slump, so as you can tell, I've been choosing to read the trash over the Class (as in Classics), with the exception of Dracula. On a whim I've taken to re-reading some of my old favorites, such as Pride and Prejudice (much better the third time) and now Lonesome Dove.
I first read Lonesome Dove my first semester of college. I think it drove my dorm roommate crazy. It was recommended by my dad, and I remember thoroughly enjoying it. However, every time I've tried to pick it up since, I've stopped after the first chapter. Not this time.
There are many reasons why I love this book. The character development is pretty good. Augustus McCrae is probably one of my favorite characters of all time. He is a crass, educated, witty, and lazy retired Texas Ranger, and is the perfect juxtaposition to his partner, Woodrow Call. While reading I always enjoy waiting to hear what Gus is going to say next.
While there is a slight love story in the novel, the adventure of taking a cattle herd all the way from Texas to Montana gives this book a nice historical perspective. Unlike other Westerns, this one does not romanticize the West. The men go in to poke the whores with their carrots. It is illegal to steal horses in America but legal to steal them from Mexico. Every character has their insecurities; even tough cowboys are deathly afraid of drowning. Each character is worth his time in the book, and I hope I'll read it again someday.
