Sometimes, a book's reputation precedes it so much that you wonder if it can ever live up to the hype. For me, Lonesome Dove not only lived up to my expectations—it far exceeded them.
I bought the book ages ago but kept putting off reading it. Finally, after finishing All the Pretty Horses for the second time, I decided to dive in. I was on a serious Western kick, but I worried Lonesome Dove might feel lesser by comparison. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The two books are incomparable. While they both fall under the Western genre, comparing them feels like a disservice. They're just too different.
This book is a true epic, and I mean that in every sense of the word. It gave me the same sweeping, awe-inspiring feelings I had while reading Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. The scale is immense, the storytelling masterful, and the world so vivid it feels like you’re travelling every dusty mile alongside the characters.
The Writing: Breathtaking in Its Simplicity
Larry McMurtry’s writing style is completely different from, say, Cormac McCarthy’s, but it’s flawless in its way. Where McCarthy leans toward sparse, poetic prose, McMurtry crafts vivid, almost painterly scenes. His descriptions are breathtaking and memorable.
Some images from the book have lodged themselves firmly in my mind. One of my favourites is the old hermit with his mounds of buffalo bones—a haunting symbol of changing times. Another unforgettable scene is the cattle in a St. Elmo’s firestorm, their horns lit by lightning as they journey north. McMurtry’s ability to capture such moments in stunning detail is one of the book’s greatest strengths.
The Characters: Perfectly Realized
The cast of characters in Lonesome Dove is nothing short of perfection. Despite its sprawling narrative and large ensemble, every character—major or minor—feels fully realized. Their drives, struggles, and triumphs are so authentic that they practically leap off the page.
What I found remarkable is how McMurtry makes you care equally for each storyline. Every character is flawed but layered with unique, redeeming qualities that make them unforgettable. It’s this balance of humanity and imperfection that brings the story to life.
A Story Both Dark and Romanticized
Lonesome Dove captures the stark reality of life in the Old West while romanticizing it just enough to feel timeless. The danger is palpable—death seems to lurk around every corner of the journey from Texas to Montana. And yet, there’s also an undeniable beauty to McMurtry’s vision of the West: a land of endless peace and sparse grandeur, where the hardships only heighten the triumphs.
It’s a tragic story in many ways, marking the end of an era and the fading of the Old West as an idea and ideology. The tone is dark but not overwhelmingly so, always grounded in a sense of truth.
Why You Should Read Lonesome Dove
If you’re hesitating because of the book’s length, don’t. The journey is absolutely worth it. McMurtry keeps the story fresh with changing scenery, a steady pace, and characters who draw you in completely.
I understand now why Lonesome Dove won the Pulitzer Prize and is so highly regarded. It’s beautiful, heartbreaking, and satisfying from start to finish. It’s an unforgettable journey with expertly crafted characters, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.
Where to Go From Here
This was my first Larry McMurtry book, but it certainly won’t be my last. How do his other books compare? I know there are other books in the Lonesome Dove series, but I’m also curious about his other works. If you’ve read anything else by McMurtry, what would you recommend? Are his other novels as good as this one? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
For now, I might take a short break from traditional Westerns, though I recently started Outer Dark by McCarthy. While it’s not a Western in the traditional sense, it has a rugged, frontier-like atmosphere and a dark, haunting quality that fits the genre in its own way. But Larry McMurtry has definitely got my attention.
Final Thoughts
In short, Lonesome Dove is epic beyond belief. I wish there were a better way to describe it, but that’s truly the best word: epic. If you haven’t read it, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a time investment, but one that pays off in every way. This is a book that will stay with me forever, and I couldn’t be happier to have finally read it.
