I am unable to write tonight, as I just finished reading Lonesome Dove and feel that all the good writing in the entire world was contained in that masterpiece.
I cannot conceive how to describe adequately the impact of a book that begins with pigs eating a rattlesnake and ends with the word “whore,” except to say that it is as close to the Great American Novel as we are ever likely to get, and as a bonus, it’s damn fine writing and a revelatory pleasure to read.
This afternoon, I had about 100 pages left of the book and left the office at 4:30, drove to a park, and sat in my car under a tree, my windows open, a cool breeze ruffling the pages. I had to stop before 6:00 and show a house, and hustled back to the car. I drove home as fast as I could, because I had only one chapter left to finish. I even contemplated stopping at two different parks along the drive home because I didn’t want to have to wait the six extra minutes to get to my house before I could stop the car and read more.
I made it home and went directly to the basement, to the comfy recliner, where I opened the book and finished it. When I was done, I sat there a minute, and almost opened the book to start it over from the beginning. 
Yes, it really is that good.
I called my sister in Texas and we talked about the book. She seemed very pleased that I had liked it so much, as I rambled on incoherently about the parts I liked.
Please, if you haven’t read it, put it on your list. If you like it, let me know. If you don’t….well, don’t!
Oh, I loved it. I loved it.
I read it on my honeymoon and I still have such fond memories of that time. The beach, the three longest books in the world (Lonesome Dove, Empire Falls, and American Pastoral), and my new husband.
Have you read The Last Picture Show? It is very different, but equally as wonderful, in my opinion.
I’ve read it, as well as watched the mini-series (which is awesome in its own right).
(P.S. This is Candy…Chez BonBon?…new name, new blog)
I completley agree! I loved that book so much and didn’t want it to end. I’ve actually read it twice. I believe there’s a prequel and a sequel or two, while they were good, they didn’t quite hit the spot like the original.
Oddly, I have not read Lonesome Dove. Long ago, I read Anything for Billy and LOVED it. LOVING a book usually starts an obsession to read everything an author has published…I must have been distracted by something shiny. Thanks for the nudge back in a good direction.
Okay….so have you read ‘Hawaii’??? Put that on YOUR list and I will be checking Lonesome Dove out at the library. Have been so bored this week camping that I have read FIVE books in four days. My brain is muggled…..
I’m going to put this on my list of books to buy this summer. There is a fantastic Half Price Books store in Houston that I can’t wait to lose myself in.