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A review by amongstchaosshereads
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
5.0
This isn’t the kind of book I’d usually reach for. Honestly, it’s one I would’ve passed by without a second glance. Westerns have never been my thing, and I wasn’t sure I’d connect with a story set in a world so far removed from my usual reading tastes. But after hearing so many glowing recommendations, I decided to take a chance… and wow, am I glad I did.
From the very first pages, I was completely hooked. I went in thinking I might struggle to get into it, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was utterly swept up in the lives of these characters. And when I wasn’t reading? I was thinking about them. Constantly. McMurtry has this incredible gift for writing people who feel heartbreakingly real. They aren’t just characters on a page—they feel like old friends (or people you wish you knew), and I found myself deeply invested in every one of them.
Gus McCrae completely stole my heart—and honestly, I’m still not over it. His charm, wit, and quiet depth made him impossible not to adore. I especially loved how he cared for Lorena after everything she endured. His patience and quiet strength in helping her heal added so much depth to his character and brought even more heart to the story.
But it wasn’t just Gus. I could go on forever listing names—Roscoe Brown, Lorena, Newt, Deets, Dish, Clara… I loved them all. Every single character is so layered and authentic. They’re flawed, funny, vulnerable, and resilient. Their relationships are just as compelling—messy, beautiful, and painfully real.
And then there’s the dynamic between Gus and Captain Woodrow Call. Their friendship is the heart and soul of this story, and it absolutely floored me. They’re complete opposites—Gus, with his humor and easygoing charm, and Call, with his rigid sense of duty—but their bond runs so deep. Their relationship is full of affection, frustration, and so many unspoken moments of understanding. It felt raw and genuine, and it’s easily one of the most memorable friendships I’ve ever read.
What surprised me most about this book was how immersive it is. McMurtry’s storytelling makes you feel like you’re right there beside them—riding through endless plains, dust in your lungs, heart in your throat. Then, sharing quiet moments by the fire. The American frontier isn’t just a setting; it’s alive. The harsh, unforgiving landscape shapes everything in this story—the characters’ decisions, their struggles, their triumphs. It’s both brutal and breathtaking, and it adds such weight to every moment.
McMurtry’s writing is deceptively simple but incredibly powerful. Every bit of dialogue feels natural, and his descriptions bring the world to life without ever slowing the story. He strikes a perfect balance between the brutal reality of the frontier and its raw, untamed beauty. I was completely transported.
And the emotions? They hit hard. One moment (IYKYK) absolutely wrecked me. I had to close the book and just sit with it for a while. It was that devastating. But that emotional weight, that heartbreak, is exactly what makes Lonesome Dove so unforgettable. And just when you think it’s all too heavy, McMurtry finds a way to make you laugh, grounding the story in the realities of life.
Beyond the adventure, this story digs into friendship, regret, aging, and the haunting pull of the past. It made me think about how we chase dreams and live with the consequences of choices made long ago. Those deeper themes give this story so much more weight.
Even at over 800 pages, not a single moment felt wasted. I found myself savoring every bit of it, not wanting the journey to end. It’s the kind of story that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.
I never thought I’d fall so deeply for this book but yet here I am! Lonesome Dove isn’t just a Western. It’s a story about friendship, love, loss, and the messy, beautiful imperfections of life. It’s sprawling in scope yet deeply intimate in its storytelling. It surprised me in the best possible way, and I know it’s a story I’ll carry with me for a long time.
“It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living.” — Gus McCrae
From the very first pages, I was completely hooked. I went in thinking I might struggle to get into it, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was utterly swept up in the lives of these characters. And when I wasn’t reading? I was thinking about them. Constantly. McMurtry has this incredible gift for writing people who feel heartbreakingly real. They aren’t just characters on a page—they feel like old friends (or people you wish you knew), and I found myself deeply invested in every one of them.
Gus McCrae completely stole my heart—and honestly, I’m still not over it. His charm, wit, and quiet depth made him impossible not to adore. I especially loved how he cared for Lorena after everything she endured. His patience and quiet strength in helping her heal added so much depth to his character and brought even more heart to the story.
But it wasn’t just Gus. I could go on forever listing names—Roscoe Brown, Lorena, Newt, Deets, Dish, Clara… I loved them all. Every single character is so layered and authentic. They’re flawed, funny, vulnerable, and resilient. Their relationships are just as compelling—messy, beautiful, and painfully real.
And then there’s the dynamic between Gus and Captain Woodrow Call. Their friendship is the heart and soul of this story, and it absolutely floored me. They’re complete opposites—Gus, with his humor and easygoing charm, and Call, with his rigid sense of duty—but their bond runs so deep. Their relationship is full of affection, frustration, and so many unspoken moments of understanding. It felt raw and genuine, and it’s easily one of the most memorable friendships I’ve ever read.
What surprised me most about this book was how immersive it is. McMurtry’s storytelling makes you feel like you’re right there beside them—riding through endless plains, dust in your lungs, heart in your throat. Then, sharing quiet moments by the fire. The American frontier isn’t just a setting; it’s alive. The harsh, unforgiving landscape shapes everything in this story—the characters’ decisions, their struggles, their triumphs. It’s both brutal and breathtaking, and it adds such weight to every moment.
McMurtry’s writing is deceptively simple but incredibly powerful. Every bit of dialogue feels natural, and his descriptions bring the world to life without ever slowing the story. He strikes a perfect balance between the brutal reality of the frontier and its raw, untamed beauty. I was completely transported.
And the emotions? They hit hard. One moment (IYKYK) absolutely wrecked me. I had to close the book and just sit with it for a while. It was that devastating. But that emotional weight, that heartbreak, is exactly what makes Lonesome Dove so unforgettable. And just when you think it’s all too heavy, McMurtry finds a way to make you laugh, grounding the story in the realities of life.
Beyond the adventure, this story digs into friendship, regret, aging, and the haunting pull of the past. It made me think about how we chase dreams and live with the consequences of choices made long ago. Those deeper themes give this story so much more weight.
Even at over 800 pages, not a single moment felt wasted. I found myself savoring every bit of it, not wanting the journey to end. It’s the kind of story that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.
I never thought I’d fall so deeply for this book but yet here I am! Lonesome Dove isn’t just a Western. It’s a story about friendship, love, loss, and the messy, beautiful imperfections of life. It’s sprawling in scope yet deeply intimate in its storytelling. It surprised me in the best possible way, and I know it’s a story I’ll carry with me for a long time.
“It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living.” — Gus McCrae