In the late 80's while I was teaching Intro to Lit at NTCC I was able to devote one whole semester to a single blockbuster of a novel called Lonesome Dove. Written by Texan Larry McMurtry and published in 1985, it hit the TV screens later in a remarkably fine dramatization starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. In those days a TV show was not automatically released on DVD simultaneously with the series, so I had a period of time to capture the novel with the series as stimulus but not a substitute for the novel itself.
Lonesome Dove has pretty much everything you could ask
for--as main characters, a couple of ex-Texas Rangers off on a last big cattle
drive; Call and Gus are the Yin and Yang of Western heroes with a whole gang of
other colorful characters thrown in. Plus
not one but two marvelous female characters, Lorena and Clara, to provide ample
diversion and love interest. LD is both
epic and tragic in scope with a rich gold vein of humor running through it from
start to finish. I challenge you not to
love it!
Next time: our greatest American historical novel - Gone
With the Wind.
I didn't read the book when it was first published, but did see the mini-series which was so well done, I couldn't imagine the book would have much more to offer. I was mistaken. Last year I finally read the book and like Tom's student, did not want it to end. The richness of the writing and the characters makes for a most memorable reading experience. It quickly moved to the the top of my most favorite books list.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading this at Mr. Tom's recommendation. I'm about 170 pages in and really starting to enjoy it. I've never seen the mini-series. I might have to check that out after I've finished the book.
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