April 2018 Book Club Book: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Discussion in 'TMB Book Club' started by The Blackfish, Mar 15, 2018.

  1. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    A love story, an adventure, and an epic of the frontier, Larry McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize— winning classic, Lonesome Dove, the third book in the Lonesome Dove tetralogy, is the grandest novel ever written about the last defiant wilderness of America. Journey to the dusty little Texas town of Lonesome Dove and meet an unforgettable assortment of heroes and outlaws, whores and ladies, Indians and settlers. Richly authentic, beautifully written, always dramatic, Lonesome Dove is a book to make us laugh, weep, dream, and remember.



    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256008.Lonesome_Dove?from_search=true
     
  2. One Knight

    One Knight https://www.twitch.tv/thatrescueguy
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    Such an amazing story.
     
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  3. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Should finish my book this weekend and then will start this. Very excited
     
  4. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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  5. Gonff

    Gonff Prince of Mousethieves
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    I probably won't start for a couple of weeks. I've been wanting to read this book for a while though. I bought it probably a year or two ago. Just haven't ever gotten to it.
     
  6. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    I'm just getting an early start, technically its the April book.
     
  7. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I'm halfway through it, it literally gets better and better. Love the book so far.
     
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  8. Fusiontegra

    Fusiontegra My life is dope and I do dope shit.#SparedByThanos
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    Never seen the movie, so this will be all a surprise to me.
     
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  9. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I haven't either, and I can't wait to watch the moment it's over. It's part of what keeps me cruising through it too fast.
     
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  10. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    10 hours left... Also, at the end of the book I'm planning on making a character power ranking. I won't include all characters as there are too many, but I'll try to include as many main ones as I can remember.

    If you haven't gotten to the final quarter of the book, don't read this
    The story is wrapping up nicely, but there is legit 25%+ more to read, so I'm curious as to how it will actually all wrap up.

    Gus is such a badass. I can't wait to see Duvall's portrayal of him once I'm finished.

    I'm curious how the Blue Duck fight turns out, and who Lori ends up with in the end.

    Jake Spoon -- I went from liking him, to finding him a complete scumbag throughout the course of the book. I kind of wish he wouldn't have had that far of a fall. I wonder how he's portrayed in the prequals. Hopefully they make him as likable as he seemed in the beginning. There was a reason Gus and McCall liked him enough to let him run with them.

    What sucks the absolute most is Janie. WTF. Why make a character that badass only to kill her off in about 3 total scenes?
     
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  11. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Gin Buckets is there some audio issues with your audiobook? Mine has some definite volume issues and every once in a while sounds like the recording makes the narrator sound almost like a different person
     
  12. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I've noticed, but it really hasn't bothered me once I get used to the new sound. I've noticed the same thing with many of the audiobooks I listen to, actually.
     
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  13. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    The volume changes bother me the most, but obviously not nearly enough to stop listening. I’m about 30% through and loving it
     
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  14. RU-Omega Potato

    RU-Omega Potato We play 'til the gun you crotchety old bitch.
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    Dead Man's Walk & Comanche Moon were excellent reads.

    They are the first two books in the internal chronology of the series. Lonesome Dove is the third.

    I know McMurtry put Lonesome Dove on the shelves first but for me reading in the internal chronological order gets me way more into the characters.

    I know shit about McCrae and Call that you guys don't. Haven't read book 3 yet. I guess now I should.
     
  15. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I finished... Fucking loved it, but my GF is reading it to and making me wait to watch the miniseries.

    Loved it. Very good ending, and I'm not sure why, but I expected something to happen with Call on his journey back to bury Gus. I expected him to find out something on the actual trip that Gus knew he'd find out, but he would have to learn on his own.... If that makes sense?

    This book for me was 5/5. I loved it all the way through. The character development was amazing and the story telling perhaps even better. I loved how McCurty took his time to let the book develop, and I think it really paid off.
     
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  16. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    I'm about halfway through and really enjoying it

    The women's lives suck, but some of it is from their own stupidity e.g. Lorena refusing to go back into camp with Gus after they saw Blue Duck / Elmira getting on the whiskey boat

    Really enjoy Gus's character. Jake can get fucked. Rosco is hilarious and Janey is awesome.
     
  17. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Just four chapters in. Having a hard time getting into this, but been wanting to read it forever. Will keep trucking
     
  18. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Keep on trucking. You'll get sucked in once you get to know the characters and the plot starts moving somewhere.

    I'm at about 70% and its awesome.
     
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  19. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    70ish %

    Well Jake is dead. That was bittersweet. Rosco is dead, that was sad, Janey too. Pretty fucking rough. Elmira has really annoyed me. July just got to Clara's farm and they mentioned that Dee Boot(sp?) died, so thats good because I don't want anything good for Elmira right now. Mainly mad at her for leaving the baby I guess. She may also be dead, but I don't know yet.

    Going to be interesting to see what happens when Gus makes it to Clara's farm (assuming he does :idk: ) with her husband in his current state. When we had her internal monologue they skirted around the reason that Clara chose Bill over Gus, but didn't quite tell us why.

    And if he does make it, how does Lorena fit into that scheme

    A few rambling thoughts. Really excited for the end of the book
     
  20. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    completely agree about Janie(ey)? WTF. Introduce a very interesting character with tons of questions surrounding her to have her end with a semi off camera (for lack of a better term) sendoff.
     
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  21. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Just shy of 80% got to the point where

    Gus and them arrived at Clara’s house

    And then arrived at work and had to stop listening. Brutal
     
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  22. Tangman

    Tangman Well-Known Member
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    Thanks for setting this up The Blackfish. I'll be starting this within the next 2 weeks after I finish a couple of others. Looking forward to it.
     
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  23. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Awesome. As Truman mentioned, it takes a few chapters to set up the characters, plot, setting etc... but once it gets going it will suck you in. As I said in my last post, I'm starting to get pissed whenever I have to stop reading to do real life stuff.
     
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  24. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, I went through this one pretty quickly. I definitely plan on reading some more McCurdy, he's an excellent writer.
     
  25. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Through 10 Chapters
    Starting to pick up. Just left to steal some horses in Mexico Know the characters now. Poor Dish cant get the time of day from his girl and Jake comes in and swoops her up.

    Gus cracks me up. Him making fun of Newt for smiling 'You boys act like you just discovered teeth" :laugh:

    Im liking it. Just dont have nearly enough time as Id like to read
     
  26. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Through Chapter 17
    Gus and his one liners " A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke dont want one bad enough"

    Gus is funny, but would probably be annoying AF in real life.
     
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  27. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    I have about 3 hours left in the audiobook :ohdear:
     
  28. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Oh man. How long is the audiobook? 40 hrs??
     
  29. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    36hrs 11min
     
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  30. Gonff

    Gonff Prince of Mousethieves
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    Started today.
     
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  31. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Just shy of 95% - Major Spoiler

    I've assumed for most of the book that Gus would eventually die. Doesn't make this easier. I think he was incredibly stupid for not removing the other leg. He could have at least tried it out and then killed himself if he wanted. :idk: I'm just pissed he's dead.

    I did chuckle about him forcing Coll to take his body all the way back to Texas though.
     
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  32. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Through Chapter 36

    Feel like Ive read an entire novel length book and still just scratching the surface.

    I already feel bad for July Johnson. His wife is awful. I wish very bad things upon her. Im sure he will meet up w Jake in San Antonio. Im guessing Jake will justkill him. That's too obvious, I guess.

    RIP Sean. Welcome to America.
     
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  33. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    fekkin’ sneks
     
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  34. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Through Ch 48

    Oh shit, Blue duck got Lorena.
    Jake is a whiny bitch. Loved that Call told him to GTFO.
    Hope Gus is ok tracking her down solo
    :ohdear:
     
  35. The Blackfish

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    Jake pissed me off there so much, especially when he tried to blame it on Newt. Wish Dish, Coll or Gus had pistol whipped him[/spoiler
     
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  36. Gonff

    Gonff Prince of Mousethieves
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    Where I am. It's a little slow but I like the character development so far. I'm assuming that will be the strength of this novel.

    One small gripe is the omniscient POV. The headhopping keeps throwing me off. But that's probably just due to being an older style of novel
     
  37. The Blackfish

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    Yeah character development is a strength, but its one of many.

    The head hopping took a little bit of getting used to, but I did eventually get used to it. I thought McMurtry did a good job of quickly letting you know whose head you were in.
     
  38. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Halfway through now. There are no minor characters in this book. Every person we come across has all the backstory
     
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  39. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I didn't realize this book won the Pulitzer until I was told that earlier this week.
     
  40. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Through Ch 64

    Well holy moly. Gus comes off as a goofy, silly dude but he's quite the bad ass. Love how the first thing he thought about after the shootout was how there was no one to talk to :laugh:

    For a while I had no idea where all this was going. I still dont but now that July Johnson is heading north to find Elmira, Jake is heading north w those kansas boys to avoid July, and everyone else is heading north w the heard, I assume we'll all meet up at some point. Then who knows.

    I had it in my head they would never get to montana and something would pull them back to Lonesome Dove. Because why name the book after a place they spend barely any time in?

    Still enjoying it.
     
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  41. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Through Ch 82

    Jake is dead. I dont feel sorry for him but I also dont think he was all THAT bad of a person. More of a selfish prick than anything. Speaking of selfish pricks, I hope Elmira gets a very unpleasant demise. Fuck her.

    Feel bad for July Johnson. I hope he stays on the ranch and lives happily ever after w his kid and Clara.

    Still not sure where we're all headed. I dont really care tbh. Just enjoying the ride.
     
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  42. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Echoes pretty much all of my feelings at that point
     
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  43. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Truman are you over your initial fears about the book? Has it turned into a page turner or is any of it still a chore? What are you looking forward to resolving at the end of the book
     
  44. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    It just took a little while to get into it. Use to the writing style. He jumps around and it takes a minute to realize who youre reading about and where. But once I got use to it, it was fine.

    I dont think it's a page turner. The plot moves really slow. There's no sense of urgency that makes feel I cant put it down. That's not to say it hasn't kept me fully engaged, ect.

    As far as what I want to see

    I dont know that I have anything. I really dont know this ends. July is a broken man. Even though I just said I hope he lives happily ever after on the ranch - I think it would be cool if the group somehow gets in trouble and July came in to save the day. Find his mojo ect.

    I think the Gus and Lorena thing is weird. I get why he's like that but it still feels forced for some reason. When Jake fucked her over, I was hoping Day would get to woo her, but that's not happening.


    I dont really have any big thoughts how it should end. It doesnt feel like there's going to be a big climax or anything, just the story will kind of end in a long Gus soliloquy or something. Idk.
     
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  45. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Through Ch 90

    - LMAO at newt and the boys interactions w the hookers.
    - Gus is cold blooded, man. Or just so easy going to a fault. Left both his hoes to continue on w Call. Loyal dude for guys that bicker all the time
    - Deets :tebow:
    -Josh* Deets
    - Also LOL at Gus just so non challuantly spilling the beans that Newt was Call's boy.

    Ch 91

    HOLY MOLY THAT BEAR-BULL FIGHT!
     
    #45 Truman, Apr 16, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2018
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  46. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Finished

    Gus went out like a champ. Sad to see Call kind of give up on the boys.
    Newt finding himself as a horseman. Being left in charge. That's awesome
    July trying on Clara, she's keeping him at arms lenght
    Dish still trying on Lorena. This book is all about people chasing after something they cant have
    Gus' missing leg was funny to me.
    Clara is great. Loved her calling out Call on his shit. She's right that Call was a coward of sorts. Avoidance instead of facing reality.
    Wish it was Gus or Call that got Blue Duck. Blue Duck went out like a bad ass tho
    Reunion w Bolivar :tebow:

    Liked it. Now I feel the need to read the others, but damn if they're as long as this...

    9/10
     
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  47. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Gus is easily the best character in the book. The only person who really knows what they want out of life. Hated he died, like I said, but I had been expecting it since pretty early on.

    The final scene between Coll and Newt was tough. Coll thought he was sort of doing right by the kid, but Newt really just wanted some sort of acknowledgement. Tough knowing the dad you've been missing your whole life, knows he's your dad but can't even acknowledge it.

    July doesn't deserve Clara. He's a little bitch
     
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  48. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    *Call
     
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  49. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Started the mini series. 20 min in. Didnt know who was in it besides Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duval. Thought TLJ would have been Gus. Also Danny Glover as Deets was a nice surprise.
     
  50. Gonff

    Gonff Prince of Mousethieves
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    Through Ch 58

    Didnt expect Blue Duck to kill Roscoe, Joe, and Janey. Maybe just Roscoe but all three surprised me. I wonder how depressed July is going to be moving forward
     
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