Larry McMurtry

Lonesome Dove
27 people recommend this
Recommended by
James KylstraFirst to rec“Didn't like westerns until I read this book. Epic, heartbreaking, gripping, hilarious. Everybody should read it.”
194
Louise Buckley“Wow. I finished Lonesome Dove yesterday and kind of don’t know what to do with myself now. Such a brutal, emotional, deep, funny, epic book. I found it really addictive to read and already imagine myself reading it again. I think it has some of the most moving writing about a woman/from a woman’s perspective by a man that I’ve ever read which surprised me from a western, but this entire book is surprising and totally blew me away. Anything could and does happen. I wanted to read something in the same caliber of greatness as East of Eden, my favorite book and a book I introduced to my dad who very much shared my love for it. He recently read Lonesome Dove and gave it to me for my birthday. It’s a really special book and definitely up there.”
468
Chris Mueller“This adventure is nothing short of extraordinary. Every word is perfect. I'll be recommending this for a long long time. Thanks to all the RL recommenders who put this on my radar @James Kylstra, @Louise Buckley, @Amanda, and so many others.”
205
Kate Vee“You can miss all the meetings when you’re riding with Gus and Call. Beautiful prose, epic story. I alternate between being deeply engaged and then daydreaming of my imaginary life as a cowboygirl.”
192
MRB“What we’re gonna listen to driving from Houston to Santa Fe🤷 why not.”
62
Amanda6
Diana McGrail“My friend thrust this book into my hand after a surprisingly long night out. Took me two months to read but what a journey. This should be required reading for American students. Sorry I said it!! I didn’t have a clear picture of how this time and place might have been experienced by those who lived it and boy, is it harrowing and grim out there on the Great Plains. Fell in love with the characters.”
5
Landon Groves“Best western novel ever written <3”
5
Laurenrab“My first western. Not my usual taste but an incredible journey and a master class in writing distinct characters.”
3
Caro3
Kate“Never thought I’d feel this way about a book on cowboys but it’s my new fave.”
2
Heather“Immersive Western and I don’t even like Westerns but I did love this”
2
Cate Pileggi“A friend recommended this to me and I thought there was no way a book this long and this western could be for me. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Push through the first 100 pages and you will be rewarded with a beautiful and epic story of bravery, friendship, and love. A long book that you’ll wish would keep going when you hit the last page.”
2
Louise Buckley“The great cowboy novel. Hard to put down. Maybe the most beautiful writing about/from a female character written by a man.”
2
Sarah Beck“I know recs for this book abound, but if you're on the fence I want to tell you that this book can be *so funny* and Clara Allen is the most relatable female character - competent warm interesting women make the world go round. Waiting for my husband to finish so we can watch the miniseries together.”
1
Wynne“I wish I could start this Summer never having read this book so I could spend all day at the pool crying over this in absolute adoration of Larry McMurtry's Character development. This is the longest book I've allowed in a long time and it was an absolute joyride.”
1
Katie“Melancholic, no-nonsense Western epic. I was bereft for days when I finished it.”
1
grace murray“big surprise!”
1
Jody1
D Roman1
Kelsey Reckling“an epic story that hooks you from the start”
Charlotte
Meg“My husband recently asked what book I would most like to read again for the first time and I answered before he could finish the question. Lonesome Dove. (Not surprisingly the initial rec came from Cassie 20 years ago)”
Jillian Davis“THE sweeping American western novel. I can’t tell you how immersive and entertaining it is. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with Gus and Deets. It’s a book that stays with you.”
David Ham“Epic, earthy, fun. The narrator’s voice sounds like the main character’s. Wonderful so far.”
Noelle“Lonesome Dove, Middlemarch, A Fine Balance, East of Eden, Angle of Repose, A Handmaid’s Tale, The Tiger (John Vaillant), Wolf Hall trilogy, One Hundred Years of Solitude, the Earthsea Cycle, Sula, the Neopolitan Novels (Elena Ferrante)”
Micah B
Kaylan











