Take a photo of a barcode or cover
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual violence, Trafficking
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
4.5 dern stars.
"Why would you want to keep in practice being wrong?" Call asked. "I'd think it would be something you'd try to avoid."
"You can't avoid it, you've got to learn to handle it," Augustus said. "If you only come face-to-face with your own mistakes once or twice in your life it's bound to be extra painful. I face mine every day—that way they ain't usually much worse than a dry shave."
As well as being good life advice, this quote sums up pretty well the difference between Gus and Call, our two cowboys who are bromance BFFs and our protagonists of this story. Augustus McCrae is the freewheeling, womanising philosopher who won't shut up, and Captain Call is the taciturn, hardworking one who finds it extra painful to come face-to-face with his own mistakes. These ex-Texas Rangers turned horse traders and cowboys secretly love each other even though they annoy the dern piss out of each other. (Apparently they are modelled on two real life cowboys who were called Goodnight and Loving! There's a "Goodnight-Loving Trail" in Texas which is truly an amazing name.)
This is a rollicking good yarn! Put that quote on the back. I don't think I need to read much about cowboys to have had my fill for one lifetime, so I agree that this is indeed the definitive cowboy story to read. Fundamentally the story of a journey, as I was nearing the end I was struck by how it's not dissimilar to <i>A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet</i> in which a bunch of friends in a space ship travel, create and resolve relationship conflicts, and make it to their destination having learned something about themselves and each other. Except this one can do heartbreaking equally as well as it conveys cosy camaraderie. Don't let it trick yer. The author has accurately, as far as I can tell, conveyed the whole gamut of the human experience for a bunch of cowboys in Texas at this point in time, and things can go from chuckle-worthy to horrifying in the space of a page. Life is cheap.
Things are largely character based and the author has done a fine job. The omniscient third-person perspective allows us to spend time with the thoughts of many different characters, and while they're not all as fully realised as Gus and Captain Call, they're all believable. The relationships feel genuine and the dialogue is a delight. I was a bit worried that the book was going to be sexist though, given the main (only?) female character of the first half is a "working girl", but the ladies get rendered in as much depth as the men. Clara in particular is a high point.
Oh, plot-wise it waxes and wanes, but in general plenty of things happen to keep everything moving. A few of the more frenetic scenes are written a little awkwardly, I thought, but one can't be good at everything.
I also wish it were about a third shorter, as I had to take a break in the middle, but it's hard to find much else to fault with it.
(Gus is my favourite by the way.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Racial slurs
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Vomit
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Torture, Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
McMurtry has a wonderful ability to conjure interesting characters with a name and a short anecdote. You find yourself caring deeply about them all, entering each chapter unsure if they will be met with joy or hardship. Incredible things happen, but the novel retains a feeling of realism and plausibility, never breaking your immersion. It is an epic adventure and a rich story. I felt that unique sadness that many readers will recognise from finishing a special book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Augustus McCrae has got to be one of my all-time favorite characters.
Everyone in this books feels real, their words and actions feel believable to their characters. You definitely grow attached.
Everyone in this books feels real, their words and actions feel believable to their characters. You definitely grow attached.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Death
This book has made me never want to speak to a man again
Dnf page 164
Slow to start which is fine. But the racism and sexism I couldn’t stand. I ended up googling the plot summary and this is a hard pass from me
It is possible to write a western without the racism and sexism but this author decided not to.
Dnf page 164
Slow to start which is fine. But the racism and sexism I couldn’t stand. I ended up googling the plot summary and this is a hard pass from me
It is possible to write a western without the racism and sexism but this author decided not to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Sexual harassment