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Graphic: Animal death, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail
I feel accomplished for completing it. The humor throughout sustained me. The humor also grounded the story, making it feel more real. I think if the humor wasn’t present, I would’ve abandoned or at least thought less of the story.
The length of the book is mostly fitting, since it makes you feel like you’re trudging along at the same pace as the rest of the Hat Creek Outfit. Will the story stay with me? Maybe, vaguely. I’m somewhat curious about how Newt and Clara’s stories would evolve. Not sure I’ll continue reading the trilogy since I read that the next book in the series centers on Call. I wasn’t a fan of his character and lack of growth for 800+ pages. I mean sure it’s realistic, but he disappointed and annoyed me.
Favorite Characters: Gus, Newt, Deets, Po Campo, Clara, the pigs
Most exhausting characters: Call, Lorena, July, Elmira, Bob (the descriptions of his personality pre-accident)
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Vomit
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault
Of course I couldn't help but think of Taylor Sheridan's 1883, especially given both journeys are to end in Yellowstone. It's also just as littered with tragedy and sorrow.
I can see why people would gravitate toward this book. A lot to ponder and lots to discuss to consider regardless of where you land on the political spectrum. I can see people claiming the book represents all sorts of ideas and ideals. I suppose that's what makes this book brilliant.
I shall probably not read the other three. This book was exhausting!
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Alcohol
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Violence, Murder
This book was brutal. It plots along and ends in such a hollow place you can't even cry. I feel angry at it because I don't understand the point but that's just it. Sometimes you don't and I'm choked up now for all the tragedy and horror and pointlessness of it all. There was beauty in spots and the journey felt so alive at the end but each death was blunt and brutal and shocking. You couldn't love them for they were so flawed but how could you hate them? It felt like a journey of life with patches that felt stable and understandable torn into pieces in moments.
If I had more of an inkling I'd talk about the brutalist poetic prose or the moral complexity or the hostorical lens but I feel so emptied out by the story that I don't want to anymore. I was so hooked that I couldn't be bothered to stop and write and now here I am without the desire.
If that doesn't say something about Lonesome Doce I don't know what will.
P. S. The pigs were my favorite part
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War
Minor: Ableism, Drug use
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence
Moderate: Racism
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual violence
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage
The book follows Texas rangers Call and Augustus as they decide to make money driving cattle to Montana, across risky terrain full of bandits, wild animals, rivers and dry plains. Larry McMurtry takes great care in fleshing out the contrasting personalities of the two main characters, as well as their moments of heroism and loss. The fight scenes, especially, were so well imagined, and make your heart race.
What held me back was how one-dimensional the secondary characters were, particularly how Native Americans and women were portrayed. Violent or starved, a whore or a mother. And I don't think this was done in any kind of pursuasive way, it was just convenient to stereotype, and serve as ornamental means to manhood.
Nevertheless, you'll enjoy this if you're in the mood for adventurous plots, a large cast of characters, and rooting for heroes. Please consider the content warnings, too.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail