Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

14 reviews

adventurous emotional 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

Decent book, right up until the end. A little slow and predictable at points, but a decent read. Outside of the ending (which maybe it’s because of this book being part of a series) the MAJOR issue I take with it is that the author seems eager to doll out the use of the N-Word, while simultaneously bashful using the words penis or vagina to actually describe human body parts. Gives me weird vibes.

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Incredible exploration of what it means to be a white person in the United States. One of the most profound pieces of literature that I have ever read.

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark funny tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

A book firmly ensconced in its setting - a broad journey through the western genre. Some tough characters, some haunted, some you want to slap upside the head.  
With many storylines that cross and intertwine, it still felt clear and easy to sort out who is who. The opening scene with the debate over the sign was one of my favorite parts of the book.

As kids we always played our pretend frontier skirmishes with indigenous folks winning the day in the end and ngl a bit of that rose up in my heart while reading. McMurtry does hint at some of the negative impacts of western expansion on both the decline of bison herds and occasional sympathetic encounter with displaced tribes, but it is more firmly seated in the western perspective. He doesn’t shy away from the uglier sides of the western story, whether from unpleasant events, perceptions, terms/names, etc. 

If you can take a bit of trail grit in your coffee, pad your saddle and settle in for a long adventure.

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adventurous emotional informative sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I don't really understand the hype of this book. Well, I do and I don't. The story itself is pretty awful, and none of the characters are people I'd want to befriend. Everyone is out for themselves, and the spirit of the Wild West is in every nook of every person. Some of the story was also quite ridiculous - are Lorena and Clara the only women of value? Even then, they are treated pretty abysmally. 

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!

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

McMurtry gives such a realistic depiction of the characters in the story that they are more realized in three paragraphs than the main character of a series might be in three entire books. Even characters doesn't feel like the right term sometimes because they just feel like people. People that make bad decisions and keep making them, or contradict themselves constantly. McMurtry's writing doesn't follow arcs as much as it does the natural way of things. It only goes to serve the dreary nature of the novel, but at times it does give its little moments of cheer. 9.5/10.

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional sad 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: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous funny hopeful sad 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: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

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