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4.58 AVERAGE
4.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lonesome Dove relies on its characters to draw you into the story (which takes a MINUTE), before taking you on quite the brutal adventure, or “drive”, as a group of Texas Rangers, cowboys, and a mismatched crew make their way across 3000 miles, from the Texas/Mexico border to the Montana/Canada border.
Now, did I know this was a western? Yes. Was I expecting there to be some stereotypes involved in a western written in the early 90s? Yes. Was I expecting there to be SUCH blatant racism and stereotypes so strong it took me fully out of the story at points for being so prejudiced? Not for a book with over a 4.5 star rating across apps. This was by far the biggest stick out problem for me in the book.
My other gripe came with character development. With a book that is purely driven off of characters and relationships, I found it to be a … choice…? by the author to give us almost a complete lack of character development. Without any particular spoilers, if you don’t like a character at the beginning, chances are you probably won’t by the end. If you like a character at the top, you probably will still like them. It’s stagnant. Of course you CARE, because how can you spend almost 900 pages with these characters and not care, but my god do I wish we had gotten a LITTLE bit more in the name of growth.
Things also felt rushed to me in the end. Not sure how others felt and I’ll leave it at all, but for an author who droned on and yapped nonstop for hundreds of pages, I feel as thought we could have extended the book another 100 to have left it feeling well rounded. It feels like the author got tired of spending time reading/writing it (ironically, when I didn’t want it to end).
While being critical on what I think are important factors, the book is still a great character study and very unique in its written format (which I LOVED), and the actual story. Would recommend committing the time to it if the subject matter is it your wheelhouse or you like character driven books. DO NOT pick up if you aren’t someone who can read a purely character driven, slow paced book for at least 200 pages (which is how long is takes before we start moving in this story).
Now, did I know this was a western? Yes. Was I expecting there to be some stereotypes involved in a western written in the early 90s? Yes. Was I expecting there to be SUCH blatant racism and stereotypes so strong it took me fully out of the story at points for being so prejudiced? Not for a book with over a 4.5 star rating across apps. This was by far the biggest stick out problem for me in the book.
My other gripe came with character development. With a book that is purely driven off of characters and relationships, I found it to be a … choice…? by the author to give us almost a complete lack of character development. Without any particular spoilers, if you don’t like a character at the beginning, chances are you probably won’t by the end. If you like a character at the top, you probably will still like them. It’s stagnant. Of course you CARE, because how can you spend almost 900 pages with these characters and not care, but my god do I wish we had gotten a LITTLE bit more in the name of growth.
Things also felt rushed to me in the end. Not sure how others felt and I’ll leave it at all, but for an author who droned on and yapped nonstop for hundreds of pages, I feel as thought we could have extended the book another 100 to have left it feeling well rounded. It feels like the author got tired of spending time reading/writing it (ironically, when I didn’t want it to end).
While being critical on what I think are important factors, the book is still a great character study and very unique in its written format (which I LOVED), and the actual story. Would recommend committing the time to it if the subject matter is it your wheelhouse or you like character driven books. DO NOT pick up if you aren’t someone who can read a purely character driven, slow paced book for at least 200 pages (which is how long is takes before we start moving in this story).
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
I want to give this 5 stars, but the ending still bugs me. Not in a “I prefer the tyranny of a happy ending” sense, but the masterful revealing of characters and human insight present throughout the book just feels betrayed by the ending.
Really though, there is so much good in this book. I love it and will be thinking about it and its exploration of the great human questions (what is duty? What is manliness? What is love? What is justice? What is friendship? What is happiness? What is the good life?) for a long time to come. And then I’ll complain about the ending.
Really though, there is so much good in this book. I love it and will be thinking about it and its exploration of the great human questions (what is duty? What is manliness? What is love? What is justice? What is friendship? What is happiness? What is the good life?) for a long time to come. And then I’ll complain about the ending.
adventurous
emotional
slow-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
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Looks like I never hit Post on my short review of this one. Not much to say. Incredible book:
New entry into my all time top five. Loved it.
New entry into my all time top five. Loved it.
4.75 stars
My goodness, this book absolutely surged its way into my heart from the get-go. I’ve never read a Western before, but something tells me that this book transcends the genre. These characters are so unforgettable, so endearing, so touching. In particular, Gus and Lorie will stay with me forever. Just an epic adventure filled with incredible characters.
Slight deduction because the Native American characters were all villains, which felt irksome, even for a book written in 1985 — but I’ve heard [b:Comanche Moon|54807|Comanche Moon (Lonesome Dove, #4)|Larry McMurtry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1728661160l/54807._SY75_.jpg|1167241] is told from the POV of both the Native peoples and whites, so I’m planning on reading that one soon.
My goodness, this book absolutely surged its way into my heart from the get-go. I’ve never read a Western before, but something tells me that this book transcends the genre. These characters are so unforgettable, so endearing, so touching. In particular, Gus and Lorie will stay with me forever. Just an epic adventure filled with incredible characters.
Slight deduction because the Native American characters were all villains, which felt irksome, even for a book written in 1985 — but I’ve heard [b:Comanche Moon|54807|Comanche Moon (Lonesome Dove, #4)|Larry McMurtry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1728661160l/54807._SY75_.jpg|1167241] is told from the POV of both the Native peoples and whites, so I’m planning on reading that one soon.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Six star read lol