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b0hemian_graham's review against another edition
4.0
found this one to be slightly more entertaining as a mockery of the excessive 1980s. It was funnier too.
cassstillwill's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
maryehavens's review against another edition
1.0
Abandoned on page 101. I just couldn't get into it with the cliché t-shirts and poor decisions everyone was making and moaning about.
bryce_is_a_librarian's review against another edition
2.0
2.5: The Last Picture Show but ZANY certainly was A CHOICE, like the kids say.
doctortdm's review against another edition
3.0
"Humorous" tale of a dysfunctional town, well let's hope it isn't representative of any existing town.
corrompido's review against another edition
4.0
Continuing chewing through the Larry McMurtry books and generally books from the 70s/80s, Texasville was an interesting read. A followup to the Last Picture Show, it places all of the characters from that novel (set in the early 1950s) in early 1980 in the same Texas town. The book is a comedy/drama that is both a reflection on how society changed in those 30 years (everyone is sleeping with everyone in both books, but how it's viewed is much different,) and a reflection on middle age.
It's a big messy book, and reading it 35 years later was interesting. I found some parts didn't work for me, whether I lacked the cultural touchstones to connect to it or it just wasn't my type of story is hard to know. Despite the messiness and areas that didn't land it was still an enjoyable read.
It's a big messy book, and reading it 35 years later was interesting. I found some parts didn't work for me, whether I lacked the cultural touchstones to connect to it or it just wasn't my type of story is hard to know. Despite the messiness and areas that didn't land it was still an enjoyable read.
geenahnola's review against another edition
2.0
Along with [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578028274l/38447._SY75_.jpg|1119185] by [a:Margaret Atwood|3472|Margaret Atwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282859073p2/3472.jpg], [a:Larry McMurtry|1055|Larry McMurtry|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540995857p2/1055.jpg]'s [b:The Last Picture Show|50051|The Last Picture Show|Larry McMurtry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344275927l/50051._SY75_.jpg|1069014] is one of the best books I've read all year. Similar to Handmaid, Picture Show suffers from a disappointing sequel in [b:Texasville|54814|Texasville|Larry McMurtry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416788513l/54814._SY75_.jpg|53421]. Initially I gave this book 3 stars, but now that a few weeks have gone by and I got over my initial disappointment, I have to revise it and give it 2 stars. My fondness for Picture Show made me want to give it a better rating, but it really doesn't deserve it.
Texasville would not have been a bad book if it had not been presented as a sequel to Picture Show. The town of Thalia and its residents are portrayed to be so silly and ridiculous, that it would make a fine comedy. The problem is that this book is presented with the context of Picture Show, a book that made good use of its comic relief but didn't overshadow the themes of loss, melancholy and loneliness, as presented through the POV of Sonny Crawford. In half the pages it took Texasville to wander aimlessly, Picture Show was able to beautifully develop the characters of Sonny, Duane, Jacy, Mrs. Farrow and Ruth Popper.
This book takes everything that was good from Picture Show and throws it out the window. At 544 pages, it takes it twice the number of pages as Picture Show to go in circles, talk a lot but say nothing. Instead of Sonny, the story is now told through Duane's POV. He is now middle aged and has a large family composed of unsympathetic degenerates. Duane's whole schtick in this book is that he became rich but is now quickly approaching bankruptcy and is therefore now depressed. His depression has mainly manifested itself in his inability to appreciate his family of degenerates and his ambivalence towards his wife. The rest of the characters we know and love barely show up and have absolutely no character development. Characters come in and out of scenes like a poorly written comedic stage play. Plot threads are introduced and unceremoniously forgotten.
Truly a disappointment. I don't think I'll be reading any more in this series. Next time I'll be reading Mr. Murtry will be in [b:Lonesome Dove|256008|Lonesome Dove|Larry McMurtry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559668037l/256008._SY75_.jpg|3281465], but I am done with Thalia. As done as Mr. Murtry ought to have been with it after Picture Show.
Texasville would not have been a bad book if it had not been presented as a sequel to Picture Show. The town of Thalia and its residents are portrayed to be so silly and ridiculous, that it would make a fine comedy. The problem is that this book is presented with the context of Picture Show, a book that made good use of its comic relief but didn't overshadow the themes of loss, melancholy and loneliness, as presented through the POV of Sonny Crawford. In half the pages it took Texasville to wander aimlessly, Picture Show was able to beautifully develop the characters of Sonny, Duane, Jacy, Mrs. Farrow and Ruth Popper.
This book takes everything that was good from Picture Show and throws it out the window. At 544 pages, it takes it twice the number of pages as Picture Show to go in circles, talk a lot but say nothing. Instead of Sonny, the story is now told through Duane's POV. He is now middle aged and has a large family composed of unsympathetic degenerates. Duane's whole schtick in this book is that he became rich but is now quickly approaching bankruptcy and is therefore now depressed. His depression has mainly manifested itself in his inability to appreciate his family of degenerates and his ambivalence towards his wife. The rest of the characters we know and love barely show up and have absolutely no character development. Characters come in and out of scenes like a poorly written comedic stage play. Plot threads are introduced and unceremoniously forgotten.
Truly a disappointment. I don't think I'll be reading any more in this series. Next time I'll be reading Mr. Murtry will be in [b:Lonesome Dove|256008|Lonesome Dove|Larry McMurtry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559668037l/256008._SY75_.jpg|3281465], but I am done with Thalia. As done as Mr. Murtry ought to have been with it after Picture Show.
grammalynn's review against another edition
4.0
It his best, but I enjoyed it for a summer read. Great characters and they are characters.
bigandy21's review against another edition
2.0
I love Larry McMurty and Archer City (the small town Texasville is based on) holds a special place in my heart. I admired The Last Picture Show and I had wanted to continue to see how those teenage characters lives played out.
But wow, this book killed that desire. The change in tone from Last Picture Show, a drama, to Texasville, a broad comedy was jarring. Last Picture Show seemed to have story progression and character action that had impact and consequences. That all seemed missing in Texasville.
The book meanders, chapter after chapter, of characters driving to a location, getting out to make the same small quips and jokes, the characters get mad and/or drepressed, and then they drive off. Rise and Repeat. For 500 pages. If McMurty would have edited the novel down to a leaner 250 pages, not unlike Last Picture Show, this could have been way more impactful.
But wow, this book killed that desire. The change in tone from Last Picture Show, a drama, to Texasville, a broad comedy was jarring. Last Picture Show seemed to have story progression and character action that had impact and consequences. That all seemed missing in Texasville.
The book meanders, chapter after chapter, of characters driving to a location, getting out to make the same small quips and jokes, the characters get mad and/or drepressed, and then they drive off. Rise and Repeat. For 500 pages. If McMurty would have edited the novel down to a leaner 250 pages, not unlike Last Picture Show, this could have been way more impactful.