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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
The Last Picture Show is just about perfect. I knew I would like this because the movie adaptation is one of my favourites and I’ve enjoyed everything Larry McMurtry has written.
What I appreciate most about McMurtry is how he was able to convincingly step into the lives of people very unlike himself. He was clearly fascinated by people. Some authors are interested most in plots, world building, or just the satisfaction of writing a good sentence, but you get the sense that McMurtry cared most about getting a character right. It doesn’t matter if he’s writing about an impulsive teenage girl, a dying man reckoning with the end, or a lonely depressed housewife trying to hold on to one last bit of excitement and intimacy in her life, McMurtry makes them feel like real people. He seems to know more about other people than should be possible.
The characters of Sam the Lion and Ruth Popper kind of steal the movie and they do the same in the book. I always liked the story that Orson Welles lobbied Peter Bogdanovich to play Ben the Lion because he knew that whoever played the part would win an Oscar (turned out to be true). Cloris Leachman played Ruth and after filming her last scene in the movie in one take she asked Bogdanovich for another take because she felt she could do better and he told her “No, you can’t you just win the Oscar.” Bogdanovich was right because she did go on to win.
McMurtry wrote about these characters in Texasland and Duane’s Depressed and I’m looking forward to reading the sequels.
What I appreciate most about McMurtry is how he was able to convincingly step into the lives of people very unlike himself. He was clearly fascinated by people. Some authors are interested most in plots, world building, or just the satisfaction of writing a good sentence, but you get the sense that McMurtry cared most about getting a character right. It doesn’t matter if he’s writing about an impulsive teenage girl, a dying man reckoning with the end, or a lonely depressed housewife trying to hold on to one last bit of excitement and intimacy in her life, McMurtry makes them feel like real people. He seems to know more about other people than should be possible.
The characters of Sam the Lion and Ruth Popper kind of steal the movie and they do the same in the book. I always liked the story that Orson Welles lobbied Peter Bogdanovich to play Ben the Lion because he knew that whoever played the part would win an Oscar (turned out to be true). Cloris Leachman played Ruth and after filming her last scene in the movie in one take she asked Bogdanovich for another take because she felt she could do better and he told her “No, you can’t you just win the Oscar.” Bogdanovich was right because she did go on to win.
McMurtry wrote about these characters in Texasland and Duane’s Depressed and I’m looking forward to reading the sequels.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
One of my favorite movies, and now one of my favorite books. The adaptation is very faithful. McMurtry’s writing is immediately involving and his characters so vividly drawn.
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Beautiful, heartbreaking and wise. A story about the stupidity, blindness and occasional strength of men, the brilliance and heart of women and the few people who have enough bravery and insight to call that out of each other and themselves. This is a story where everyone falls short every time. The things that need to be said are never said, the happy endings never come. The deaths have no meaning. It is a book that is real and true and beautiful. It will break your goddamn heart. Everyone should read it.
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.75/ I've always wanted to see Bogdanovich (and Platt's) film, so decided to read the novel first. McMurtry is a master of language and dialogue -- a true literary treasure here. You can feel the ideals and touchstones of Mid-Century America slipping away as the pages turn by. McMurtry captures the permanent nostalgia so often found in small towns and explores the way it asphyxiates so many. Looking forward to reading more from McMurtry.
Doesn’t hold up well. Characters insufferable. Very fucking weird. No clue how people enjoyed it
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-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
dark
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:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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