Lonesome Dove

By: Larry McMurtry

Narrated by: Lee Horsley

Length: 36 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

A love story, an adventure, and an epic of the frontier, Larry McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize- winning classic, Lonesome Dove, the third book in the Lonesome Dove tetralogy, is the grandest novel ever written about the last defiant wilderness of America.

Journey to the dusty little Texas town of Lonesome Dove and meet an unforgettable assortment of heroes and outlaws, whores and ladies, Indians and settlers. Richly authentic, beautifully written, always dramatic, Lonesome Dove will make listeners laugh, weep, dream, and remember.

This newly remastered audio edition is expertly read by actor Lee Horsley, best known for his starring roles in the television series Nero Wolfe, Matt Houston, and Paradise.

©1985 Larry McMurtry (P)1992 / 2016 Dove Audio / Phoenix Books

Many people that reviewed this book very clearly did not read the whole thing.

Before I got this book I was nearly put off by the amount of people that were complaining about the narrator. It seems like 75% of the people were complaining about long breaths that he took between every sentence, which is actually true…for the first hour of the book. That means that every single person who said they "couldn't get through the book" probably has the attention span of any given millennial and would never have made it through the book anyway because they couldn't even handle one full hour. Another complaint was that he basically yelled at all of Augustus' lines. This is true throughout the entire book, but that isn't a creative choice of a bad narrator as many would try to paint. It literally says in like the 3rd or 4th chapter that Augustus is known as the loudest voice in the entirety of Texas, maybe tied with one other man. If the narrator was some soft-spoken dingus that simply read the lines, the book would've made absolutely no sense. So, again, the people that complained about this are impatient millennials that didn't even make it through the first couple chapters of this 104th chapter book, or they'd know quite well why it was read that way.

Don't listen to the haters, people will literally always find a reason to complain about greatness. I grew up having watched the TV series and I got this book because I love that series so much. This is every single bit as good as that miniseries, and more. There is so much that the miniseries simply couldn't show on a made-for-TV western in the 80s. This book is brutal, unrelenting, gory, and probably my second favorite book of all time as of the writing of this review. Considering I have finished nearly 60 books on Audible plus what I read in high school, that's saying a lot.

Pleeeeaaaase, I implore you to get this book and, if the breathing annoys you so bad, just make it through the first hour when he stops breathing directly into his microphone. Yes, it's annoying, but trust me it does not last the whole book.

A brilliant masterpiece

Uva uvam videndo varia fit.

This is the Latin phrase on the sign for Lonesome Dove's Hat Creek Cattle Company. And in that phrase lies the entire thematic principle of the book, and a succinctly simple explanation for "the meaning of life."

It's so subtly brilliant, if you're not paying attention you will miss it. The phrase translates to "a grape changes its color (or ripens) by seeing another grape." This could be interpreted as positive or negative. The change could also be a tainting or mottling effect.

Likewise, Larry McMurtry, and his wise characters, especially Augustus McCrae, are showing the reader that the changes and events of human lives are made through their interactions with others. People we come in to contact with, and live with, change us, and we change them. Everything we do is an action/response to our companions in this life. And this grants us meaning, as we grow together through this life, and accept all its pleasures, wonders, and its tragedies, its grief.

The book is profound beyond my meager capacity to express myself via language. Gus put that motto on his sign, but because the translations were not in the book, he doesn't know what it means. Likewise, most people do not see the meaning or impact of their daily lives. Most things take on their true meaning and impact in retrospect, but by the time they are realized, they are impossible to change or rationalize or adequately contextualize. Thus, there is either regret, or an inexhaustible longing for what might have been.

This is unquestionably a masterpiece that brims with a seemingly inexhaustible wealth of profundity and power.

It's also the most heart breaking work of art ever put to paper. It encapsulates so much about life, and it's struggle of man to adapt to the passage of time, and the inability to change the past, while making hard sacrifices to bring about the future.

Augustus McCrae is the greatest character of all time. And this novel is unforgettable.

Lonesome Doce

I enjoyed every minute of this amazing book! The narrator did a fabulous job. I highly recommend it

great book! good reader!

I was surprised the movie was pretty close to the book. great story, good reader and overall one of the best books I have heard.

This is a very entertaining listen. I normally don't like old west books but this was not like most. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Maybe/Likely my all time favorite book

This book is brilliant. Masterfully written and with enough humor to soften the hard things.
At first, the presentation of Gus was a bit overwhelmingly loud, but I got used to it and by the end was enjoying it.

Hands down the best book I’ve ever listened to.

When I purchased this book the number of chapters and hours seemed daunting. I thought I would have trouble staying engaged. On the contrary... I couldn’t wait for the next commute or workday so that I could go back to listening. 5 stars all the way...

A Definite Must

Outstanding in all areas. Highly recommended. A classic well narrated. You can feel the story.

timeless classic

This is my second favorite McMurtry novel, although all McMurtry western novels stand alone as kings of the genre. I truly enjoyed listening to this book for the 1st time. I have read it multiple times but this was my 1st audio experience.

Good, long, story with abrupt and pointless ending

A story that keeps you entertained. Characters are believable and loveable. Pointless ending. Good enough.