jayden_mccomiskie's review against another edition
5.0
I nearly gave up on this book at around 140ish pages. It seemed filled with complaining cowboys...but a friend convinced me to power ahead, because it apparently gets better...and BOY OH BOY was I impressed. This book blew me away. I became so invested in the story that I wish it didn't end. But I hear there are more books to this story, so lucky us.
laviskrg's review against another edition
5.0
This is absolutely one of the stories that has taken my soul hostage. It is indescribably beautiful, important, timeless and heartbreaking. It is devastatingly personal for me and it will be for anyone who has ever experienced sorrow or loss. It is a very lonely book, a very sensitive and melancholy journey into everything and nothingness, into the enormously vast territory of the heart. And above all else, it is one heck of a western. This should be mandatory reading for anyone.
megansgc's review against another edition
5.0
A slow build tale of two rangers and their cattle drive heading from Lonesome Dove Texas to Montana, and the various characters they run into and collect or lose along the way.
I was extremely doubtful I would enjoy this. The American west does not interest me at all. Not American, don’t like westerns, cowboys or any of that. 70-100 pages in I was still not sure. But someone suggested getting past 150 pages and given the high average on goodreads I figured I would give it a go.
Slow burn, but that I think gave me the time to become so invested in the characters so wonderfully developed by McMurty. I loved them, flaws and all.
The tragedies along the way feel fitting for the challenging times and challenging task they’d undertaken. I’m not sure if what happened to Gus, Call, and Newt was brilliant Pulitzer worthy writing or just cruel to readers. I so wanted Newt to be acknowledged. And I wanted Call to find something meaningful in his son. Even Lorie didn’t get kind treatment. None of the women did for sure.
However the fact that I’m so emotionally invested means this book most definitely deserves five stars.
I do wish one of the subsequent books followed Newt. Not just went back to earlier days.
I was extremely doubtful I would enjoy this. The American west does not interest me at all. Not American, don’t like westerns, cowboys or any of that. 70-100 pages in I was still not sure. But someone suggested getting past 150 pages and given the high average on goodreads I figured I would give it a go.
Slow burn, but that I think gave me the time to become so invested in the characters so wonderfully developed by McMurty. I loved them, flaws and all.
The tragedies along the way feel fitting for the challenging times and challenging task they’d undertaken. I’m not sure if what happened to Gus, Call, and Newt was brilliant Pulitzer worthy writing or just cruel to readers. I so wanted Newt to be acknowledged. And I wanted Call to find something meaningful in his son. Even Lorie didn’t get kind treatment. None of the women did for sure.
However the fact that I’m so emotionally invested means this book most definitely deserves five stars.
I do wish one of the subsequent books followed Newt. Not just went back to earlier days.
lindzsmorch's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
5.0
joshuabushen's review
5.0
If I could give this book a 6/5 star rating I would. Engrossing to the last word and as the cover puts it, "Nothing less than a masterful odyssey".
veep23's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jd_jinkies's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
jcirvin12's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
hgust's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0