"what they lived we dream..." this is what was written on the back jacket of my copy of this book. a more apt description could not be penned. i am completely dumbfounded by the comprehensive richness an author like this is able to achieve. speaking from the intimate perspective of ten to twenty characters effortlessly. young-old, male-female, civilized-insane. such ability is absolutely mind-boggling. as such, this sprawling tale is wildly entertaining.

i am anxious for my next mcmurty which will have to be the works sequel, the streets of laredo, but when i look at his others efforts, terms of endearment and last picture show, i'm eager for those as well. mcmurty only came on my radar after hearing an interview with robert duvall. he was asked, excluding the godfather, what was his favorite movie project he was ever involved in. with zero hesitation he said it was without a doubt and by far lonesome dove. i myself hadn't even known there was a lonesome dove movie or that bobby duvall, of all possible people, was even in it. hence the selection. that said, i'm a little bummed that i still won't be able to watch the movie as i don't want it to soil my images of the characters (i still don't even know who duvall portrays - and don't bother emailing me because i like it that way). add to this i never read the same author twice in the same year (i do believe aasimov is the only exception to that but his pieces are so short and sooooo enticing, this should be forgivable) that i now have to wait until next year to even begin laredo and then i have to finish it before i can watch the film.

also, this book gets many extra points with me as it was the first book that was able to engage and hold me after my mother's death. i tried over ten other books but none of them were up to it so i give a deserved bonus mark of recognition here.