Book Review - Lonesome Dove

Introduction

As a teenager, my family often took trips to Colorado and other western states each summer. My father, ever the multitasker, combined work travel with wrangling six kids, a wife, and occasionally a dog or two. We did this in the most classic American road trip fashion—70s station wagons, oversized vans, a Chevy Suburban, and even an RV at least once.

While I’ve always loved the mountains and landscape of the West, I was also a suburban Detroit kid who thought I was much tougher than I was. I wanted nothing to do with cowboys, cowboy culture, country music, or anything remotely resembling them. It wasn’t rebellion—it just felt profoundly "uncool" to my prideful young mind.

And then, it happened. We stopped at a "Western Wear" store on one of these trips. I was minding my own business, browsing something unmemorable, when I caught my reflection in a mirror. And then, out of nowhere, my father appeared behind me and placed a cowboy hat on my head.

I looked up. I saw myself. And I hated it.

It is difficult to describe how much I despised the way that hat looked on me. Something about it horrified me in a way I still cannot explain. It was an immediate, visceral rejection. My teenage brain screamed in silent protest. The offense was so deep, so existential, that I can still feel the flash of fear and anger at my father for doing it.

To this day, I have never willingly put a cowboy hat on my head again.

While it may not yet be an official clinical diagnosis, I am convinced it should be. I am the world’s most devoted case study of Stetsonophobia.

Which makes it all the more ironic that I would come to love Lonesome Dove. I didn’t expect to enjoy a cowboy or Western epic—but that surprise became one of the best reading experiences I’ve ever had. I had heard of the book, but probably only from the TV show (series? Mini-series?) that I have also not watched. As I joined BookTok a while back and started to get organized on what books I wanted to read, this one kept coming up. I really want to read more, but I need to ensure I'm learning and remembering what I read. I love reading for entertainment, but I feel like after a few months or a year, I remember what I enjoyed but don’t remember much of the actual book, characters, or plots. That has been true with fiction and non-fiction alike. My notes, highlighting, journals, and these reviews are all meant to help.

That may have been too much information, but in short, I have wanted to read Lonesome Dove for a while now but have also been afraid of it.

If you don't read this entire review, know this - I loved it and would recommend this book to almost anyone. I can't be sure that everyone will love it as much as I did, but the writing is so good that it is hard to think of anyone who should not read it. This is a character-driven novel, not plot-driven. Yes, many things happen and there is plenty of action, love, travel, fights, and much more, but this is all about the characters and the world they live in - not about the plot.

Book Overview

Lonesome Dove is an epic Western novel by Larry McMurtry, published in 1985. It is a beast of a book coming in around 800 pages. It is also so absorbing that it feels like it goes by too fast. Like so many others, you will want more time with the characters. It follows a group of former Texas Rangers who embark on a grueling cattle drive from the Texas-Mexico border to Montana. At the story's heart are Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call, two aging but legendary lawmen with contrasting personalities—Gus is charismatic and philosophical. At the same time, Call is disciplined and emotionally closed off.

Along the journey, they face harsh landscapes, violent outlaws (including the brutal Blue Duck), and personal reckonings. Several supporting characters, including the young and eager Newt Dobbs, the tragic prostitute Lorena Wood, and the wandering gambler Jake Spoon, all contribute to the novel’s themes of loyalty, survival, and the cost of ambition. Each character feels so deeply developed that readers will feel they know them. The author seamlessly changes the point of view of his writing and narrator in ways that give you insights into every character. He does this so well it is hard to notice when it happens, his skill in developing his characters may be unmatched - especially in this genre.

The novel explores the mythology of the American West, the passage of time, and the burdens of leadership, love, and regret. By the end, the story is less about the physical journey and more about the emotional toll of their choices.

Lonesome Dove was initially conceived as a film project for John Wayne, James Stewart, and Henry Fonda in the 1970s. When that fell through, McMurtry expanded the idea into a novel. The book redefined the Western genre, stripping away romanticism and highlighting the harsh realities of cowboy life. The 1989 miniseries starring Robert Duvall (as Gus) and Tommy Lee Jones (as Call) is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV adaptations of all time.

Larry McMurtry (1936–2021)

Larry McMurtry was a Texas-born writer known for his deep, often subversive takes on the American West. He grew up in Archer City, Texas, and much of his work reflects the landscapes and characters of the frontier. McMurtry wrote numerous novels, many of which challenged traditional Western tropes. His works include The Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment, and Streets of Laredo (a sequel to Lonesome Dove). He won the Pulitzer Prize for Lonesome Dove and later co-wrote the screenplay for Brokeback Mountain, which won an Academy Award. Unlike many Western authors who glorified frontier life, McMurtry often portrayed it as brutal, lonely, and filled with loss.

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Note: Some minor spoilers are below if you have not read the book or seen the TV show. I do not go into the significant specifics of those items, but enough information below hints at what will happen that I wanted to warn you. If you're going to read this book and know nothing about it, I suggest you at least think about stopping here and simply know that I loved it.

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Unique Elements of the Novel

Through a vibrant set of characters, McMurtry did something I did not expect. He completely absorbed me in the myth of the cowboy, and over time, I learned to enjoy my time living with those characters as I read. The world they inhabit, and even more so the way they each see that world, starts feeling "normal"—not because I agreed with it, but because the novel immersed me so profoundly in its world that I unconsciously started seeing through its lens. Then he deconstructed the myth in highly subtle ways from the inside out. I was left with a new perspective of those cowboys I thought I knew. The myth they constructed of their own lives and that of the "Old West" seemed to take a 180-degree turn.

I don’t know for sure, but I think my experience mirrors what McMurtry intended. For one example of this, at first how men feel about women in the book was frustrating. The objectification and the total lack of their point of view as the plot took shape made me feel uncomfortable. McMurtry later very subtly used women to turn that world on its head. Especially Clara, in one of the last scenes of the book, finally telling Woodrow (and in the process, us) the truth about who he is and what the frontier code of duty or way of life actually means.

Themes & Some of My Reflections

The Landscape as a Character

The vast, untamed frontier is more than just a setting—it actively shapes the characters’ lives. Nature is indifferent, harsh, and often lethal. Water plays a recurring role—sometimes as a source of life, sometimes as a force of destruction. Gus’s death near a river, the droughts, and the ever-changing conditions reflect the precariousness of life on the frontier.

“It’s a fine world, though rich in hardships at times,” Augustus said.

The Myth vs. Reality of the West

Lonesome Dove challenges the traditional romanticized vision of cowboys and Rangers. This world is much more brutal and real than the collective vision of our American mythology. Many characters die unceremoniously and without reason, reinforcing how cruel and unforgiving the world truly is.

“Live through it,” Call said. “That’s all we can do.”

The traditional Western trope often depicts cowboys as rugged individualists who tame the wild frontier through strength and honor. Women are usually secondary characters, serving as love interests or symbols of domesticity, while Native Americans and outlaws exist as obstacles to be overcome. Lonesome Dove takes those tropes and subtly turns them on their head. The cowboys are not legends—they are flawed, aging men burdened by their pasts. The novel shifts focus by giving space to characters like Clara, who challenges the masculine ideal of heroism, and Lorena, whose survival is shaped by the limitations imposed on her, usually by men. Rather than celebrating the cowboy myth, Lonesome Dove deconstructs it, revealing the human cost behind the adventure.

Sense of Personal Duty vs. Personal Happiness

Call is defined by his sense of duty—to the point where he cannot express love, even to his own son. On the other hand, Gus seeks joy in life, prioritizing love, leisure, and storytelling over endless work. Many other characters (Newt, July, Clara) wrestle with their obligations versus their desires, often suffering because of it.

“If you only come face-to-face with your own mistakes once or twice in your life, it’s bound to be extra painful. I face mine every day—that way they ain’t usually much worse than a dry shave.”

Gus and Clara serve as a particularly strong comparison. Gus chooses personal freedom over responsibility. He avoids real commitment, enjoys his life, and dies on his terms—yet he is still haunted by the choices he didn’t make. Clara, on the other hand, chooses responsibility over personal freedom. She sacrifices adventure for stability, building a life for herself and her daughters in a way that contradicts the myth of the old West. She sees through the cowboy myth and chooses a different husband and life. Her life is not glamorous, but it is grounded. Despite their contrasting choices, both experience loss and hardship.

Masculinity and Emotional Repression

Call embodies the stoic, hardened Western man, yet his inability to connect emotionally (especially with Newt) leaves him empty. Gus, in contrast, embraces humor, love, and storytelling, yet still avoids long-term commitments. Even though they live differently, both suffer in their own way, unable to fully express their feelings.

“It wouldn’t be his way, to mention it,” Augustus said. “Woodrow don’t mention nothing he can keep from mentioning. You couldn’t call him a mentioner.”

Love, Loneliness, and Regret

Almost every character deals with unfulfilled love—Gus and Clara, Dish’s hopeless love for Lorena, July chasing Elmira, Elmira chasing Dee. Love in this novel is often sacrificed for other pursuits, reinforcing that love is a choice, an action—not just a feeling. Most characters either lack the ability to love, or life gets in the way.

“Once started, love couldn’t easily be stopped.”

Character Overviews

Augustus "Gus" McCrae

A former Texas Ranger full of charm and wit, often the comic relief but also deeply introspective. His easygoing nature masks deep wisdom about life and mortality. His fate is arguably the novel’s most poignant moment, emphasizing his belief in living fully and dying on his own terms.

“I never met a soul in this world as normal as me.”

Woodrow Call

A stoic, disciplined leader whose devotion to duty isolates him emotionally. His inability to acknowledge Newt as his son is one of the novel’s most tragic elements. His final conversation with Clara challenges not only his view of duty but also the reader’s, revealing how his traits shape the world in ways he cannot see.

“Virtually all his life he had been in the position of leading groups of men, yet the truth was he had never liked groups. Men he admired for their abilities in action almost always brought themselves down in his estimation if he had to sit around and listen to them talk—or watch them drink or play cards or run off after women. Listening to men talk usually made him feel more alone than if he were a mile away by himself under a tree. He had never really been able to take part in the talk.”

“The earth is mostly just a boneyard. But pretty in the sunlight.”

Clara Allen

A fiercely independent woman who refuses to romanticize the cowboy myth. Her words shake Call’s rigid sense of duty and expose the emotional emptiness behind it. She is one of the strongest women in the novel, challenging the male-centric narrative that dominates much of the book. Clara’s perspective reminds the reader that the real work of survival in the West was often carried out by those who stayed, not just those who rode off in pursuit of adventure.

“You think you’ve always done right—that’s your ugly pride, Mr. Call. But you never did right and it would be a sad woman that needed anything from you. You’re a vain coward, for all your fighting. I despised you then, for what you were, and I despise you now, for what you’re doing.”

“By God, you’re sassy,” Augustus said. Clara just smiled, her old beguiling smile. “I’m honest,” she said. “To most men, that’s sassy.”

Lorena Wood

A woman trapped by circumstance, whose transformation under Clara’s influence is one of the most compelling arcs in the novel. Throughout much of the story, she is seen through the eyes of men who view her as an object of desire rather than a person with agency. However, by the end, she finds her own path, moving beyond the role others assigned to her.

“There was something different about her, Jake had to admit. She had a beautiful face, a beautiful body, but also a distance in her such as he had never met in a woman. Certain mountains were that way, like the Bighorns. The air around them was so clear you could ride toward them for days without seeming to get any closer. And yet, if you kept riding, you would get to the mountains. He was not so sure he would ever get to Lorie. Even when she took him, there was a distance between them. And yet she would not let him leave.”

Jake Spoon

A former Texas Ranger turned gambler. His moral failings and decisions ripple through the lives of the group. These failings catch up with him when he falls in with outlaws. His tragic end is a stark warning about the consequences of passive choices. He plays a major role though the narrative, and never seems to grow. In fact he seems to become smaller and smaller as a person as his own laziness and lack of control of his own life leads him to his demise. He puts on a front of strength and seems to have deluded himself to thinking he is the only one around him who is living the good life, but this delusion is slowing broken open to see how broken of a man he really is.

Deets

Deets is a loyal and skilled scout for Gus and Call. He is a quiet yet noble figure who symbolizes wisdom and integrity. His story arc reflects racial dynamics in the West. His character deeply affects the group, highlighting how even the most respected men can be greatly undervalued.

Pea Eye Parker

A simple and dependable member of the crew, often providing humor and heart to the story. Pea Eye survives by sheer determination. His decision not to go with Call at the end shows his quiet assertion of independence.

Dish Boggett

A lovestruck cowboy whose devotion to Lorena is never returned. His myth-like vision of Lorena, the local prostitute, may illustrate the one-sided romanticism often found in Western stories. He never did and never will learn who she really is. He will never know the person behind his overly simple dream of her that he created in his mind. Is there a comparison to how we see and think the "old west" in our stories and minds?

"In some way Lorie would always be as distant from him as the Kansas stars. At times he felt that he had almost rather not be in love with her, for it brought him no peace. What was the use of it, if it was only going to be so painful? And yet, she had spoken to him in a friendly voice only that day. He couldn’t give up while there was a chance."

Blue Duck

The most ruthless antagonist, a half-Comanche outlaw who represents the brutal, lawless nature of the frontier. His cruelty contrasts sharply with the worn-down but honorable Rangers.

July Johnson

A good-hearted but ineffectual sheriff searching for his runaway wife. His arc reflects how duty and decency are not always enough in a violent world. His storyline intersects with the others in meaningful ways and he is there for many of the most violent scenes. He seems to end up there by accident, even as he tries to fulfil his duty, he never seems up to what is being asked of him, including his marriage.

Elmira Johnson

A woman who wants nothing to do with the men who pursue her. Her choices are often cold, yet they challenge traditional Western narratives of devoted women waiting for their men. Those choices also lead her on a tragic and complicated journey.

"Watching them, Elmira wished she was a man so she could just buy a horse and ride away."

Personal Connections or Take-Aways

The relativistic nature of our lives in our modern world seems to mirror that of the world of the cowboys of "The Hat Creek Company". It is easy to justify our actions, but then demonize the same actions taken by others. How often do we see that in our politics or popular culture? Even more so, how often do we do the same but brush it off and ignore our hypocrisy? The western drive of white Americans, the way ancient and beautiful cultures were decimated and dehumanized, the evil that was done all in the name a perceived superiority are littered all though this novel.

“Newt could not help feeling a little odd about it all, since he had somehow had it in his mind that they were coming to Mexico to buy horses, not steal them. It was puzzling that such a muddy little river like the Rio Grande should make such a difference in terms of what was lawful and what not. On the Texas side, horse stealing was a hanging crime, and many of those hung for it were Mexican cowboys who came across the river to do pretty much what they themselves were doing. The Captain was known for his sternness where horse thieves were concerned, and yet, here they were, running off a whole herd. Evidently if you crossed the river to do it, it stopped being a crime and became a game.”

“It’s a funny life,” Augustus said. “All these cattle and nine-tenths of the horses is stolen, and yet we was once respected lawmen. If we get to Montana we’ll have to go into politics. You’ll wind up governor if the dern place ever gets to be a state. And you’ll spend all your time passing laws against cattle thieves.”

There is beauty everywhere, and it is fleeting. Even in dry, arid, empty Texas and northern Mexico, that beauty passes mostly unseen by many. It needs to be looked at and actually noticed, which means we all need to take mental time away from our day-to-day anxieties and worries to see it.

“It was tribute enough to sunup that it could make even chaparral bushes look beautiful, Augustus thought, and he watched the process happily, knowing it would only last a few minutes.”

Final Thoughts

Lonesome Dove completely absorbed me in the myth of the cowboy and then slowly, subtly dismantled it from the inside out. This book is a character-driven epic. The characters feel so real that I want to spend more time with them. The writing is beautiful and completely immersive. Read this one.

Rating: 5/5 – One of my favorite books ever.