A Prophet at the Barbecue: Larry McMurtry, 1936–2021

[Chris]

A Prophet at the Barbecue: Larry McMurtry, 1936–2021 is a meandering look at McMurtry's life and writing and bookstore for those who appreciate him.

[Standing Wolf]

If you love Western stories, read 'Lonesome Dove'. If you hate Western stories or don't really care about Western stories, read 'Lonesome Dove' anyway.

Then read 'Dead Man's Walk', 'Comanche Moon' and 'Streets of Laredo', in that order.

Ross Macdonald once said that Raymond Chandler "wrote like a slumming angel" (Macdonald was no slouch, himself) and McMurtry did, too. His prose is unrelenting and almost hypnotic - it draws you into the story and makes you feel the heat of the desert sun and smell the horses. He was one of the giants.

[HawkTheSlayer]

And here i thought this was going to be about seeing Jesus in a poke chop.

[RMNIXON]

Never read Western Novels, but I do enjoy the films and TV shows (the older ones).


Dad had me watching John Wayne as a kid although Clint Eastwood was more contemporary for me growing up.

[Chris]

Never read Western Novels, but I do enjoy the films and TV shows (the older ones).


Dad had me watching John Wayne as a kid although Clint Eastwood was more contemporary for me growing up.

I've got a whole collection of old Westerns, black and white all, early John Wayne. Of course I've seen all the new ones too, like Eastwood's. Eastwood and Wayne never got along: Wayne didn't like the darker, more violent Westers of the 70s like Sergio Leone's films (see this for example).

I've started reading Westers, modern, contemporary ones, starting with Cormac McCarthy's novels.

[Cotton1]

I've never been one to read the books but occasionally I will watch a Western. The bad guys are terrible shots.

[Abby08]

I've got a whole collection of old Westerns, black and white all, early John Wayne. Of course I've seen all the new ones too, like Eastwood's. Eastwood and Wayne never got along: Wayne didn't like the darker, more violent Westers of the 70s like Sergio Leone's films (see this for example).

I've started reading Westers, modern, contemporary ones, starting with Cormac McCarthy's novels.

I'm with John Wayne on that.
Those Eastwood movies by Sergio Leone were horrible.

[Chris]

I'm with John Wayne on that.
Those Eastwood movies by Sergio Leone were horrible.

I like both styles.


What I dislike are the latest Westerns. No cinematography.